Nov. 19, 2011

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 Postgame Comments

Allendale, Mich. - A terrific effort from Grand Valley State fell just short of an upset victory on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 19), as the Lakers dropped a 70-67 contest to visiting #1 Bellarmine in Fieldhouse Arena. GVSU trailed by 11 points at halftime, but came back to re-gain the lead in the second half before the Knights pulled away in the final minute to earn the victory.

Grand Valley State (1-1) opened the year on Wednesday night with 94-51 victory over Michigan-Dearborn, but Bellarmine (3-0) proved to be a much stiffer test. The Knights are the defending Division II National Champions and showed signs in the first half of why they are the top-ranked team in Division II.

The lead changed hands six times in the first eight minutes of the game before Bellarmine looked to be pulling away from GVSU. After a layup from junior Tony Peters put the Lakers ahead 13-12, BU used a tough 21-5 run to blow the game open. At that point, the Knights were on top 33-18 after a Richie Phares three-pointer at the 3:43 mark.

GVSU was able to hang around after the Bellarmine run, however, as junior Josh Anderson caught fire in an incredible 55-second stretch. Anderson buried a triple at the 2:05 mark before BU guard Braydon Hobbs knocked down two free throws. With 1:31 remaining, Anderson hit another three-pointer and on the Lakers' very next possession, Anderson pulled up on a fast break to drain his third three-pointer in 55 seconds. His three-ball at the 1:10 mark made the score 37-29 and kept GVSU within striking distance.

Bellarmine was able to take a 42-31 lead into halftime after guard Chris Dowe drained a three-pointer from in front of the Laker bench just seconds before the halftime buzzer. It was one of seven trifectas the Knights hit in the opening half. BU shot 56.0 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, while Grand Valley State connected on 50.0 percent of its shots.

Trailing by 11 at intermission, the Lakers stormed out of the gates to score the first 11 points in the second half. Freshman guard Ryan Sabin knocked down back-to-back three-pointers on GVSU's first two possessions and junior point guard Breland Hogan converted an old-fashioned three-point play on a layup and free throw. Just 1:41 and three possessions into the second half, the Lakers were now down just 42-40.

Sabin continued his strong play with a driving baseline layup to knot the score at 42-42 with 17:19 to play. The score would remain close and be tied at 51-51 before Bellarmine notched the game's next nine points and looked to pull away with a 60-51 lead.

Peters answered with a three-pointer and Hogan's jumper cut the deficit to 60-56 at the 7:01 mark. After a Bellarmine bucket, senior Nick Waddell converted back-to-back layups to bring the Lakers within two points at 62-60. With 3:58 to play, Hogan drove to the hoop and made a layup, was fouled, and converted the free throw to put GVSU ahead 63-62.

A layup and two free throws from Phares put BU back on top 66-63 with 57 seconds remaining. Hogan scored on a layup with 21 seconds left to cut the Bellarmine lead to 66-65. After Hobbs, a preseason All-American, made two free throws with 13 seconds left putting the Knights ahead by three points, GVSU turned the ball over on its possession, failing to get off a shot. Two more free throws from Bellarmine put the score at 70-65 with three seconds left before a Hogan jumper before the buzzer fell in for the final points of the game.

Both teams were very close on the stat sheet in nearly all categories. While Grand Valley State (51.9 percent) outshot Bellarmine (49.0) from the field, the Knights were 14-of-15 from the free throw line, as GVSU was just 6-of-8. BU made eight trifectas, while the Lakers drained seven triple tries. Grand Valley State scored more points in the paint (30-26) and from the bench (14-9), while Bellarmine won the rebounding war, 28-23. Both teams committed nine turnovers.

Leading the way for the Lakers were Hogan and Anderson, as each player scored 14 points. Hogan was 6-of-12 from the field and tallied four assists, three boards, and a steal. Anderson made 4-of-6 shots (including 3-of-4 threes) and all three free throws.

Senior guard James Thomas pulled down a team best six rebounds to go with nine points, while Sabin and Waddell each added eight points. Peters provided seven markers off the bench for the Lakers.

GVSU is off until after Thanksgiving. The Lakers will host Marygrove next Saturday night (Nov. 26) at 7:00 p.m. in Fieldhouse Arena.