Laker men make up for first-half mishaps with strong second half at NMU
MARQUETTE - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team overcame a rough first half that included six missed layups and dominated Northern Michigan in the second half to win 68-64 Thursday at the Berry Events Center.
The Lakers (11-11 overall, 6-9 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) not only avenged a Jan. 14 home loss to the Wildcats (8-14 overall, 4-11 GLIAC), but improved to 6-0 on NMU's homecourt dating back to the 2005-06 season.
After trailing 37-28 at halftime and falling behind by 12 points during the first minute of the second half, LSSU took off on an 11-0 run aided by two three-pointers Derek Billing and one by Alex Williams. Derek Kinney made back-to-back baskets to give the Lakers their first lead of the second half, 43-42, with 13:32 remaining. Kinney's shots ignited a 12-0 run that included a three-pointer and field goal by Kyle Hunt and another Williams triple.
Northern Michigan trimmed a nine-point deficit to three points, 55-52, with 6:28 remaining, but Billing answered with his fifth three-pointer of the game to protect LSSU's lead.
Billing was 5-of-6 from behind the arc and led the Lakers with 23 points. Williams was 3-of-5 and scored 13 points, and Hunt finished with 10 points and a team-leading seven rebounds. Kinney scored nine points.
LSSU shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 12-of-20 for 60 percent during the second half. The Lakers were 10-of-17 from behind the arc and 12-of-20 at the free-throw line.
Haki Stampley and DeAndre Taylor scored 16 points each to lead NMU, which shot 37.3 percent from the field, including 5-of-19 from three-point range. The Wildcats made 15-of-22 free throws. They committed only eight turnovers to LSSU's 14.
LSSU held a 36-35 rebounding edge.
Lake Superior State plays at 3 p.m. Saturday at Michigan Tech.
