SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State's first lead of Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball showdown with Michigan Tech was 71-69 with 33 seconds remaining in the second half.

LSSU (10-7 overall, 8-6 GLIAC) had a chance to win the game in regulation after clawing back from a 19-point second-half deficit. Lake Superior State guard Derek Billings' game-winning basket was negated on a charging call, and Michigan Tech's Ali Haidar controlled the overtime period.

Haidar, the GLIAC's pre-season player of the year, totaled 35 points and nine rebounds to lead MTU to an 83-79 overtime victory. Haidar scored seven of the Huskies' 12 overtime points, including a layup for an 80-79 MTU lead with 41 seconds remaining. After making 1-of-2 free throws with 15 seconds to go, he forced an LSSU turnover to protect his team's lead.

Alex Culty was 6-of-12 from three-point range and finished with 20 points and seven assists for the Huskies. Matt Esters totaled 12 points and six rebounds, and Ben Stelzer scored 10 points, including two insurance free throws with four second left in the game.

MTU shot 52.9 percent from the field, including 11-of-25 from three-point range, and made 18-of-28 free throws.

Billing led LSSU with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Derek Kinney totaled 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Alex Williams added 18 points. Cameron Metz rounded out LSSU's double-figure scorers with 10 points and five rebounds.

LSSU shot 48.4 percent from the field, including 10-of-23 from behind the arc, and made 9-of-12 free throws. The Lakers out-rebounded the Huskies, 36-28. Both teams totaled 14 turnovers.

Michigan Tech extended a 35-29 halftime lead to 62-43 with 11:09 remaining in the second half. Lake Superior State cut the deficit to six points, 66-60, with 4:04 left and was within one point with 2:01 to go. The game was tied, 71-71, at the end of regulation.

LSSU plays host to Finlandia at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

LSSU vs. MTU Boxscore