Jan. 3, 2007

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Junior guard Jason Jamerson hit a 3-pointer to break a 40-40 deadlock with 53 seconds left in the game to fuel a 7-0 run that enabled Grand Valley State to claim a 48-43 victory over Michigan Tech Wednesday night in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers improve to 11-2 overall and 3-2 in GLIAC action, while Michigan Tech falls to 8-7 overall and 3-3 in GLIAC action.

MTU took a quick 6-0 lead at the 18:16 mark of the first half and GVSU was held scoreless until junior guard L.J. Kilgore hit a jumper at 14:39 of the opening stanza. MTU was held without a field goal until Josh Makela scored with 6:43 left in the first half, while GVSU went on a 11-0 run to build an 11-6 lead. Leading 14-13, GVSU center Callistus Eziukwu hit a jumper, followed by a Jason Jamerson layup and a Jamerson three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lakers a 24-13 lead at the half.

"We struggled a bit offensively at the start of the game, but we never let out defense down and when you hold a team without a field goal for over eleven minutes (11:26) you are playing good defense," said GVSU held coach Ric Wesley.

The Lakers built a 29-16 lead at the 17:05 mark of the second half when Dan Redder completed a three-point play with a bucket and free throw. However, a 3-pointer by Radayl Richardson at the 7:18 mark concluded a 15-2 run for the Huskies and tied the game at 31-31.

"We had a lot of good looks during that stretch when Michigan Tech made the comeback, but we just couldn't get anything to fall," said Wesley.

Michigan Tech took a brief lead (34-32) when Richardson hit another 3-pointer, but Jamerson answered with a 3-pointer a minute later to give the Lakers a 35-34 lead. The teams traded buckets until Richardson hit a jumper from the left wing to tie the game at 40-40 with 1:10 remaining. Following the Jamerson 3-pointer that put GVSU up 43-40, Eziukwu and Kyle Carhart each hit a pair of free throws to give GVSU a 47-40 lead. MTU's Tim Strom hit a three to pull the Huskies within four (47-43), but Carhart sealed the win with a free throw with 10 seconds left for the final margin of 48-43.

Jamerson led the Lakers with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Callistus Eziukwu added eight points and 10 rebounds. Kyle Carhart chipped in eight points. The Lakers shot just 30.4 percent from the floor, but outscored the Huskies 15-6 from the free throw line. GVSU tallied seven steals and seven blocked shots, while turning the ball over just 10 times. MTU shot just 28.3 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 13 times.