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SAULT STE. MARIE – The Lake Superior State men's basketball team celebrated another successful season and honored two seniors during its annual banquet, which was held Saturday at the Christopher Columbus Hall.

LSSU coach Steve Hettinga and his staff said farewell to seniors Mike Smutny and Jordan Dasuqi. Smutny (Saline, Mich.), who will also be the student speaker at LSSU's 2017 Commencement, received the Tom Thornton Award that recognizes the student athlete who has persevered through tough times with a great attitude and team spirit. The fifth-year senior center played a sixth-man role in the post and finished his career with 457 points and 217 rebounds in 113 games.

Dasuqi (Clarkston, Mich.), a shooting guard, totaled 951 points and 278 rebounds in 119 collegiate games. He averaged 8.0 points per game in 2016-17. Smutny and Dasqui led the Lakers in three-point field-goal percentage. They combined to shoot 68-of-144 from behind the arc for 47.2 percent.

All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and All-Midwest Region first-team honoree Akaemji Williams was named Lake Superior State's most-valuable player. Other special awards included Newcomer of the Year (Malek Adams), Most-Improved (Blake Marquardt) and Bud Cooper Coaches Award (Tim Cairnduff).

Williams, a 5-8 guard from Pontiac, Mich., averaged 21.5 points, 7.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game for the Lakers in 2016-17. He ranked third nationally in steals, was fourth in assists and 33rd in scoring. This season he recorded eight double doubles of points and assists and scored 30 or more points in six outings. He has 1,418 points to his credit through three seasons with the Lakers. Williams was also named to the 2017 GLIAC All-Defensive Team.

Adams, a freshman from Grand Ledge, Mich., appeared in all 26 games and averaged 4.5 points per game. He hit season highs of 18 points during victories over Tiffin and Northwood.

Marquardt (Oshkosh, Wis.) is a 6-4 sophomore forward who earned 19 starts and averaged 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 2016-17. He reached double figures in 13 games, including a double double of 15 points and 10 rebounds against Ohio Dominican. He scored a career-high 30 points against Davenport and added a GLIAC season-high of 28 points against Findlay.

Cairnduff, a sophomore guard from Morley, Mich., red-shirted for LSSU in 2014-15 and played his 2015-16 season and Mid-Michigan Community College. He returned to the lineup in January, 2017, and appeared in 16 games as a back-up point guard.

The Lakers (16-10 overall) finished third overall in the GLIAC and second in the North Division with a 13-8 record.