Feb. 21, 2007

Box Score

University Center, Mich. - Senior Kyle Carhart poured in a career-high 23 points as the #10 Lakers improved to 23-3 overall and 14-3 in GLIAC play with a 76-71 road win against Saginaw Valley State (10-14, 7-10) Wednesday evening in University Center, Mich. GVSU connected on a season-high 23 free throws in the game as the Lakers shot 82.1 percent from the charity stripe. Grand Valley will close out the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 24 when they travel to Big Rapids, Mich. to take on West Michigan rival, Ferris State, at 7:30 pm.

The Lakers and Cardinals battled back and forth through the opening six minutes as the lead changed hands four times and was tied once. SVSU would reel off a 6-0 run and claim a seven point lead (17-10) after a Martell Summers three-pointer with 12:43 to play in the half. Senior Dan Redder ended the run with a layup before another three, this time by Lawrence Ross, extended the lead to a game-high eight points.

GVSU battled back and regained the lead with 7:22 to play when Carhart tallied six consecutive points on a three-point play and a three-pointer to give Grand Valley a 23-22 lead. A jumper by Chris Johnston gave SVSU back the lead before Carhart answered once again with a jumper of his own and his eighth consecutive point. A pair of layups by Jason Jamerson and Carhart upped the Laker lead to five (29-24) with 4:25 to go in the half. Saginaw Valley would not fold as it fought back and eventually took a one point lead into the break thanks to a pair of three-pointers by Dorian Pierce, including one with eight seconds remaining to take a 36-35 halftime lead.

GVSU outscored SVSU 20-2 in the paint in the opening half. The Cardinals filled it up from behind the arc as only six of their 36 points came from inside the three point stripe. Saginaw Valley connected on 10-of-18 three-pointers for a 55.6 percentage from deep.

The Lakers came out firing in the second half, regaining the lead thanks in part to a 7-0 run to start the half. Callistus Eziukwu opened the half with a layup, sophomore Pete Trammell knocked down a pair of free throws and guard L.J. Kilgore connected on a three-pointer to give the Lakers a 42-36 lead. GVSU would extend its lead to a game-high 11 points twice in the second half, at the 8:35 mark when Eziukwu scored on a jumper and 36 seconds later when Carhart connected on his third three-pointer of the night.

The Cardinals made it an interesting contest cutting the lead to a single possesssion with less than a minute left on a Luke Laser three. Mike Hall would answer on the other end as the Lakers milked the shot clock down before Hall dropped in a jumper with 26 seconds to play. SVSU's Mike Zuiderveen cut the margin back down to three with a jumper of his own less than 10 seconds later. It would not be enough though as four free throws by the Lakers, two by Carhart and a pair by Joel Whymer, would close out the 76-71 contest for the Lakers.

The Laker defense stepped up in the second half holding the host Cardinals to 28.6 percent shooting from behind the arc as they wen 4-for-14 in the second half. Grand Valley has won three consecutive games and 17 of its last 18. Carhart was a career-high 7-of-9 from the field, including a season-high three three-pointers. Hall and Eziukwu each fell one rebound short of a double-double in the game as Hall tallied 13 points and nine rebounds while Eziukwu poured in 11 points and nine boards. Senior Dan Redder scored in double-digits for the fourth time in five games as he tallied 11 points in the win. GVSU leading scorer, Jason Jamerson, was held to six points but was able to find other ways to fuel the Lakers as he led the team with five assists and two steals.

The Lakers return to action at 7:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 24 when they travel to take on West Michigan rival Ferris State in their final contest of the regular season.