March 8, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - #2 Grand Valley State senior center Callistus Eziukwu tallied a career-high 31 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a 73-67 GLIAC Tournament Championship game victory over #6 Findlay. GVSU (33-0) will in all probability host the NCAA DII Great Lakes Regionla Tournament beginning next Saturday (March 15). The NCAA DII selection show will air Sunday night (March 9) at 10:30 p.m. on NCAAsports.com.

Grand Valley State jumped out to an early lead on Findlay. Eziukwu opened the game with a bucket in the paint and when freshman forward Justin Ringler hit a free throw with 14:42 left in the first half the Lakers had a 19-7 lead. Findlay cut the lead to six on back-to-back three-pointers from Marcus Parker and Josh Bostic pulled UF within six (19-13). After trading baskets, GVSU built its lead back to 11 (28-17) with a layup and a dunk from Eziukwu and a three-pointer from senior guard Jason Jamerson. The Lakers led 32-24 after a Bostic jumper from the free throw line, but Junior forward Pete Trammell answered with a driving layup.

"I though we came out really strong and played well for the entire first half," said fourth-year head coach Ric Wesley. "We also had a nice spurt in the final five minutes of the first half that enabled us to build on our lead," added Wesley.

GVSU led 34-24 with 5:26 remaining in the first half when Eziukwu hit a short jumper in the paint. Findlay's Lee Roberts hit a pair of free throws, but Trammell drilled a three from the left corner to give GVSU a 39-26 lead. Eziukwu hit another short hook in the lane to push the lead to 15 (41-26). GVSU led 44-30 when freshman forward Toreau Brown pulled down an offensive rebound with one second left and was fouled on the putback. Brown hit both free throws to give the Lakers a 46-30 halftime lead.

Eziukwu scored the opening points of the second half for a 48-30 GVSU lead, but Findlay regrouped and went on a 20-4 run over seven minute period and when Marcus Parker hit a jumper from the wing Findlay trailed by just two (52-50) with 13:21 left in the game. Sophomore guard David Thompson hit a pair of free throws to push the lead back to four (54-50). A dunk from Findlay's Morgan Lews, followed by a three-pointer from Parker gave Findlay at 55-54 lead with 11:51 left.

"Findlay really bothered us when they went with the 1-3-1 zone and they shot the ball well coming out in the second half," said Wesley. "However, I was really proud of how our guys responded, got the lead back and continued to build on it."

Eziukwu came back on the Lakers' next possession and slammed home a dunk after a nice pass from David Thompson. Ringler hit a free throw to put the Lakers up 57-55. Finlday's Bostic hit a free throw to pull the Oilers within one (57-56, but Eziukwu scored on a jump hook to give GVSU a 59-56 advantage. Jamerson blocked a shot and then hit a three-pointer to push the lead back to six (62-56) with 8:05 left. Trammell scored in the paint with 6:32 left to give GVSU a 64-56 lead. GVSU led 68-60 on a pair of Eziukwu free throws with 2:08 left, but five straight points by Findlay cut the Laker lead down to three (68-65) with 40 seconds left. Eziukwu hit one of two free throws to give Grand Valley State a 69-65 lead, but Lee Roberts hit a layup with 16 seconds left to pull UF within two (69-67). Ringler was fouled and sank a pair of free throws to give GVSU a 71-67 lead and Eziukwu put the finishing touches on the GLIAC title when he slammed home the final two points after a long pass from L.J. Kilgore.

In addition to Eziukwu's career-high, Jason Jamerson scored 16 points for the Lakers. Ringler added eight points and pulled down six rebounds, while Trammell chipped in seven points. Ringler set a GLIAC Tournament record by making 20 free throws in the three-game tournament. The Lakers hit a sizzling 60.7 percent from the floor (17-28) in the first half and finished with a 52.1 percent shooting night from the floor. GVSU outrebounded Findlay 36-27 and hit 18-25 free throws. Findlay shot just 40.7 percent from the floor (22-54) for the game. Eziukwu was named GLIAC Tournament MVP, while Jason Jamerson and Justin Ringler were also named to the all-tournament team.

Notes...GVSU improved to 18-5 all-time in 11 GLIAC Tournament's with six titles. The Grand Valley State 2008 senior class finished 8-2 with two tourney GLIAC tourney titles. GVSU is 9-0 all-time in GLIAC Tournament games played at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

Streaking: Grand Valley State has won a school has won a school-record 33 straight games. GVSU is the first collegiate basketball team in state of Michigan history to go 30-0 in the regular season. In addition, the Lakers have won 30 straight home games.

GVSU is 107-19 (.849) under head coach Ric Wesley. Wesley picked up his 100th victory third-fastest (119 games) in DII history and eighth fastest in the history of college basketball. Wesley leads all active coaches in the NCAA ranks with an .848 winning percentage. GVSU is 89-9 since the 2005-06 season overall, including a 49-5 record in GLIAC action. Grand Valley State is 62-4 at home under Wesley, including a current school-record 30-game home court winning streak. Wesley has led GVSU to three straight GLIAC North Division titles (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08).

• Grand Valley State is 62-4 at home the last four years, including a current 30-game winning streak. GVSU is 49-1 in its last 50 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.

Defense: GVSU has been known for defense during the Ric Wesley era. GVSU has held 95-of-its-126 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-33 foes under 55 points, including 10 under 50 points...GVSU has held 7-of-his-last-15 opponents under 50 points and prior to the FSU game GVSU had held 15 straight under 58 points.