Billing scores 26 and Kinney adds 25 against Finlandia
SUPERIOR, Wis. - A perfect 17-for-17 free-throw shooting performance during the second half enabled the Lake Superior State men's basketball team to take control of Saturday's Merrill Thompson Classic consolation game against Finlandia and win, 89-72.
LSSU (4-1) also shot 52 percent from the field (13-of-25) during the second half to pull away from a slim 42-41 halftime lead. The Lakers had the game in hand, 78-62, with 4 1/2 minutes remaining.
Sophomore guard Derek Billing totaled 26 points, five rebounds and five assists to lead LSSU. Junior forward Derek Kinney added 25 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore center Cameron Metz scored 12 points, and freshman guard Alex Williams came off the bench and added 10.
Billing, Metz and Kinney were a combined 17-of-21 at the free-throw line for the game. LSSU was 24-of-29 as a team.
Anthony Grandberry scored 15 points, and Keith Arnold added 13 to lead Finlandia (0-2), which is coached by former Lake Superior State coach Terry Smith.
LSSU shot 46 percent from the field, including 7-of-16 from three-point range. The Lions shot 46.6 percent from the field, including 7-of-28 from behind the arc. They were 11-of-15 at the free-throw line.
LSSU committed a season-low seven turnovers during the contest.
Lake Superior State plays at Indianapolis at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 as part of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference vs. Great Lakes Valley Conference Crossover Tournament.
