Box Score BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Behind a pair of 20-point efforts by their leading scorers, Lake Superior State picked up a victory on the road over nationally ranked Ferris State, 87-80 Saturday. The victory moves LSSU to within a game behind FSU in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division men's basketball standings.
The Lakers (17-8, 12-7 GLIAC) were led by leading scorer Devin Daly with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field, including 2-for-2 from behind the three-point stripe. Daly, limited to 24 minutes of action while carrying four fouls, also added eight rebounds.
Joining Daly by reaching the 20-point plateau, Akaemji Williams turned in a solid effort on both ends of the floor with nine assists, six rebounds and five steals to go along with his 20 points.
A tie game at halftime, the contest featured seven lead changes and nine instances of the score being tied and the lead never reaching more than eight points for either team.
The Bulldogs (19-6, 13-6 GLIAC), who entered the game ranked 24th nationally, held a seven-point lead with eight minutes remaining before freshman Carson Manger hit a shot from behind the arc to make it a two-possession game. Manger contributed 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc and 4-for-4 at the free throw line, in 20 minutes off the bench.
Moments later, following six-straight points by sophomore center Mike Nicholson, the Lakers took a 76-74 lead for the first time during the second half. Nicholson finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.
LSSU held onto a slim lead for their 17th victory of the season behind a stout defense that limited the Bulldogs to 36.6 percent shooting from the field and a 6-for-19 (31.6 percent) outing from behind the arc.
A pair of starters, Josh Fleming and Jared Stolicker, reached double-double status for the Bulldogs and James Chappell was a single point shy of the mark with nine points and 12 rebounds. Fleming led FSU with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Stolicker was limited to 12 points on 6-of-16 shooting from the field.
Junior center Michael Smutny added a season-high eight points for the Lakers in 11 minutes of action off the bench.
The Lakers remain on the road next week when they travel to Upper Peninsula rivals Northern Michigan on Thursday and Michigan Tech on Saturday.
