Jan. 2, 2010

Box Score

Painesville, Ohio - Grand Valley State claimed a 67-59 victory over Lake Erie College Saturday afternoon in Painesville, Ohio at the Osborne Center Arena. GVSU improves to 7-3 on the year with the win, while the Storm falls to 5-12. The Lakers will return to action Thursday, Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. versus Saginaw Valley State in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

Grand Valley State and Lake Erie College traded baskets in the opening 15 minutes of the game and a pair of free throws by junior forward Toreau Brown gave GVSU a 23-21 lead with 3:53 left in the opening stanza. Sophomore Alvin Storrs added a pair from the charity stripe and following a Storm made free throw Storrs drilled a three-pointer to give the Lakers a 28-22 advanatage. A free throw by junior forward Justin Ringler upped the GVSU lead to seven (29-22) and then after two free throws by Lake Erie College GVSU closed the first half with a pair of free throws by Brown and a Storrs dunk to give the Lakers a 33-24 lead.

The final 20 minutes was filled with ups and downs for the Lakers. The Storm cut the Laker lead to two points (38-36) at the 15 minute mark, but 11 straight points by GVSU upped the lead to 13 points (49-36). Storrs scored five points in the run, while Ringler, freshman Breland Hogan and junior K'Len Morris each chipped in two points. However, the Storm did not go away and went on a 15-1 run to take a 51-50 lead with 6:30 left in the game.

Ringler hit Storrs in the paint for a layup and Brown hit a four straight free throws to give the Lakers a 56-51 lead. The Laker defense clamped down and allowed the Storm just two made buckets in the final 6:30, including one in the final seven seconds with the GVSU leading 67-57. GVSU hit 13-of-14 free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.

Storrs led the Laker attack with 17 points and four steals, while Brown added 12 points and four rebounds. Brown was also 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Ringler chipped in 10 points, four assists and six caroms. GVSU was 30-for-35 from the free throw line and tallied 11 steals on the day. In addition, the GVSU bench outscored Lake Erie College 28-8.