SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State egdged Northern Michigan 65-56 in Thursday evening's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball game inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

The Lakers (14-5, 9-4 GLIAC) were led in scoring by senior Devin Daly's game-high 16 points  and received 10 points each from fellow starters Jordan Dasuqi and Akaemji Williams. Williams also finished with a game-high nine assists.

Dasuqi matched his career-high with seven rebounds.

Off the bench, senior Jake Blake contributed eight points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of work.

LSSU took a 25-15 lead into the the first half intermission with both teams struggling to find their shooting rhythm. LSSU shooters hit just 34.6 percent (9-of-26) of their shots from the field, including 1-for-7 from three-point range, during the first half while NMU was limited to 22.6 percent (7-of-31) from the floor and hit 1-of-10 shots from behind the arc.

During the second half the Lakers found their stroke, knocking down 14-of-23 (60.3 percent) of their shots from the field but were actually outscored 41-40 by the Wildcats (5-12, 3-10 GLIAC) in the final 20 minutes.

Sophomore center Mike Nicholson scored on back-to-back plays to open the second half and both field goals being assisted by Williams on a pick and roll. Nicholson finished 2-for-2 from the floor for four points and added six rebounds.

Freshman guard Naba Echols led the Wildcats with 13 points on 3-for-17 shooting from the floor, including a 2-for-10 mark from behind the arc and went 5-for-5 from the free throw line. Echols also had a team-high two assists.

Donnell Cegers played 10 minutes off the bench and scored eight of the Wildcats' 15 points during the first half. Cegers was limited to a single bucket in the second half and ended with 10 points.

The Lakers play host to Michigan Tech at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Players will honor their favorite instructors during Smith & Company Faculty Appreciation Day.