Feb. 14, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - After suffering a 12-point loss at Saginaw Valley earlier this month, the Lake Superior State men's basketball team went to the wire with the Cardinals Wednesday's rematch at Bud Cooper Gym.

The Lakers (8-17 overall, 5-11 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) failed to get a shot off during the final four seconds and lost 63-60 to SVSU. They came up just short after battling back from a nine-point deficit.

Saginaw Valley State (10-12 overall, 7-8 GLIAC) hit back-to-back three-pointers at 9:45 and 8:12 of the second half to build a 52-43 lead.

LSSU's Ryan Kuhl converted a three-point play to trim the lead to six points, 54-48, and Mark Morse hit a jumper at 4:20 to cut it to four, 54-50.

Tim VanOudheusden's put-back left SVSU with a 57-55 edge with 1:05 remaining. Cardinal Dorian Pierce answered with 39 seconds two go, and he made two free throws with 27 seconds left to make it a five-point game.

Another VanOudheusden put-back with 14 seconds left cut the lead to three points, 61-58. VanOudheusden also grabbed the rebound when SVSU missed the front end of a one-and-one a second later. LSSU's Mark Morse and SVSU's Pierce then traded free throws. After an LSSU timeout with four seconds remaining, the Lakers missed a game-tying attempt just after the buzzer sounded.

Kuhl made 8-fo-12 free throws and led the Lakers with 18 points, while Morse finished with 17. VanOudheusden and Garrett Konuszewski led LSSU rebounders with seven each. Konuszewski also totaled seven points and six assists.

LSSU shot 47.6 percent from the field, including 4-of-13 from three-point range. The Lakers made 16-of-23 free throws.

Pierce led SVSU with 14 points, followed by Lawrence Ross with 12. The Cardinals shot 44.7 percent from the field, including 6-of-19 from behind the arc. They made 15-of-23 free throws and out-rebounded LSSU, 30-29.

LSSU plays its final home game Saturday at 3 p.m. against Ferris State. Seniors Andrew Kearney and Darin Kanouse will be recognized between the women's and men's games.