Less than 24 hours after suffering a loss to Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday afternoon (Nov. 28) on the Panthers' home court, the Grand Valley State men's basketball team responded with a great effort in defeating North Alabama by a 78-60 final. The Lakers shot better than 45 percent from the field on Saturday (Nov. 29), dominated in the paint, and utilized great runs at the start of both halves to earn the victory.

Saturday's opening contest was the consolation game between the Lakers and Lions, which GVSU was able to win thanks to a 45-28 scoring edge in the second half. The victory puts Grand Valley State at 3-2 overall heading into the start of GLIAC play next weekend at Ashland and Lake Erie. North Alabama, which lost to Truman State on Friday, falls to 3-3.

The Lakers received 50 points from senior Ryan Sabin, junior Ricardo Carbajal, and sophomore Luke Ryskamp. Sabin poured in a game-high and season-high 23 points, making 8-of-18 field goal tries. The senior swished 5-of-8 three-point tries, scoring 11 points in the first half and 12 points in the final 20 minutes. He was also named to the six-member All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the tournament.

Carbajal added 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals, while Ryskamp hit a pair of trifectas and supplied 10 points in 21 minutes off the bench. Sabin and Carbajal have both scored in double figures in all five games this season. 

Grand Valley State scored the game's first 14 points, doing so in just 3:35 of the first half. Despite the Lions coming back to take a brief first half lead, the Lakers lead at halftime, 33-32. Coming out of intermission, it was GVSU's 18-5 run that opened things back up in favor of the Lakers, as North Alabama could only get as close as seven points the rest of the way.

Sabin drained a pair of three-pointers in the opening surge, as Carbajal added four points, and senior Darren Washington and junior Ernijs Ansons each scored a bucket to give Grand Valley State a 14-0 lead. Later in the half, the Lions made a run, scoring 13 straight points to cut the deficit to one at 23-22. UNA actually led 32-28 before a Carbajal jumper and Sabin three-pointer in the final 35 seconds put GVSU on top at the half.

Ansons, Carbajal, and Sabin scored on consecutive buckets coming out of the locker room to help fuel the Lakers' early second half run. Sabin and Ryskamp each connected on a three-pointer in less than a minute to put Grand Valley State ahead, 51-37, with 12:06 to play.

North Alabama would attempt to chip away at the deficit and pulled within seven points (61-54) with 6:10 remaining. From there, Ryskamp nailed a three-pointer and scored a layup, which were followed by a Darren Kapustka jumper and a Sabin layup. The Lakers led 70-54 at that point, effectively ending any comeback hopes of the Lions.

For the game, GVSU shot 45.5 percent from the field, but more importantly held North Alabama to 32.2 percent shooting and 7-of-27 from three-point range. The Lakers made 8-of-18 triple tries and forced 19 UNA miscues.

Washington was a big part of the Lakers owning a 40-22 edge in points in the paint. The senior center made 3-of-4 shots, scored six points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and blocked three shots. His rebounding figure was one off of his career-high total. Kapustka added nine points and tied his career-high with six assists. Off the bench, sophomore Trevin Alexander scored seven points and junior Aaron Hayes grabbed five boards.

The Lakers begin GLIAC competition next Thursday (Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.) at Ashland, followed by a Saturday trip (Dec. 6, 3:00 p.m.) at Lake Erie. GVSU defeated both schools in Allendale last season.