KENOSHA, Wis. – The Parkside men's basketball team led from the opening minutes and never trailed Thursday night, earning a convincing 79-72 win over Lake Superior State inside De Simone Arena.
The Rangers improved to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in GLIAC play, while the Lakers fell to 7-7 overall and 1-4 in the league.
Parkside set the tone early with shot-making and pace, taking a 31-28 lead into the break despite shooting 38% (9-of-24) in the first half. The Rangers made up for it by knocking down 5-of-14 from 3-point range and going 8-of-11 at the line, while holding Lake Superior State to 12-of-36 shooting (33%) before halftime.
After the break, Parkside's offense clicked. The Rangers shot 53% (16-of-30) in the second half and kept the Lakers at arm's length the rest of the way. Lake Superior State made its push by shooting 57% (17-of-30) in the second half, but Parkside countered with timely free throws and extra possessions, finishing 21-of-29 at the stripe for the game.
Josiah Palmer continued his strong stretch with 22 points, going 6-of-11 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and 6-of-7 at the free-throw line while adding four assists. Paxton Warden followed with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting, and Luka Mateski added 17 points while living at the line with an 11-of-14 night at the stripe.
Raphael Nagau-Trouart made his first start as a Ranger and delivered a big impact on the glass, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and adding two blocks. Fawaz Surakat chipped in six rebounds and three steals, while Braden McGlothlin provided a lift off the bench with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting and 2-of-3 from deep.
Parkside finished with a 46% field-goal mark (25-of-54) and 33% from 3 (8-of-24), outscoring Lake Superior State 19-13 in points off turnovers. The Rangers also got 15 bench points and held a 36-25 edge in rebounds.
For Lake Superior State, Peter Nwoke led the way with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting and eight rebounds. Omar Suleiman added 15 points and four assists, while Harrison Sorrelle scored 11 points and Tyler Jamison chipped in 10.
Parkside will look to make it back-to-back wins Saturday when the Rangers host Saginaw Valley State at 3 p.m. CT at De Simone Arena.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
