Portsmouth, Ohio – Shawnee State men's basketball fell on the road on Saturday afternoon, losing to NCAA Division II opponent Lake Erie (Ohio) 71-61.

SSU would fall behind early, with Lake Erie maintaining a six to eight point lead for most of the half. Shawnee State would cut the lead to two on a Jayllen Carter (SR/Portsmouth, Ohio) free throw with 3:51 to halftime, but the Bears would get no closer in the first half. Gabe Kynard would push the Lake Erie lead to 10 close to halftime, but the Bears would rally in the last minute to cut the lead to five at halftime, 39-34.

Frederick Moore (SR/Cincinnati, Ohio)'s basket early in the second half would draw Shawnee State to within one at 39-38, but that would be as close to the Storm as SSU would get. Lake Erie would immediately respond with a Brogan Scott three, and would fend off Shawnee State for the rest of the game. Lake Erie would hit free throws down the stretch to win by 10, 71-61.

EJ Onu (FR/Cleveland, Ohio) had 16 points to lead SSU. Jayllen Carter added 12 and Frederick Moore had eight points and 10 rebounds for SSU.

Lake Erie were led by Gabe Kynard's 19 points, with Mitch Loomis adding eight points and 10 rebounds.

The loss drops Shawnee State to 6-3 on the year. Lake Erie improves to 6-3. The all-time series is now tied up at 2-2.

Shawnee State men's basketball return to action on Friday, November 15 when they take on Ave Maria (Fla.) in game one of the Johnson Suns Invitational. Tipoff is set for 6:00pm.