It's official. Lake Superior State enters the GLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament as the hottest team in the conference.

An 84-67 win over Purdue Northwest on Saturday afternoon in Hammond, IN sent the Lakers (18-11,12-8 GLIAC) into the postseason on a conference-best seven game winning streak.

The big story with Saturday's smashing of the Pride (14-13,10-10 GLIAC) is that the two teams play each other in Sault Ste. Marie, MI in the GLIAC Quarterfinals. That match was set in stone before the opening tipoff. By the final horn, there was a clearly established favorite for the game, as the Lakers look every bit like an alpha predator in the GLIAC entering the tournament.

Omar Suleiman and Karter Richards each scored 19 points for Lake State. Richards shot 6-for-6 in the game, continuing his outstanding redshirt freshman campaign. Harrison Sorrrelle hit four three-pointers, scoring 18 points. Drew Hess struck for 15 off the bench.

Richards scored the first basket of the game, and the Lakers led the rest of the way. 7:28 into the game, Richards scored again, putting the Lakers up by double-digits at 20-9. While the Pride went on a quick run to cut the game to 28-22 in the next five minutes, the Lakers quickly restored a double-digit lead  Sorrelle's three with four and a half minutes left in the half set that double-digit advantage as the permanent state of affairs.

The Lakers hit 13 threes in the game and shot nearly 55% from the field.

The two teams meet for the third time this year midweek in the single elimination tournament. The Lakers beat PNW 85-68 back on January 2nd, hammering the Pride 58-41 in the second half. Sorrelle scored 27 points in that game, and Suleiman scored 19.

Wednesday's game between the Lakers and the Pride tips off at 7:00 PM. Buy your tickets now to see the GLIAC Quarterfinals between LSSU and Purdue Northwest live at the Bud Cooper Gymnasium online or at the Norris Center box office.