Feb. 5, 2009

Box Score

Findlay, Ohio - Grand Valley State made a valiant effort Thursday night at top-ranked Finlday, but the Oilers scored eight of their final 10 points from the charity stripe en route to a 69-62 victory. GVSU will remain on the road with a 3 p.m. tilt Saturday at Hillsdale College. The Lakers fall to 15-5 overall and 10-5 in GLIAC action, while Findlay improves to 19-0 overall and 15-0 in GLIAC action.

Findlay jumped out to a 9-2 lead early, but senior forward Pete Trammell drilled a three-pointer to pull the Lakers within four (9-5). Trammell's three-pointer moved him past the 1,000-point mark for his career, becoming just the 30th player in Laker basketball history to accomplish the feat. In addition, it was the Lakers' 651st consecutive game with a made three-pointer.

Leading 9-7, Findlay used a 13-2 run to build a 22-9 lead with 10:14 left in the first half. Back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore forward Justin Ringler and freshman guard Wes Trammell ended the Findlay run an pulled GVSU back to within seven (22-15). The Oilers built the lead back to 13 (30-17) with 5:18 left in the half, but a layup from freshman center Nick West and a pair of free throws from Pete Trammell pulled GVSU back to within single digits. Grand Valley State used a 7-0 run to close the first half to cut the Oiler lead to four (32-28). Toreau Brown scored five straight points for the Lakers and Pete Trammell scored following a steal by senior forward Bobby Tiernan.

Findlay scored the first four points out of the lockerroom and eventually built a 48-36 lead with 10:33 left in the game. GVSU pulled to within five (55-50) on a layup from senior guard Jerret Smith, but Findlay's Josh Bostic answered with a three-pointer. GVSU remained in striking distance and when Pete Trammell drilled his second three-pointer of the night the Lakers were within eight (58-50). Brown hit a pair from the free throw line after pulling down an offensive rebound, then Justin Ringler hit a three-pointer to pull GVSU to within three (58-55) with 3:02 left in the game.

Findlay's Tyler Evans hit one-of-two from the free throw line, but Brown scored in the paint to cut the Findlay advantage to two (59-57) with 2:04 remaining. Pete Trammell was called for a foul with 1:46 left when it appeared that UF guard Marcus Parker had travelled. Parker hit both free throws to push the Findlay lead back to four (61-57). Brown missed a jumper for the Lakers and Bostic hit a huge bucket for Findlay with a turnaround jumper. Findlay hit another free throw following a Laker turnover, but Pete Trammell hit his third three-pointer of the night to keep the Lakers close. UF hit another free throw, but Pete Trammell scored quickly to cut the Oiler lead to three (65-62) with :15 left. Findlay scored the final four points of the game from the charity stripe to seal the win.

Pete Trammell led the Laker attack with 19 points, while Toreau Brown added 12 points. Jerret Smith chipped in 11 points and five assists.