Strong second half propels Laker men
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Lake Superior State, playing without injured scoring leader Kyle Hunt, played an exceptional second half and landed four players in double figures en route to a 78-69 men's basketball road victory over Ohio Dominican on Thursday.
Senior guard Micah Hudson led LSSU with 25 points and four assists, while senior center Justin Williams, sophomore guard Khalid Wells and freshman guard Derek Billing added 13 points each. Four of LSSU's five starters, including sophomore forward Derek Kinney, had five or more rebounds.
Hudson, who averages 10.9 points per game, finished one point off his season high. He was 7-of-15 from the field, including 6-of-11 from three-point range. The Lakers made 10-of-19 three-point attempts for the game, including 4-of-7 during the second half.
LSSU (13-5 overall, 7-4 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), which has won five straight, continued its string of solid shooting performances and hitting at least 50 percent from the field. The Lakers, who overcame an early nine-point deficit and led 35-29 at halftime, shot 57.1 percent from the field during the second half. They shot 50 percent (25-of-50) for the game.
LSSU is 51.7 percent (125-of-242) from the field during its last five outings.
Wells, who replaced Hunt in the starting lineup, and Billing totaled five assists each. The Lakers committed only 12 turnovers despite totaling six turnovers during the first 10 minutes of the game.
LSSU extended a single-digit lead to 14 points, 65-51, with 5:42 remaining. Ohio Dominican (4-13 overall, 1-10 GLIAC) made 29 field goals to LSSU's 25 and shot 41.4 percent from the field, but made only 4-of-17 free throws for 23.5 percent. Five players scored in double figures of ODU, which was led by Morgan Jones with 17 points.
Both teams totaled 39 rebounds.
The Lakers play at Tiffin at 1 p.m. Saturday.
