Allendale, Mich. -- Facing one of the conference's top clubs, the Grand Valley State men's basketball team hung around for as long as it possibly could. Lake Superior State's suffocating defense, which forced 18 turnovers, was simply too much to for the Lakers to overcome in their 78-75 loss at home.
 
Despite the outcome, sophomore guard Luke Ryskamp had a stellar effort. The Schoolcraft, Michigan product turned in his second 20-point outing of the season, knocking down six of his 12 attempts and going 7-of-8 at the free throw line. He also collected nine rebounds, leaving him one shy of a double-double.
 
Junior guard Darren Kapustka, senior guard Ryan Sabin and sophomore forward Trevin Alexander joined Ryskamp in double figures. Kapustka scored 13, while Alexander added 12 points and Sabin finished with 10.
 
It marks the eighth consecutive double-digit scoring performances for Ryskamp and Sabin. Only junior forward Ricardo Carbajal has a streak of equal length this season.
 
As a team, the Lakers shot 44.6 percent from the field and limited LSSU to just 39 percent. But points off turnovers wound up being the deciding factor, not shooting efficiency. LSSU finished with 29 points off turnovers, outscoring the Lakers by 20 in that department.
 
Each team held a two-possession lead for a two-minute stretch of the opening frame.
 
GVSU raced out to an eight-point edge, courtesy of a triple by Sabin, three points from Kapustka and a bucket from Ryskamp. LSSU rattled off a 9-2 run of its own to take its first lead of the game, but the Lakers were able to tie it after a Darren Washington freebie and Carbajal layup.
 
Then it was LSSU's turn to take control. The Lakers scored five unanswered points, securing an 18-13 lead by the 7:30 mark. It would hold that same lead exactly five minutes and 12 seconds later.
 
Trailing 29-24, GVSU regained momentum. Three straight points from Ryskamp cut the deficit to two. A layup by Kapustka knotted the score. Carbajal followed it up with a three-point play, allowing the Lakers to end the half with a 32-29 lead.
 
GVSU's halftime edge was even more surprising given the fact it committed 11 turnovers, directly leading to 14 LSSU points. It held the Lakers to a mere 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from the field. They would not stay down for long, though.
 
Alexander picked up right where the Lakers left off, scoring the first basket of the second frame to give them a five-point edge. Unfortunately, it would be the last time GVSU held the lead.
 
LSSU's high-pressure, full-court defense eventually wore the Lakers down. The intense defending flustered the Lakers, leading to multiple turnovers. GVSU managed to hang around, staying within seven points until just after the midway point of the final stanza. It never got closer than three points the rest of the way.
 
GVSU will have to rebound quickly, as a trip to Northwood is next on the docket. Saturday's matchup in Midland, Michigan is scheduled to tip at 6 p.m. ET.