SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) men's basketball team (26-6, 16-4 GLIAC) came away with a 70-61 victory over the Rangers of Wisconsin-Parkside (14-15, 11-9 GLIAC) in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament on Wednesday. 

Tyson Edmondson (Ypsilanti, Mich.) opened up the scoring with a three 15 seconds into the game, but both teams would go back and forth in the early stages, exchanging the lead ten times within the next ten minutes of action with neither side giving an inch. Then, after being tied at 19-19, Kingsley Perkins (Ypsilanti, Mich.) would get to work inside with a pair of baskets to help give his team some separation. The Rangers managed to get back within two, but a three from Andy Soma (Traverse City, Mich.) would kickstart a 12-3 run that was capped off with a three from Hunter Soper (Lexington, Mich.) as the Lakers took a 38-29 advantage into the halftime break.

Edmondson would open up the second half with a three to push the lead back out to double figures, but the Rangers were able to claw their way back to keep the game close. The Lakers continued to respond, holding onto a slim lead despite Parkside twice getting back to within one, but after a pair of baskets from Edmondson to give his team some breathing room, the Lakers were able to close out the game at the free throw line to earn their place in the GLIAC Semifinals. 

Edmondson led his team in scoring with 15 points on the night with Adam Harakow (Edmonton, Alta.) close behind with 14 points of his own off the bench. Meanwhile, Perkins and Soper also finished in double figures with 12 points each with Perkins also notching 11 rebounds for the double-double.

The Lakers will now turn their attention to the GLIAC Semifinals in Houghton, Mich. against the No. 3 seeded Ferris State Bulldogs with tipoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m.