Nov. 6, 2011

Box Score

Ames, Iowa - Grand Valley State went on the road for its only exhibition game of the 2011-12 season and the Lakers played a tough game against Big 12 Conference member Iowa State, eventually falling to the Cyclones by a 77-62 score. Three GVSU players reached double-figures and the Lakers committed just 10 turnovers, while forcing ISU to turn the ball over 14 times.

It was the first and only exhibition game for both teams, as the Lakers are coming off of a 19-8 record in 2010-11. Iowa State was 16-16 last season and the teams played in front of a crowd of 13,221 in ISU's Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones owned a 21-9 advantage at the 13:58 mark before Grand Valley State closed the gap with three straight buckets. Senior Mike Przydzial and junior Josh Anderson knocked down jumpers, which sandwiched a layup from junior point guard Breland Hogan to make the score 21-15. Less than a minute later, a three-pointer from Anderson and two free throws from senior James Thomas pulled GVSU within four points at 24-20.

Iowa State ran off the next seven points to push out to a 31-20 lead with 7:18 to play in the first half. An old-fashioned three-point play from Hogan and a Przydzial free throw made the score 31-24, but that is as close as the Lakers would get the rest of the game. ISU took a 43-32 lead into halftime behind 50.0 percent shooting from the field while making 6-of-14 three-pointers. The Lakers shot well, connecting on 46.2 of its field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes.

Junior transfer Tyrone Lee drained a three-pointer early in the second half, keeping GVSU within striking distance at 46-35. With 12:16 to play in the game, Thomas scored on a jumper to pull the Lakers back within 10 points at 58-48. Iowa State would score six straight points before Thomas would knock down back-to-back trifectas and keep it at a 10-point game at 64-54 with 7:38 to play.

However, ISU proved to be too strong, as the Cyclones scored the next seven points and closed the game out on a 13-8 run to finish off the visiting Lakers.

Thomas was the game's second-highest scorer, leading GVSU with 16 points. He was 5-of-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range, while adding four rebounds and a steal in a game-high 37 minutes. His backcourt mate, Hogan, added 13 points, four assists, four rebounds, and a pair of steals. Hogan shot 5-of-11 from the field and played 35 minutes.

Also tallying double-digits was senior center Nick Waddell, who was also 5-of-11 from the floor. Waddell tallied 12 points and five rebounds. Another of the team's big men, Przydzial added nine points, five rebounds, and a game-best three steals, while making 3-of-4 shots from the field and at the line.

As a team, GVSU shot 40.4 from the floor and made 6-of-19 three-pointers (31.6 percent). Iowa State made 51.1 percent of its field goal attempts and was 10-of-23 from long range. While the Cyclones won the rebounding battle (34-28), Grand Valley State forced 14 ISU turnovers, while committing just 10 miscues in the game. GVSU led in second chance points (10-5) and bench points (18-17), while Iowa State owned a 26-18 edge in the paint and a 19-13 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Lakers will hit the floor for the 2011-12 season opener on Nov. 16 against Michigan-Dearborn at 7:00 p.m. in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.