March 7, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - Senior forward Nick Freer scored a game-high 20 points to lead #2 Grand Valley State to a 76-54 GLIAC Tournament semifinal victory over Lake Superior State Friday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. Grand Valley State (32-0) will host #6 Findlay (26-3) Saturday night in the GLIAC Championship game.

Lake Superior State came out strong and led by as many as eight (16-8) in the early going. Senior center Callistus Eziukwu started an 8-0 GVSU run with a layup. Senior guard Jason Jamerson hit a three-poiter, followed by a free throw and another layup from Eziukwu. LSSU pushed its lead back to five (23-18) and led 27-24 with 6:39 remaining in the first half. The Grand Valley State defense locked down Lake Superior State and held them scoreless until the 1:13 mark. Freer hit a jumper to ignite the 12-0 run, followed by a three-point play from Eziukwu. Freer then scored seven straight points to help GVSU build a 36-27 lead. Lake Superior State's Tim VanOudheusden pulled LSSU within seven, but freshman forward Justin Ringler hit a jumper with three seconds left in the first half to give GVSU a 38-29 halftime lead.

Grand Valley State slowly built up its lead in the second half. Pete Trammell's three-pointer at the 16:29 mark to up the Laker lead to 13 (47-34). Ringler and Eziukwu followed with layups to build the GVSU lead to 17 (51-34). Freer scored on layup to give Grand Valley State a 61-40 lead and a driving layup from Tommy Fellows built the GVSU lead to 27 (76-49).

Freer led the way with 20 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots. Jason Jamerson added 13 points, 11 of which came in the first half. Eziukwu chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds, while Justin Ringler added nine points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. GVSU shot 51.0 percent from the floor (26-51) and 41.2 percent (7-17) from the three-point line. However, GVSU hit just 17-of-31 from the charity stripe (54.8 percent). The GVSU defense limited LSSU to just 36.5 percent from the floor (19-52) and 21.7 percent from the three-point line (5-23).

Grand Valley State is 61-4 at home the last four years, including a current 29-game winning streak. GVSU is 48-1 in its last 49 home games, with the lone loss (72-71) coming on a three-pointer as time expired to Saginaw Valley State. TV replays showed the three-pointer should have been two-pointer, thus sending the game into overtime.

GVSU has been known for defense during the Ric Wesley era. GVSU has held 94-of-its-125 opponents under 67 points. 73 opponents have scored less than 60 points and 36 have tallied 50 points or less.

• GVSU has held 23-of-32 foes under 55 points, including 10 under 50 points...GVSU has held 7-of-his-last-14 opponents under 50 points and prior to the FSU game GVSU had held 15 straight under 58 points.