The 2015-16 season for the Grand Valley State men's basketball team opened up on Tuesday night (Nov. 3), as GVSU began the year with an exhibition game at Division I Cincinnati. Despite the Lakers only being outscored 46-43 in the final 20 minutes, Cincinnati did enough damage in the first half and captured a 93-63 victory.

It was the first exhibition game for both teams, but the Lakers will visit another Division I foe on Friday night (Nov. 6). Grand Valley State travels to #7 Iowa State for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff against the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa.

GVSU outrebounded the Bearcats on Tuesday night by a 35-34 margin and put together some positive moments in the contest. The Lakers recorded 15 offensive rebounds (to just nine for Cincinnati) and both of the Lakers' starting senior forwards - Ricardo Carbajal and Chaz Rollins - scored 15 points in the game. 

The Lakers shot 36.8 percent from the field, knocked down seven three-pointers, and hit 14-of-19 shots from the free throw line. Cincinnati shot at a 53.8 percent clip in the game, including a 60.0 percent mark in the opening half, when the Bearcats scored the first 10 points.

Junior Luke Ryskamp knocked down a three-pointer at the 14:24 mark for the team's first points and put a stop to the 10-0 Bearcat run. Rollins poured in six straight points on a layup, two free throws, and another layup to pull GVSU within seven at 16-9 midway through the frame. UC then scored the next 13 points to jump ahead 29-9.

Sophomore Myles Miller scored five points in a 22-second span before the Bearcats finished the half with a 47-20 halftime advantage. Cincinnati shot 10-of-17 from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes. 

Carbajal scored seven quick points to start the second half, as the Lakers really played well in the second half in front of 4,404 fans inside UC's Fifth Third Arena. Shortly thereafter, Ryskamp nailed a triple and senior guard Aaron Hayes hit four three throws in a short span moments later.

Just past the midway point of the second half, Hayes scored on a layup and added two free throws to make the score, 75-46. Rollins would add consecutive layups and Carbajal drained another three-pointer to keep the Lakers pretty much even in the final 20 minutes.

With a 51.9 percentage in the second half, GVSU outshot Cincinnati, who dropped to 48.1 percent in the half. Both teams connected for five three-pointers in the last 20 minutes, with the Bearcats only outscoring GVSU 46-43 during that time.

Carbajal made 5-of-6 shots, including both triple tries, while adding four boards and two steals. Rollins made 6-of-12 attempts and notched six boards, pouring in his 15 points in just 15 minutes on the court.

Hayes and Ryskamp each notched eight points, while senior Darren Kapustka provided five points, three assists, and two steals in 19 minutes off the bench. Junior Trevin Alexander led GVSU with seven rebounds, four coming on the offensive end. Also off the bench, Miller scored five points in 10 minutes.

After Friday's exhibition game at Iowa State, the Lakers open the regular season next weekend (Nov. 14-15) at the GLIAC-GLVC Challenge in Allendale. GVSU will take on Quincy on Saturday before facing Missouri-St. Louis on Sunday. Both games are 4:00 p.m. tipoffs.