SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Lawrence Technological University men's basketball team lost a thriller to Siena Heights University, 71-67, at home in the Don Ridler Field House on November 20th. They move to 4-4 this season and 2-1 in the WHAC. Despite the loss, Ty Searles (SR/Pontiac, Mich.) was a standout for the Blue Devils with 28 points on the night.

Searles shot 10-of-24 from the field and was perfect on the line, going 6-of-6.  He also had a team-high 3 assists.  Leading the Blue Devils on the boards was a three-way tie with Jalen Bethel (FR/Columbus, Ohio), Alec Ivanovic, and Devonte Myles (SR/Tampa, Fla.) grabbing 8 rebounds each.  Bethel also hit double digits with 13 points.  Carter Frantz(FR/Dansville, Mich.) led the team in threes, going 3-of-5.

The Saints were led by Keith Jordan Jr., who had 21 points and was a force all over the court, collecting 8 rebounds.  Josh Winowiecki and DeMarco Dickerson were also big contributors for Siena Heights, with Winowieck scoring 17 points and grabbing 4 rebounds, while Dickerson notched 12 with 8 boards. 

Siena Heights led for most of the game, but the Blue Devils refused to give up, fighting their way back into the game over and over, with LTU outscoring them in the second half.  The Saints had the edge in shooting, going 28-of-56 to LTU's 24-of-64, and also out-rebounded the Blue Devils, 45-33.

Siena Heights took the lead early, going up by 10 halfway through first. The Blue Devils were down until the final five minutes of the first, when Searles tied it up at 30, hitting a jumper after fighting for a jump ball off a rebound. Siena's Winowiecki responded, but Alek Ivanovic (SO/Macomb, Mich.) nailed a three-point shot to take the lead at 33-32. The teams traded shots, tying it again at 35, before Siena Heights went on an 8-point run. Sanna Sisawo (FR/Oak Park, Mich.) broke the drought to pull the Blue Devils within 6, but Winowiecki hit a free for the Saints to close the half at 44-37.

The Saints took control again to start the second half, but Deylon Blakely started LTU's comeback, hitting a timely three-pointer to cut the lead to 2.  It was a back-and-forth game through much of the second half, but Siena forged ahead, going up by 12 with just under 3 minutes to play.  Searles went on a tear, scoring 7 unanswered points in less than a minute, cutting the Saints lead to 5 with 2 minutes remaining.  Frantz added a clutch three point shot, making it 69 – 67 with 40 seconds to go, keeping LTU's hope alive, but DeMarco added 2 frees for the Saints to end the game, giving Lawrence Tech their first conference loss of the season.

The Blue Devils take a break for Thanksgiving before heading to Kalamazoo College for a tournament on Friday, November 23 and Saturday, November 24. They play the host of the tournament, Kalamazoo, on Friday and Cincinnati Christian University on Saturday.