Jan. 8, 2009

Box Score

University Center, Mich. - #15 GVSU pushed its winning streak to three straight games with an 89-63 victory at Saginaw Valley State on Thursday night (Jan. 8). The Lakers had four players score in double-figures, shot an even 50.0 percent from the floor, and more than doubled the Cardinals in the rebounding column. Grand Valley State improves to 9-2 with a 4-2 record in GLIAC play.

The Lakers scored the first points of the game on a layup from sophomore Toreau Brown with 17:54 remaining in the first half, as Saginaw Valley State (1-10 overall, 1-6 GLIAC) would never lead in the contest. SVSU was still close midway through the opening half, trailing 18-16 with just under 10 minutes remaining before Grand Valley State would close the half on a 23-12 run, punctuated by a tip-in from sophomore K'Len Morris just before the halftime buzzer.

Both teams shot above 40.0 percent in the first 20 minutes, but the Lakers were above average from beyond the three-point arc. GVSU nailed seven first-half triples, including three apiece from freshmen Alvin Storrs and Wes Trammell. Storrs was successful on all three of his attempts en route to an 11-point half, as Trammell missed just one shot from long distance.

The Cardinals cut the Laker lead to 13 points early in the second half with back-to-back three-pointers from Dante Williams and Adam Gries. Grand Valley State responded with a 6-0 run over the next two minutes, with three points each from Brown and freshman Nick West.

SVSU would get no closer to the Lakers than the 13-point deficit, as GVSU continued its dead-eye shooting. The Lakers recorded a 63.0 shooting percentage in the final 20 minutes, drilling 17-of-27 field goals and making 12-of-17 free throw attempts (70.6 percent).

11 of the 13 GVSU players recorded at least two points, while only one player (sophomore Justin Ringler) totaled more than 21 minutes on the court. Storrs led the Lakers with 15 points and was perfect at the free throw line (4-of-4) and from long distance (3-of-3).

Three starters added double-figures for Grand Valley State. West just missed a double-double, as the newcomer totaled 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Ringler provided 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Brown added 10 points and six boards.

One of the better rebounding teams in the country in terms of rebounding margin, GVSU continued that pace as it notched a 47-23 advantage on the glass. The Lakers had nearly as many offensive rebounds (18) as Saginaw Valley State did total rebounds (23). Grand Valley State is outrebounding its opponents by an average of 13.6 boards per game.

GVSU also owned decisive edges in points in the paint (36-16), points off of turnovers (17-6), second chance points (15-2), and bench points (45-14). The Lakers scored all six of the game's fast break points.

After dropping its first two games of the season in mid-December to Ashland and top-ranked Findlay, Grand Valley State has won its last three games by an average of 37.6 points per game. The Lakers return to the hardwood on Saturday (Jan. 10) for a 3:00 p.m. contest at Lake Superior State.