LSSU photo by Helena Wollan

SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State's Derek Billing and Alex Williams traded long-range hot streaks, and LSSU eventually found an answer to Wayne State's rebounding strength to beat the Warriors 84-73 Monday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

LSSU (20-3 overall, 12-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) was 12-of-24 from behind the arc, setting a team season high in conference play. Billing was 5-of-7 from three-point range during the first half, which the Lakers led 43-27. Williams was 2-of-4 during both halves.

Wayne State (10-8 overall, 8-7 GLIAC) out-rebounded LSSU 18-11 during the first half, scoring eighth second-chance points and keeping the Lakers within reach. Lake Superior State responded with 17 second-half rebounds to WSU's 12.

LSSU's biggest lead of the game was 15 points, 67-52, with 10:38 remaining. Wayne State cut it to seven, 70-63, with 5:26 remaining, but couldn't draw any closer. Senior Cameron Metz made layups at 3:31 and 2:24 to regain a double-digit Laker lead.

Billing finished with 24 points and eight assists to lead LSSU. Metz totaled 19 points and seven rebounds, and Williams had 19 points and four assists. Junior Tony Harris finished with 10 points and three assists.

LSSU shot 54.9 percent from the field and made 16-of-18 free throws. The Lakers were a blistering 16-of-26 from the field for 61.5 percent during the first half.

Lake Superior State shot better than 50 percent from the field during four of its last five games. The Lakers also hit the 20-win plateau for the second time in coach Steve Hettinga's seven-year tenure and seventh time in the program's history.

Gerald Williams-Taylor led Wayne State with 20 points and five rebounds, and Chene Phillips followed with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists. The Warriors shot 44.1 percent from the field, including 5-of-14 from three-point range, and also made 16-of-18 free throws.

LSSU plays at 8 p.m. Thursday at Saginaw Valley State.

LSSU-WSU Boxscore