Jan. 11, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State earned a season split with West Michigan rival Ferris State, after the Lakers controlled the Bulldogs on Monday night (Jan. 11) in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena, leading to an 80-68 victory over FSU. The Lakers shot an even 50.0 percent from the field in pushing their winning streak to six straight games. GVSU has also won its last six home games and are 7-1 at home.

The win puts Grand Valley State at 10-3 overall with a 6-2 record in the GLIAC, while FSU falls to 6-7 overall and 4-4 in league play. Earlier this season in Big Rapids, the Bulldogs gave GVSU its worst loss in the Ric Wesley era, defeating the Lakers, 67-41. On Monday night, Grand Valley State exacted revenge on the Bulldogs and won its third game in five days, as the Lakers also knocked off Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State since last Thursday. The 80 points for GVSU are a season-high.

Junior forward Toreau Brown put the Lakers on top quickly with the game's first eight points. Brown drained a three-pointer less than a minute into the game, made a pair of free throws, and hit another triple try, and GVSU led 8-0 just two and a half minutes into the contest. Ferris State would cut the lead to 11-8 before freshman guard Breland Hogan converted an old-fashioned three-point play, sophomore center Nick West scored on a layup, and Brown also converted a lay-in to push ahead 18-8 at the 11:41 mark.

Minutes later, junior K'Len Morris sank two three-pointers in a 64-second span and those triples coupled with a dunk from Mike Przydzial put GVSU on top, 26-12. The lead would grow to as many as 20 points in the first half, as junior Justin Ringler would bury a trifecta to put the Lakers ahead 37-17. A late jumper from guard Wes Trammell would put the score at halftime at 41-23. In the first meeting between the two teams, GVSU managed just 41 points for the entire game.

The Lakers did a lot of positive things in the first half, including shooting at a 51.6 percent clip and making 5-of-11 three-point attempts. GVSU used a 19-8 spark from its bench and a 14-4 edge in points off of turnovers to build the halftime lead. Ferris State shot 41.7 percent in the opening frame and turned the ball over eight times.

For the most part, the second half was more of the same, as Grand Valley State owned a double-digit lead for nearly the entire 20-minute second stanza. The second time that Ferris State got within eight points at 49-41, Ringler scored five points and Morris would hit his third three-pointer to push the Laker advantage back to 14 points at 60-46. FSU would not get within 11 points again, as Grand Valley State was sent to the line 23 times in the second half and knock down 19 of those attempts.

GVSU shot an even 50.0 percent from the field, making 25-of-50 field goal attempts, and connected on 7-of-18 three-pointers for a 38.9 percent clip. Again, the Lakers found comfort at the free throw line, making more free throws (23) than Ferris State even attempted (19). It is the fourth time in the last five games that GVSU has accomplished that feat. Ferris State connected on 46.9 percent of its field goals, but the Bulldogs ended the game with more fouls (23) than rebounds (21). GVSU totaled 33 boards, including 10 offensive caroms.

Ringler narrowly missed out on his sixth double-double of the season, as he notched 18 points and nine rebounds. He shot 5-of-10 from the floor and 7-of-8 at the line, while adding three assists and two steals in 35 minutes. Ringler was joined in double-figures by Brown, who poured in 16 points and grabbed six boards. Brown made 3-of-5 three-point attempts and 5-of-6 freebies.

Morris had his coming out game on Monday night, scoring 13 points in just 14 minutes, as three of his four field goals were triples. He entered the game with 12 points in his first three contests this year after returning from injury. Storrs produced seven points with six rebounds, while Hogan added five points and three steals.

The Lakers hit the road for a four-game swing which starts in Ohio on Thursday night (Jan. 14). GVSU will travel to Ashland and take on the Eagles at 7:30 p.m. in Kates Gymnasium. Grand Valley State is 3-2 on the road this season.