Jan. 25, 2007

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Allendale, Mich. - The #8-ranked Lakers (17-2, 8-2) held visiting Wayne State (8-9, 4-5) to 27.5 percent shooting en route to a 54-44 GLIAC win Thursday night in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. Jason Jamerson and Kyle Carhart provided stifling defense the entire night as the GLIAC's leading scorer, Kris Krzyminski, was held 15 points below his season average with just nine points on the night. Jamerson and Mike Hall led the Lakers with 14 points apiece. The Lakers will host Ashland on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 pm in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

The Lakers and Warriors battled to a stalemate in the first half as the largest lead only reached seven by GVSU. The Warriors were held scoreless for a span of four minutes near the end of the first half but the Lakers were unable to pull away as Wayne State cut it to a 24-22 halftime margin in favor of the Lakers. Callistus Eziukwu led the Lakers in the first half as he tallied six points and swatted away four shots in the opening 20 minutes.

Grand Valley continued to try and pull away in the second half but the pesky Warriors would not let the lead get above six during the first 15 minutes. The Lakers stretched its lead to 10 with a 6-0 run capped off by a Mike Hall layup with 2:23 to play in the game. GVSU would connect on 7-of-12 free throws over the final two minutes to hold on for the 54-44 victory.

Mike Hall and Jason Jamerson both fell just short of a double-double as they each tallied 14 points. Hall ripped down nine rebounds and Jamerson pulled down eight. Eziukwu scored eight points, tallied seven rebounds, and swatted away a season-high six shots. Wayne State's Kris Krzyminski entered the contest leading the GLIAC and ranking sixth in Division II with 24.6 ppg, but was held to just nine points as Carhart and Jamerson held the shooter to 2-of-11 from the floor.

The win was Grand Valley's 11th straight overall and fifth straight in GLIAC play. The nation's leading scoring defense lowered its average to 51.5 allowed per game as Wayne State tallied just 44 points. Nine straight opponents have been unable to score more than 60 points against the Lakers. Ashland will have the next chance to reach the 60-point plateau this Saturday as the Lakers will host the Eagles in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena at 3 pm. Ashland enters with a 14-7 overall and 6-5 GLIAC record after dropping an 81-78 decision at Ferris State.