SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team fell on the road to Lake Superior State in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division matchup, 77-69.

The first half proved to be closely contested, seeing just five lead changes. A Laker layup by Alex Williams tied the game at 7-7 at the first media timeout. The Cardinals re-gained the lead off of a Damon Bozeman three-pointer at the 12:36 mark.

Hot shooting by the visiting team aided in keeping the lead until a Cameron Metz dunk gave the Lakers a 24-23 lead. LSSU would increase that lead to 40-35 entering halftime.

The second half began with an energized Saginaw Valley team scoring nine straight points on Lake Superior State, giving it a 44-40 lead. A Caleb Davis three-pointer at the 15:18 mark gave the Cardinals a six point lead that would be held until there was under eight minutes remaining.

A Jake Blake layup would re-gain the advantage for the Lakers with just 7:03 remaining. A clutch Bozeman free throw followed by a Wade Gelhaus layup would put SVSU within one point, but that is as close as it would get. LSSU only added to their lead in the last 2:56 before closing out the victory by a score of 77-69.

SVSU falls to 5-8 overall and 1-8 in the GLIAC while LSSU improves to 16-1 on the season and 8-1 in the conference.

C.J. Turnage led the Cardinals with his first career double-double, scoring 14 points and 10 rebounds. The frehman forward's outstanding play earned him Meijer "Player of the Game" accolades.

Bozeman finished the contest with 23 points and seven boards while freshman Garrett Hall added 15 points of his own.

The Cardinals return to action Saturday, when they play host to Wayne State University in a 7:30 pm contest.