Feb. 11, 2006

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State senior guard Courtney James hit a pair of free throws with :08 seconds left in overtime to give the Lakers a 71-69 victory over #7 Findlay. 16th-ranked GVSU improves to 20-3 overall and 12-2 in GLIAC, while Findlay falls to 21-3 and 12-2. GVSU moved into first place in the GLIAC North Division with the win.

Findlay opened the second half with a 19-9 scoring run and turned a 32-29 halftime lead into a 51-38 advantage when Oiler guard Dustin Pfeifer hit a three-pointer at the 14:37 mark. However, GVSU's clawed its way back into the game with an 8-0 run, keyed by solid defense timely shooting. Junior guard Kyle Carhart started the comeback with a jumper from the left baseline and sophomore center Callistus Eziukwu hit a jumper from the paint to pull GVSU within seven. Senior forward Jeff Grauzer and sophomore guard Jason Jamerson each scored to pull the Lakers within five (51-46) at the 11:57 mark. Courtney James and junior forward Mike Hall each connected on a pair of free throws to cut the Oiler lead down to three (55-52), but a pair of Brent Schnipke free throws and clutch three-pointer by Pfeifer upped Findlay's lead to eight (60-52).

"I am so proud of how this team never stopped competing," said second-year head coach Ric Wesley. "We trailed by 13 points and never panicked and then we were down eight with under six minutes left and answered the bell once again," added Wesley.

Jamerson and sophomore guard L.J. Kilgore came up with key back-to-back steals for the Lakers. Jamerson hit a layup following his steal and Kilgore converted a pair of free throws after being fouled on his way to basket to pull the Lakers within four (60-56). Findlay hit a pair of throws, but Dan Redder scored on layup after taking a pass in the paint from Jamerson. Carhart hit one of two free throws and Eziukwu gave GVSU its first lead (62-61) since the 1:28 mark of the first half with a short jumper in the paint. Pfeifer quickly put the Oilers back on top (65-63) with a three-point play with 1:48 left. Eziukwu hit one of two free throws and Jamerson rebounded a Findlay miss with 44 ticks left. Eziukwu was once again fouled in the paint and hit both free throws to give the Lakers a 66-65 lead. Jamerson came up with a with a steal and was fouled. Jason hit one of two free throws to put the Lakers up two (67-65) with 29 ticks left. Findlay's Pfeifer once again came up big with a jumper to tie the game at 67. GVSU's Eziukwu missed a 10 foot jumper at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

Neither team scored in overtime until Pfeifer hit a pair of free throws to put the Oilers up two at the 1:09 mark, but GVSU's Jamerson came back with a jumper to tie the contest at 69-69. Finlday was looking for a lead when Pfeifer drove the lane, but Eziukwu swatted his shot into the hands of Kyle Carhart to set up GVSU's final shot for the win. The Lakers worked the shot clock down and James was fouled by Findlay's Frank Phillips with eight ticks left to set James' game-winning free throws. The Oilers Dorian Bass missed a three-pointer as time expired and GVSU had a 71-69 GLIAC win.

Dan Redder led GVSU with 16 points, while Jason Jamerson notched his second double-double of the year with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jason added three assists and four steals. Courtney James added nine points, while Mike Hall chipped in eight points. L.J. Kilgore added a solid game with four points, three assists and three steals. The GVSU bench outscored the Findlay bench by a 31-14 margin. GVSU outrebounded Findlay 43-34.

"This is nice win for our team against an outstanding opponent in Finlday," added Wesley.

Notes...GVSU has now won 10 straight games...The Findlay loss snapped a school-record 17-game winning streak...GVSU picked up its 20th victory of the season, marking the first time since the 2000-01 season that GVSU won 20 games...