HAMMOND, Ind. - Jake Ludwig led the Roosevelt men's basketball team with a game-high 23 points, but the Lakers couldn't rally back against host Purdue Northwest in a loss on Saturday afternoon.

Chandler Fuzak went 4-for-4 from the field for 10 points while Korey Ryan matched that output for Roosevelt (10-14, 6-9 CCAC), who were without starter and leading rebounder Joshua Dillingham and rookie reserve Andre Raiford Jr. in the frontcourt due to injuries suffered this past week.

Torrance Johnson led five players in double figures with 23 points to go along with 12 rebounds for the Pride (11-12, 9-6 CCAC).

Purdue Northwest led from the start, going up by 17 in the first half and keeping a double-digit lead for much of the second half.

Roosevelt cut its deficit down to eight with 76 seconds left, but that is as close as the shorthanded Lakers could get on this day.

"Their athleticism wore us out and on the boards," Roosevelt head coach Joe Griffin said after the game. "Our post and perimeter defense was too soft to stop them, especially Johnson. We weren't hot enough to bail out our poor defense and rebounding. Looking at their free throws (13-for-26), we probably should have fouled them more, but we are thin as it is.

"We willll regroup and get ready for Stritch."

Roosevelt is back at the Goodman Center this Wednesday, Feb. 1 to host Cardinal Stritch at 7:30 p.m.

Jake Ludwig was the Lakers' offensive catalyst with a game-high 23 points on Saturday. (Photo: Steve Woltmann)