SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University men's basketball team defeated Great Lakes Christian (Mich.) College 89-74 on Saturday afternoon at Don Ridler Field House in Southfield, Mich.

Lawrence Tech (11-12, 6-8) opened the game with a Ty Searles jumper as the Blue Devils opened a 4-0 lead before Great Lakes Christian took an 8-5 lead. Isaiah Cumberland gave Lawrence Tech the 10-8 lead to jumpstart an 8-4 run to make it 16-12 off a Searles three with 13:26 left in the first half.

Great Lakes Christian (12-9) battled back to take the lead with a pair of free-throws, 22-21 and extended the lead to 32-23 with 6:26 on the clock. The Blue Devils battled back with a 15-5 run to take a 38-37 lead into halftime. Searles gave LTU the halftime lead with a three-pointer with 27 second left on the clock.

Searles led all scorers at halftime with 23 points on 4-for-5 shooting beyond the arch. The Blue Devils shot 52 percent from the field in the first half as they held the Crusaders to 38.5 percent.

Lawrence Tech opened a 15-point lead to start the second half, taking a 62-47 lead with 11:56 left in the game. The Blue Devils maintained its lead throughout the half as the Crusaders cut it to 10 points at the 5:30 mark of the half, but Lawrence Tech kept them at bay as Searles hit a pair of free-throws to make it 79-63.

Great Lakes had one last burst, closing the gap to 81-71 with two minutes left off an 8-3 run by the Crusaders. However, the Blue Devils hit six free-throws down the stretch to stave off a late comeback, sealing an 89-74 win.

Searles led the way for Lawrence Tech with 36 points, one shy of his career high, while Myles added 20 points and 15 reboudns. Jalen Bethel finsihed with 12 points while Cumberland added six points off the bench. Basit Seidu led the Crusaders with 20 points and nine rebounds.

The Blue Devils return to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 30 when they travel to Dearborn, Mich. to face UM-Dearborn at 8 p.m.