Box Score HOUGHTON - Despite trailing by as many as 19 points in the second half, Lake Superior State rallied to draw within two points of host Michigan Tech with 10 seconds remaining in Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball contest. The Lakers (18-9, 13-8 GLIAC) were unable to fully scale the large hole they had dug themselves out of and ultimately succumbed to a 91-87 defeat.
The Huskies (10-15, 9-12GLIAC), who fell short in their chance to keep their hopes of a GLIAC Tournament berth alive following a loss against Northwood on Thursday, were able to snap a five-game losing streak against the Lakers dating back to the 2013-14 season. MTU used a deft shooting touch that the team lacked in their 73-63 loss against the Timberwolves.
On Saturday MTU hit 56.8 percent of their shots (25-of-44) from the field, including a 45 percent clip from behind the arc. LSSU rebounded from a rough opening frame, shooting just 35.5 percent from the floor and hitting just 4-of-14 shots from deep.
In the second half the Lakers were able to knock down 18-of-41 shots from the field (43.9 percent) but remained cold from distance, hitting just two of 12 shots (16.7 percent) from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes.
Still, the Lakers shrugged off their shooting woes and eventually clamped down defensively, forcing 12 turnovers, to claw back from a 19-point Huskies lead with 16:52 remaining in the second half. While they had trouble holding on to the ball, the Huskies were still able to fill the scoreboard when they got shots off. MTU shot 57.9 percent from the field in the second half.
Senior Devin Daly led the Lakers with his team-leading 10th double-double of the season. Daly poured in 29 points and produced 10 rebounds to lead the Lakers in both categories. Daly scored 22 points and recorded eight rebounds while playing the entire second half.
Akaemji Williams scored 19 of his 25 points during the second half to back up Daly in the comeback effort. Williams finished with seven assists and captured three steals.
All five starters reached double digits for the Huskies as Bryan Heath finished with a team-high 18 points. Kyle Stankowski gave Tech nine points and ten rebounds off the bench while also blocking five shots.
The Huskies committed 17 total turnovers, while the Lakers limited their mistakes to just six turnovers.
Fouls plagued both sides but had a noticeable effect on the Lakers who were whistled for 29 personal fouls and had two players exit with five fouls. Daly, center Michael Nicholson and reserve guard Carson Manger (12 points) were each limited while carrying four fouls. Both sides were whistled for nearly twice as many times on Saturday than the last time the teams met in Sault Ste. Marie on Jan. 30. LSSU was whistled for 15 fouls and Tech committed 13 in the earlier matchup, which the Lakers won 72-56.
The loss leaves the Lakers with a final mark of 5-7 on the road during the regular season.
LSSU closes the season at home against Northwood at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The Lakers will honor seniors Marcus Davis, Carlos Eubanks, Jake Blake and Daly with a special presentation between the women's and men's games.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://lssutickets.universitytickets.com, or by calling the Norris Center Ticket Office at (906) 635-2602.
