|
Strong Start Can't Carry LSSU Lakers In Elite Eight
 ---Photo courtesy of Dallas Baptist University---- EVANSVILLE, Ind.---It was the end of the line for the Lake Superior State University men’s basketball team on Tuesday, as the Lakers lost to Dallas Baptist, 98-85, in the NCAA Elite Eight in Evansville, Indiana. The Lakers led the entire first half, and led, 38-30, just before halftime, but the Patriots (34-4) went on a big run early in the second half to build a 13-point lead. LSSU Coach Steve Hettinga says his team gave its all. “Hats off to my guys,” said Hettinga, who has coached LSSU for 18 seasons. “I thought we played super hard. Credt to DBU. They played a great game and made us uncomfortable. But I have no regrets with the group that I have. I wouldn’t trade teams with anybody in the country.” The Lakers committed a season-high 29 turnovers as the Patriots tried, successfully, to speed the game up late in the first half and early in the second half. Lake State’s 38-30 lead became a 55-42 deficit thanks to a massive 25-4 Dallas Baptist run that turned the game around. Lake State cut that 13-point deficit down to three at 73-70 with just under seven minutes left, but could not get over the hump down the stretch. Devin Womack led LSSU with 20 points, and Tyson Edmondson added 17. Hunter Soper added 13 points. All three of them are seniors on the Lake State roster that included six seniors. “I’m disappointed that we couldn’t get farther, but nothing to hang our heads about,” Hettinga said. “They had one heck of a run for two straight years, doing things that Lake State has never done before. I couldn’t be prouder.” Ricky Lujan scored a game-high 27 points to lead Dallas Baptist. The Lakers finish their season with a 30-7 record, after finishing behind Michigan Tech in the GLIAC regular season standings, losing in the GLIAC championship game to Northern Michigan, but redeeming themselves with three wins to take the NCAA Midwest Regional in Illinois. |
