SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State ended its string of men's basketball nail-biters with Thursday's 83-66 victory over Lake Erie, but continued it impressive early-season success.

The Lakers improved to 12-1 overall and 4-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to match their best start in school history. The only other LSSU team to get off to such a start was the 1955-56 Soo Tech Hornets led by legendary coach Bud Cooper.

LSSU also posted its sixth straight win, and the previous five victories were by an average margin of 3.6 points.

Senior guard Derek Billing totaled 22 points, six rebounds and five assists to lead LSSU. Senior center Cameron Metz and junior forward Alex Williams followed with 18 points and six rebounds each. Junior guard Tony Harris added 13 points and five assists.

LSSU's top rebounders were sophomore Devin Daly with 12 and junior Jake Blake with seven.

Metz, who had two dunks during the night, scored 12 points, Williams added 10, and Harris and Billing scored eight each as LSSU shot a blistering 53.1 percent from the field during the first half and built a 44-31 lead.

Lake Erie (4-7 overall, 1-4 GLIAC) cut the deficit to nine points during the first minute of the second half, but LSSU extended the lead to 18 points, 55-37, with an 11-2 run. Williams had a three-pointer and layup, and Billing contributed two free throws and a layup to lead the attack.

Lake Superior State's biggest lead of the game was 21 points, 77-56, following an 8-2 run that included baskets by Metz, Billing and Daly. Metz also added two free throws.

LSSU shot 50 percent from the field for the game, including 7-of-21 from behind the arc, and made 20-of-31 free throws. The Lakers dominated the boards, 45-31. Both teams totaled 13 turnovers.

Riley Thomas was 4-of-6 from behind the arc and led Lake Erie with 20 points. Andy Bosley followed with 11. The Storm shot 38.7 percent from the field, including 8-of-21 from three-point range, and made 10-of-17 free throws.

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

LSSU-LEC Boxscore