Feb. 1, 2014

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - For the first time this season, the Grand Valley State men's basketball team found itself in an overtime contest. After forcing OT with five straight points from Darren Kapustka late in regulation, Wayne State was able to outscore GVSU by a 17-12 mark in the extra session, clinching the 69-64 victory. It was the first contest of a four-game homestand for the Lakers.

A game that was tied 11 times and saw seven lead changes was, in essence, decided at the free throw line. Wayne State knocked down 12-of-16 free throws in overtime, marking a dozen of the Warriors' 17 points in the extra five minutes. For the game, WSU was 25-of-35 at the stripe, a 71.4 percent clip. Grand Valley State shot 15-of-26 at the line for 57.7 percent.

Wayne State improves to 10-7 on the season and 8-6 in GLIAC play, while GVSU is now 13-5 overall and 9-5 in league action. Two of the more physical, defensive teams in the league combined to play a rugged first half of action, with the Warriors owning a 22-20 lead at intermission.

The Lakers owned a five-point lead at the 11:58 mark, as junior Ryan Sabin connected on a three-pointer to put the home team ahead, 12-7. It would be the biggest lead of the game for Grand Valley State. WSU hit a jumper with 2:44 remaining in the first half to give the Warriors the 22-20 halftime advantage, as neither team would score again in the half.

Both teams shot 29 percent from the field in the opening half, each made one three-pointer, and both knocked down five free throws. GVSU was within two points at the break despite only three players scoring in the opening 20 minutes. Sophomore Ricardo Carbajal totaled 11 points and seven rebounds, senior Rob Woodson scored five, and Sabin added four points.

Wayne State's biggest lead in the second half was five points with 13:51 to play, but the Warriors could never put the Lakers away. A Sabin trifecta tied the score at 46-46 with 3:11 remaining, but WSU regained a 50-47 a minute later. With 1:46 to go, Kapustka got fouled and buried two free throws to bring the Lakers within a point.

After the Warriors missed two free throws on their next possession, Kapustka took a pass from Sabin and drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to put GVSU ahead 52-50 with exactly one minute to play. WSU answered with a layup from Gerald Williams-Taylor with 44 seconds remaining; those were the final points of regulation, as Chene Phillips' contested jumper just before the buzzer was off target.

The Lakers headed to overtime for the first time since Nov. 24, 2012, when GVSU defeated Cedarville 69-66. Wayne State, which had lost an overtime contest at Ashland earlier this season, scored the first five points in the extra frame and never trailed again.

Wayne State pushed to a 62-55 lead after three free throws with 2:53 to play, but Sabin came back with a three-pointer. He connected on another long range bucket 90 seconds later to bring the deficit to 65-62, but Williams-Taylor again scored inside the paint with 30 seconds left. That was enough to hold off the Lakers.

GVSU shot 43.8 percent from the field and made 7-of-17 triple tries, while Wayne State shot an even 40 percent from the floor. The Warriors were 4-of-12 from three-point range and owned a 37-33 rebounding advantage. WSU also scored 18 points on 18 Grand Valley State turnovers.

The Lakers, who owned a 31-12 edge in bench points, were led by Sabin's 25 points. He made 9-of-18 field goals, 5-of-11 three-point tries, and was 2-of-4 at the stripe. Sabin played 43 of a possible 45 minutes. Carbajal finished with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds, while Kapustka supplied 12 points and five assists off the GVSU bench.

On Monday night (Feb. 3), the Lakers will be back in action against Ferris State at 8:00 p.m. The game is part of the 'Blackout' promotion, as GVSU will wear new all-black jerseys and fans are encouraged to wear black, as well.