Jan. 12, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State jumped out to a 48-19 halftime lead and never looked back en route to an 81-47 victory over GLIAC rival Ferris State before a sellout crowd of 3,843. GVSU improves to 18-0 overall and 6-0 in GLIAC action. The Lakers, who have now won six straight meetings with the Bulldogs, will host Mercyhurst next Thursday (Jan. 17) at 8 p.m.

Leading 9-6, GVSU went on a 17n-2 run over a span of 4:18 to build a 26-8 lead with 9:58 remaining in the opening half. Jason Jamerson started the run with a layup, followed by a Callistus Eziukwu jumper and by back-to-back three-pointers from Justin Ringler. Eziukwu slammed home a dunk and Ringler hit another three to give the Lakers a 24-8 lead. Eziukwu finished the run with a layup to up the Laker advantage to 26-8. GVSU kept the pressure on and outscored the Ferris State 18-8 to build a 48-19 advantage after 20 minutes of action. Pete Trammell scored 12 first-half points, while Eziukwu and Ringer added 11 apiece. The Lakers turned the ball over just one time in the first half, while Ferris State committed 11 miscues.

Ferris State was never able to get any closer 24 points in the second half and led by 36 (76-40) on a Ringler layup with 3:41 left in the game. GVSU scored 32 points in the paint and outscored the Bulldogs 31-20 in bench points.

The Lakers hit 48.3 percent from the floor (28-58), while Ferris State hit on just 17-of-47 shots (36.2 percent). GVSU outrebounded FSU 41-30 and recorded a season-high 14 steals. Eziukwu led the way with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and two steals. Trammell addd 15 points and four rebounds, while Ringer chipped in 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor, 3-for-3 from three-point land a 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.

Notes...Grand Valley State has won 18 straight games, the most for the Lakers as a Division II member in school history. GVSU won 21 straight games during the 1975-76 season as a member of the NAIA en route to a 30-4 season...GVSU has had winning streak of 18, 17 and 14-games under fourth-year head coach Ric Wesley...The 18-game winning streak to open the season is the second longest such streak in DI or DII men's basketball in the State of Michigan. Western Michigan opened the 1975-76 season with 19 consecutive wins...GVSU has held 12-of-its-last-16 foes under 55 points, including six under 50 points...The Laker senior class improved to 92-19.