The 21st-ranked Lake Superior State University men's basketball team put on an impressive display Saturday afternoon.
Using a combination of stingy defense, good outside shooting and deft passing, the Lakers defeated the host Hillsdale College Chargers 82-66 at Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. The Chargers are now 10-11 overall and 8-9 in the GLIAC and face the daunting task of traveling to Michigan's Upper Peninsula next week to face Michigan Tech Thursday and Northern Michigan Saturday.
LSSU shot 54.5 percent overall from the floor, hit 11 3-pointers and made 11 of its 14 free throws in a complete offensive display. On the other end, Lake Superior State frustrated the Charger offense into 44 percent shooting and 11 combined points from its top two scorers.
The Lakers took it to the Chargers in the first half, building a 43-28 lead by intermission. LSSU never trailed in the game and held a 21-3 edge in points off turnovers.
Junior center Jason Pretzer led the Hillsdale offense with 13 points and 9 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting in the game. Senior Michael Furlong came off the bench to score 9 points – a career-high – all on 3-pointers, late in the contest.
The Lakers' Alex Williams had a terrific game, leading all scorers with 24 points, nailing five 3-point baskets.