SAULT ST. MARIE, Mich. – The Parkside men's basketball team traveled north to face No. 19 Lake Superior State in GLIAC action on Thursday evening. The Rangers went toe-to-toe with the Lakers in the first half, trailing by just four at the break 41-37, but struggled offensively in the final 20 minutes as Lake Superior State pulled away. With the loss, Parkside moves to 14-11 overall and 11-6 in GLIAC play.
Inside the Box Score
- Josiah Palmer led the Rangers offensive charge in the loss. Palmer contributed a team leading 19 points while shooting 5-9 from beyond the arc.
- Nick Brown supplied the Rangers with 12 points and five rebounds.
How it Happened
The Rangers came out strong in the first half, trading baskets with Lake Superior State in a tightly contested opening 20 minutes.
Josiah Palmer caught fire early, knocking down three three-pointers to help Parkside keep pace.
Nick Brown and
Fawaz Surakat added key buckets in the paint, while the Rangers' defense forced several turnovers to stay within striking distance. A late tip-in by Brown just before the half trimmed the deficit to four, as Parkside entered the break trailing 41-37.
The second half would be a different story for the Rangers. They would go from shooting 46.7% in the opening half of play to a meager 25% in the second half of action. Lake Superior State took control in the second half, gradually extending their lead over Parkside. The Rangers struggled to find their offensive rhythm early, missing several shots while the Lakers capitalized on fastbreak opportunities. Despite efforts from
Josiah Palmer and
Jack Rose to keep Parkside in the game, Lake Superior's strong inside presence, led by Kingsley Perkins, made it difficult for the Rangers to gain momentum.
Nick Brown and
Fawaz Surakat contributed second-chance points, but the Lakers' sharp three-point shooting pushed the deficit beyond reach. Parkside continued to battle late, with a three from Surakat and a fastbreak layup by
Rokas Castillo providing a small spark. However, the Lakers maintained their dominance, closing out the game with a commanding 80-54 victory over the Rangers.
Up Next
The Rangers will now travel to Ferris State on Saturday for more GLIAC action. Tip from Big Rapids is set for 3 p.m. EST. Coverage of the game can be accessed at ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
