Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

Findlay, Ohio - #7 GVSU traveled to Findlay, Ohio to take on #3 Findlay in a GLIAC crossover matchup Saturday afternoon and dropped a 76-62 decision to the Oilers. Findlay jumped out to a 19-point lead at the break and held on for the key regional victory. Senior Dan Redder led all scorers with 21 points in the losing effort for the Lakers. GVSU will make a midweek trip to the Upper Peninsula on Wednesday, Feb. 14 when they take on the Michigan Tech Huskies at 7:30 pm in Houghton, Mich.

Findlay ran out to a 14-4 lead less than five minutes into the contest as the Oilers connected of five of their first six shots from the field. Junior Jason Jamerson knocked down his first three pointer of the game to get the Lakers back within seven, before Findlay rolled off a 7-0 run to go up 24-7 with just over 11 minutes to play in the opening half.

GVSU chipped away at the lead over the next four minutes cutting the lead to single digits on two different occassions. Senior Mike Hall connected on four consecutive free throws on back-to-back possessions at the 7:19 mark to cut the lead to eight. Findlay scored 17 of the next 23 points en route to taking a 45-26 halftime lead. GVSU turned the ball over eight times in the opening 20 minutes which resulted in 18 points off turnovers for the Oilers. Findlay connected on eight three pointers in the first half. Dan Redder led the Lakers with 11 points in the opening half.

The Lakers battled back in the second half cutting the 19 point halftime lead to 11 with 8:50 remaining as Mike Hall converted a three-point play. Findlay seemed to getting all the right bounces on the afternoon as witnessed by Aaron Laflin banking in a jumper from the top of the key as the shot clock expired on the very next possession. GVSU was never able to claw its way back into the game despite outscoring the Oilers 36-31 in the second half. The Lakers forced 10 turnovers in the second half and turned them into 16 points but fell 76-62.

Dan Redder knocked down 7-of-8 shots on the afternoon with seven free throws for a game-high 21 points. Jamerson tallied 14 points in the defeat and was joined by Mike Hall (10) and Callistus Eziukwu (11) in double figures. Findlay was the first team to score above 60 points in the last 13 straight games against the Lakers. The loss ends a 14 game winning streak including a nine straight GLIAC games.

The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 pm when they take on Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich. GVSU holds the all-time series record with 29 wins and 25 losses after claiming two of the teams three meetings during the 2005-06 season.