SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State made 35-of-42 free throws and fended off a late Ashland surge to win Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball game, 81-72.

LSSU (13-1 overall, 5-1 GLIAC) built a 20-point lead midway through the second half, but Ashland (4-6 overall, 1-5 GLIAC) pressed nearly the entire game and scrapped its way back into contention. The Eagles closed the gap to four points, 75-71, with 42 seconds remaining in regulation.

Lakers Derek Billing, Devin Daly and Tony Harris were a combined 6-of-6 at the line during the final seconds to protect what became a slim LSSU lead.

Billing totaled 17 points and four assists to lead Lake Superior State. Cameron Metz and Alex Williams scored 15 points each, while Tony Harris had 12 and Jordan Dasuqi 11. Dasuqi recorded a season high in GLIAC competition.

Harris was 10-of-10 at the free-throw line and had five assists. Jake Blake, Williams and Daly compiled six rebounds each ans the Lakers out-rebounded Ashland, 36-28.

LSSU overcame a season-high 19 turnovers.

The Lakers out-scored Ashland 13-3 in points off turnovers and held AU to 25 percent (6-of-24) from the field during the first half to take a 35-22 command. The Eagles shot a much-improved 48.3 percent (14-of-29) during the second half. They also turned the tables on the Lakers in points off turnovers -- 17-5 during the final 20 minutes.

LSSU shot 42.2 percent from the field for the game, including 55.6 percent (10-of-18) during the second half. They were 8-of-18 from three-point range for the game.

Cole Krizancic scored 19 points and Will Evans 17 to lead Ashland. AU shot 37.7 percent from the field, including 7-of-21 from behind the arc. The Eagles made 25-of-31 free throws.

LSSU plays Jan. 9 at Ohio Dominican.

LSSU-AU Boxscore