Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

Big Rapids, Mich. - Grand Valley State used a career-high 26-point performance from senior forward Mike Hall to claim a 75-68 victory at West Michigan rival Ferris State Saturday night. GVSU improves to 24-3 with the win overall and 15-3 in GLIAC action. The Lakers will host Ferris State in a GLIAC Tournament first-round game Tuesday night in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena at 8 p.m.

GVSU trailed early in the contest by a 9-6 margin, but a three-pointer by sophomore forward Pete Trammell started a 14-2 run. Junior center Callistus Eziukwu tallied a layup and a dunk, followed by another three-ball by Trammell. Jamerson added a layup and Eziukwu a pair of made free throws and GVSU held a 20-11 lead. Ferris State made a run of its own and tied the game at 25 with 5:54 left in the first half. Hall hit a pair of free throws with 27 ticks left in the first half to give GVSU a 34-33 lead heading into the lockerroom.

The Bulldogs came out of the lockerroom on fire in the second half, outscoring GVSU 15-6 in the opening seven minutes to take a 48-39 lead. Trammell hit a pair of three-pointers to keep GVSU within striking distance. Senior guard Kyle Carhart hit a pair of free throws and Hall scored on a layup to pull GVSU within two (51-49) with 9:07 left in the game. The Laker defense held FSU scoreless for over five minutes and five straight points by Hall pushed the Lakers into a 52-51 lead. Grand Valley State and Ferris State traded buckets until Dan Redder gave the Lakers the lead for good (62-60) with a pair of free throws at the 3:37 mark. GVSU held a 70-68 lead when junior guard L.J. Kilgore sealed the win with a pair of made free throws with 22 ticks left to give the Lakers a 72-68 lead. Hall scored on a three-point play for the final margin of 75-68.

Hall pulled down nine rebounds to go along with his career-high 26 points. Hall was 8-14 from the field and 9-14 from the charity stripe. Eziukwu chipped in 16 points and five rebounds, while Trammell added 12 points, all on three-pointers (4-5). Carhart scored nine and Jason Jamerson eight to round out the Laker scoring. Jamerson pulled down seven rebounds, while Trammell and Kilgore eached dished out four assists. GVSU shot 45.3 percent from the floor (24-53), 46.2 percent from the 3-point line (6-13) and 75 percent from the charity stripe (21-28). GVSU held a 40-36 advantage on the boards. The Laker defense limited Ferris State to just 35.5 percent shooting from the floor (22-62).

"This was a nice win for our team," said third-year Laker head coach Ric Wesley. "We faced a lot of adversity tonight and I thought we did a nice job of getting through that adversity for the win," added Wesley.

GVSU will not get much time to savor the win as the Lakers will entertain Ferris State in a GLIAC Tournament first-round game Tuesday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.