Men's Basketball Wins Thriller Over Lake Superior State 112-111 In Overtime

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University men's basketball team earned a thrilling 112-111 overtime victory over Lake Superior State Thursday night (February 1)

Northwood is now 11-11 overall, 7-8 in the GLIAC. LSSU falls to 15-6 overall, 10-5 in the GLIAC.

After a bit of a slow start offensively for the two teams, both squads got going around midway thrugh the half.  The Timberwolves scored 17 points in the final 4:33 of the half to open up a 51-41 lead at the break. Northwood shot 54.1 percent from the floor (20-37) in the opening 20 minutes, compared to LSSU at 51.7 percent (15-29). Both teams shot well from the 3-point line – NU went 8-17 while LSSU finished 5-12.

The Lakers would come out strong in the second half, chipping away at the lead until tying the score 62-62. NU went back on top 83-75 with 3:37 remaining, but the Lakers scored 15 points over the remainder of regulation to take a 90-87 lead with 15 seconds remaining.  On the final Timberwolf possession, Jermaine Myers (Ajax, Ontario) hit a clutch three-point shot with less than six seconds remaining to tie the game at 90-90 and force overtime.

Northwood would score on their first three possessions to take a six point lead to begin overtime. The Lakers, again, would not go down without a fight. The visitors would bring the game down to a three-point spread multiple times, including a one-point lead with 4.8 seconds to play. However, it was the Timberwolves who would come out on top in a thriller, 112-111. In overtime, Northwood made 16-18 from the free throw line to clinch the victory.

For the contest, Northwood shot 50.7 percent (36-71) to Lake Superior State's 52.9 percent (36-68). Lake Superior State went 15-33 from 3-point range (45.5 percent), while NU went 10-27 (37.0 percent). Northwood won the rebound battle 40-35, but the Lakers led the points in the paint bout 34-30. The NU bench out-scored LSSU 30-11

Leading the way for Northwood again was Maurice Jones (Saginaw, Mich.), who broke the points record by a Northwood player at the Bennett Sports Center with 41, adding seven assists and five rebounds. Myers added 22 of his own, including three three-pointers and four rebounds. Casey Boyle (Grayslake, Ill.) added six rebounds and three steals. LSSU was led by Devin Daly, who scored a GLIAC-record 49 points in the loss.

The Timberwolves will return to action Thursday night (February 4) for a game against Hillsdale at Riepma Arena. Game time is set for 8 p.m.