Feb. 7, 2008

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

Allendale, Mich. - Senior center Callistus Eziukwu tallied his eighth consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds as #2 Grand Valley State claimed an 82-54 GLIAC home win over Michigan Tech. GVSU improves to 25-0 on the year and 13-0 in GLIAC action, while Michigan Tech falls to 11-10 overall and 6-7 in GLIAC play. The Lakers also claimed the 2007-08 GLIAC North Division title with the win.

The first open eight minutes had four lead changes and two ties, but a layup by freshman forward Toreau Brown at the 11:13 mark of the first half gave GVSU a 16-15 lead. Leading 22-20 with 8:38 left in the opening half, a three-pointer by freshman forward Justin Ringler gave GVSU a 25-20 lead. Senior guard Jason Jamerson scored on a layup, followed by another layup from senior center Callistus Eziukwu to up the GVSU lead to nine (29-20). Junior forward Pete Trammell gave GVSU its largest lead of the opening half (37-27) with 1:44 left.

Leading by 10 (37-27) at the break, the Lakers opened the second half with a 26-3 run over a span of 5:45. Eziukwu started the run with a layup, followed by back-to-back three-point plays from Trammell and senior forward Nick Freer. Jamerson added back-to-back three-pointers as the Laker lead increased to 53-30. Following a made free throw by the Huskies, GVSU reeled off 10 straight points, the final five from Eziukwu to up the Laker lead to 63-30 with 14:15 left in the game.

Eziukwu led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds, recording his eighth straigh double-double. Eziukwu tallied his 300th blocked shot of his career, tieing him for seventh on the all-time DII list. Trammell chipped in 13 points and a team-high four assists, while Jamerson added 10 points, four steals and three blocked shots. Senior guard L.J. Kilgore chipped in eight points, while Freer, Ringler and Brown each scored seven points. Ringler pulled down seven caroms. GVSU shot 50.8 percent from the floor, while holding Michigan Tech to just 38.9 percent from the floor. GVSU outscored MTU 38-20 in the paint, notched 23 points off MTU turnovers and tallied 13 second chance points. GVSU also recorded 17 steals and outrebounded Michigan Tech 44-27.

Notes...Head coach Ric Wesley is 99-19 (.838) in his fourth year at the helm of the Laker basketball program. Wesley leads all active coaches in the NCAA ranks with an .838 winning percentage. GVSU is 81-9 since the 2005-06 season overall, including a 44-5 record in GLIACaction. Grand Valley State is 56-4 at home under Wesley. Wesley has led GVSU to back-to-back GLIACNorth Division titles (2005-06, 2006-07).

GVSU has held 88-of-its-last-118 opponents under 67 points. 66 opponents have scored less than 60 points and 34 have tallied 50 points or less. The Lakers currently lead the nation in points yielded per game (53.5). GVSU ranks second in field goal percentage defense (36.7) and third in scoring margin (21.9). GVSU is 10th in field goal percentage (50.9).