Jan. 19, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State senior center Callistus Eziukwu led the way with 23 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots as the #2 Lakers claimed a 64-58 victory over #13 Gannon. GVSU improves to 20-0 overall and 8-0 in GLIAC action, while the Knights fall to 15-2 and 7-1. GVSU will next be in action at Northwood Thursday, Jan. 24.

Gannon led for the first 14:38 of the contest an built a 20-14 lead with 7:37 left in the opening stanza. Freshman forward Justin Ringler gave the Lakers their first lead of the game (23-22) with a layup at the 4:46 mark of the first half. Gannon scrapped its way back into the lead (28-25) with back-to-back three-pointers by guard Joe Lindsey, but four unanswered baskets by Eziukwu gave GVSU a 33-28 lead with 1:17 left in the opening half. Gannon pulled to within three (33-30) with a pair of free throws with seven seconds left.

GVSU and Gannon traded buckets to open the second half, but Nick Freer slammed home a high feed from L.J. Kilgore and Pete Trammell scored on a layup to give the Lakers a 39-31 lead. Leading by five (41-36), Eziukwu started a 6-0 run with a layup, followed by a pair of free throws from Trammell. Eziukwu then gave the Lakers their largest lead of the game (47-36)with a dunk off a missed shot at the 10:03 mark. Gannon answered quickly with a 7-0 run to cut the GVSU lead down to four (47-43) with 7:17 left. Freer hit a pair of free throws and Trammell hit another jumper for the Lakers to build the lead back to eight (51-43). Gannon hung around trailed by just three on two occasions in the final three minutes. GU's George Johnson hit a three with 1:32 left to pull the Knights within three (58-55).

Senior guard Jason Jamerson then took over the game. Gannon had the ball down three when Jamerson recorded a steal drove down for a layup and was fouled. He hit the free throw to give GVSU a 61-55 lead. Jamerson rebounded a missed shot and was foul with 35 seconds left. He hit a pair of free throws to give GVSU a 63-55 lead. Gannon hit a late three and L.J. Kilgore hit a free throw for the final margin.

Senior all-american candidate Callistus Eziukwu recorded his third straight double-double with a season-high 23 points and 11 rebounds. Eziukwu added a season-high seven blocked shots. Pete Trammell added nine points, while L.J. Kilgore chipped in eight points and six assists. Jason Jamerson added seven points and Nick Freer six. Justin Ringer scored six and Joel Whymer five. The Lakers hit 25-53 shots from the floor (47.2 percent), recorded 11 steals and turned the ball over just 13 times. The Laker defense held Gannon to 37.5 percent shooting from the floor (21-56) and forced 18 turnovers.

Notes...Grand Valley State set a DI-DII state of Michigan record by winning its 20th straight game to start a season. Western Michigan previously held the record with 19 straight wins to open a season (1975-76)... GVSU's current 23-game home winning streak tied the school record established from 1990-91...The Grand Valley State senior class improved to 94-19 during their careers...GVSU is 76-9 since the 2005-06 season overall, including a 39-5 record in GLIAC action. Grand Valley State is 55-4 at home under Wesley.