Lakers vs. WMU
Saints top Lakers in men's basketball home opener
SAULT STE. MARIE - Aquinas held Lake Superior State's long-range shooters at bay and controlled the boards to win Saturday's non-conference men's basketball game, 70-63.
The Lakers (1-3), playing their first of eight straight home games, shot 33.9 percent from the field, including 9-of-33 from three-point range. Aquinas (4-2) was led by John Lierman, who totaled 22 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Lake Superior State trailed 35-23 at halftime after shooting only 26 percent from the field and getting out-rebounded, 21-8. Aquinas extended the lead to 19 points, 45-26, with 15:15 remaining in the second half. Micah Hudson made two three-pointers and a field goal during a 10-0 LSSU run that trimmed the lead to nine points, 45-36, with 12:06 to go.
The Saints built their lead back to 15 points inside the eight-minute mark. Garrett Konuszewski hit a three-pointer, and Scott Perkins followed by back-to-back jumpers as the Lakers closed within eight, 55-47, with 3:45 left to play. LSSU and Aquinas traded points the rest of the way.
Perkins scored 18 points, followed by Konuzewski with 16 and Hudson with 15 to lead LSSU. Hudson also topped LSSU rebounders with five. Konuszewski and Kyle Hunt totaled six assists each.
Aquinas shot 42.2 percent from the field, including 4-of-9 from three-point range, and made 28-of-35 free throws. The Saints out-rebounded the Lakers, 45-25.
LSSU was 14-of-21 at the free-throw line.
LSSU plays Hillsdale in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference home opener at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.
