Dec. 3, 2009

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State used a stingy defensive effort and late scoring to defeat the visiting Tiffin Dragons on Thursday night (Dec. 3) in Allendale, Mich. The Lakers received three double-digit scoring performances and owned a 30-14 advantage on points in the paint, while turning the ball over just seven times during the game.

With the win, GVSU improves to 3-2 overall with a 1-1 record in the GLIAC, while Tiffin falls to 1-3 with an 0-1 conference mark. The Lakers have alternated wins and losses in their first five games of the season.

GVSU started the game off strong and looked like it would cruise to victory as the Lakers led 17-5 with 9:35 left in the first half. The final six points of the early run were on three-pointers from freshman guard Breland Hogan and sophomore guard Wes Trammell. Five minutes later, a triple from freshman Tony Peters put Grand Valley State ahead 24-11 for its biggest lead of the opening half. Tiffin kept the score close and trailed 32-23 at halftime despite shooting just 29.2 percent in the opening stanza.

In the first 20 minutes, GVSU shot 34.3 percent, but made just 5-of-20 three-point attempts (25.0 percent). The Lakers did own a 25-18 rebounding advantage, which led to a 10-2 edge on second chance points. Grand Valley State also outscored the Dragons in the paint, 14-6.

GVSU again opened up a 13-point advantage in the early part of the second half before Tiffin notched the next 10 points and cut the Laker lead to 36-35 with 13:36 remaining. Grand Valley State quickly responded by scoring the next eight points on six straight points from sophomore guard Alvin Storrs, which included two free throws and a pair of jumpers. A layup from sophomore center Nick West made the score 44-35 just past the midway portion of the second half.

Tiffin would get the score within three points at 48-45 with 4:43 left but the Lakers would put together a 7-0 run that essentially put the game out of reach. Junior forward Toreau Brown drained two free throws and then finished a fast break with a powerful dunk. Moments later, Trammell drained another deep three-pointer to push ahead 55-45 with less than three minutes remaining. The Lakers would close out the game from that point.

It was another defensive battle, as neither team shot the ball overly well. GVSU connected at a 35.4 percent clip and made 20.7 percent (6-of-29) of its three-pointers, but held Tiffin to a 29.4 field goal percentage and 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) on triple tries. Grand Valley State held strong advantages in points in the paint (30-14), points off of turnovers (19-9), and second chance points (24-9).

Junior guard Justin Ringler recorded his second straight double-double by totaling 17 points and 12 rebounds. He shot 7-of-15 from the field and tallied three steals. Trammell connected on three triples for 11 points, while adding six rebounds and four assists. He turned the ball over just one time in 28 minutes of play. Brown produced 10 points and five boards for the Lakers.

Grand Valley State hosts Ashland on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 5) in a 1:00 p.m. start that was pushed up two hours from its usual 3:00 p.m. start due to the Laker football team's home playoff football game at 3:30 p.m. the same day.