Dec. 4, 2008

Box Score

TIFFIN, Ohio - Sophomore Justin Ringler scored a career-high 23 points to extend Grand Valley State's season-opening win streak to six game. The No. 7 Lakers (6-0) routed the Tiffin Dragons 76-57 on Thursday night in their first GLIAC road match.

Ringler also led the Lakers with a game-high nine rebounds and five assists, while senior Jerret Smith chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Grand Valley State recorded 10 steals in the game and shot 59.5 percent from the floor (25-of-42).

The Lakers trailed in the early going until a Ringler jumper gave GVSU a 12-11 lead with 13:29 remaining in the opening half. The teams traded baskets for much of the first half until a free throw by sophomore Toreau Brown with just less than five minutes left in the first put the Lakers up 30-29. Grand Valley State held the lead and two free throws by Smith in the final minute ended the first half with GVSU up 38-33.

Redshirt freshman Alvin Storrs started off the second half with a three-pointer to give Grand Valley State an eight-point lead. The lead jumped to double digits when Smith hit a jumper to make the score 49-38 at the 15:26 mark of the second half. Ringler scored off his own missed shot to push the lead to 21 at 66-45 with exactly five minutes left in the game. The Lakers held that lead until the Dragons closed the game with a jumper to make the final score 76-57.