SAULT STE. MARIE - Thursday's matchup between the 6-0 Lake Superior State men's basketball team and eighth-ranked Findlay lived up to expectations, and the Oilers continued their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference dominance by beating the Lakers 88-78 in Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Playing in front of a loud crowd of 572 fans, LSSU (6-1 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) struggled to score underneath during the first half and fell behind 43-36 by halftime. Turnovers plagued the Lakers early in the second half as Findlay went on a 9-3 run to go ahead 52-39.

Findlay (4-0 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) led 66-48 with 10:17 for its biggest margin of the game. LSSU cut it to seven points, 70-63, with 5:03 to go, but couldn't get any closer. UF answered every Laker attack down the stretch.

GLIAC Pre-Season Player of the Year Greg Kahlig scored 28 points and Alphonso Baity added 17 points and six rebounds for Findlay. Dylan Kaufman scored 12 points, and Jake Heagen added 11 points and nine rebounds.

UF shot 54.5 percent from the field for the game, including 57.1 percent during the first half. The Oilers were 8-of-19 from three-point range and 20-of-33 at the free-throw line.

GLIAC Pre-Season First Team pick Derek Billing (8-of-21) led LSSU with 26 points, but he and senior center Cameron Metz were held well below their season shooting percentages of 54.3 and 64.1, respectively. Metz (6-of-14) finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Alex Williams added 14 points and six rebounds. Tony Harris turned in nine points and six assists.

LSSU shot 41.5 percent from the field for the game, including 9-of-22 from behind the arc, and made 15-of-19 free throws. The Lakers held a 36-35 rebounding edge.

LSSU plays host to Hillsdale at 3 p.m. Saturday.

LSSU-Findlay Boxscore