Dec. 19, 2009

Box Score

Hillsdale, Mich. - For the second straight time, Grand Valley State and Hillsdale played an overtime contest, with GVSU pulling out the 68-60 road victory on Saturday night (Dec. 19) over the Chargers. Grand Valley State trailed late in regulation before getting a bucket from junior Justin Ringler with three seconds left to tie the game at 59-59 and outscore the Chargers 9-1 in the extra session.

GVSU is now 5-3 overall with a 3-2 mark in GLIAC play, while struggling Hillsdale is 1-8 overall with a 1-4 league tally. Hillsdale defeated the Lakers last February in an 86-83 overtime win, but Grand Valley State held the Chargers to 0-for-6 shooting in overtime on Saturday night to tally another victory in conference play.

Hillsdale raced out to an 18-7 advantage with 8:29 remaining in the opening half before GVSU responded with an 11-0 run to knot the score at 18-18. During the game-tying run, five different Lakers scored, including three layups from Nick Carreri, Toreau Brown, and Tony Peters, a jumper from Ringler, and capped off by a three-pointer from Wes Trammell. The game was tied again at 25-25 before Hillsdale took a 30-27 advantage into halftime over the Lakers.

Grand Valley State shot 55.0 percent (11-of-20) in the opening 20 minutes, but turned the ball over 11 times in the first half to allow Hillsdale to stay close. The Chargers shot just 32.3 percent (10-of-31) from the field and only 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from three-point range, but took care of the ball with only two turnovers.

In the second half, GVSU took its first lead with a layup from Alvin Storrs to make the score 39-38. The Lakers would take their biggest lead of the game to that point after a Ringler layup put Grand Valley State ahead, 49-45. But Hillsdale took a two-point advantage (57-55) with 42 seconds left. Ringler was fouled and drained a pair of free throws to tie the score at 57-57.

HC forward Brent Eaton then made a layup with eight seconds left, which looked to be the game-winner. After a GVSU timeout though, Ringler drove inside and scored on a layup of his own with just three ticks left on the clock to tie the score at 59 apiece. Hillsdale's Tyler Gerber had a three-pointer at the buzzer rim in and out, sending the game to extra time.

Gerber would split a pair of free throws for the first point of overtime, but Hillsdale would not score again. Junior Mike Przydzial made a free throw, then scored on a layup to push GVSU ahead, 62-60. In the final minute, Storrs made a jumper and Ringler and Trammell each made two free throws for the final tally and a big road win for the Lakers.

Ringler carried Grand Valley State offensively with a monster performance. The junior guard/forward totaled 23 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. His 23 points were one shy of his season-high, which he set against Northern Kentucky on Nov. 15, while his 15 rebounds broke his previous total of 14, set twice during his Laker career. He shot 8-of-11 from the field and made 6-of-10 freebies in 41 minutes of work.

Przydzial made the start at center for the Lakers and responded with season-highs of 11 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. The three rejections were a career-high for Przydzial, who made 7-of-8 attempts at the free throw line. Trammell knocked down 3-of-5 shots, including a pair of triples for 11 points, which tied his season-best point total.

Not only did Grand Valley State shoot well, it held Hillsdale to a horrid shooting performance. GVSU notched a 46.8 percent clip from the field and made 21 free throws, while the Chargers shot just 29.8 percent from the floor and 10-of-30 (33.3 percent) from long range. After 11 first-half turnovers, the Lakers recorded just five turnovers in the second half and overtime. Grand Valley State also owned a dominating advantage in rebounds (46-30) and points in the paint (34-10).

The Lakers return to action on Tuesday night (Dec. 22) at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena for a non-conference game against Olivet at 7:00 p.m.