The Grand Valley State men's basketball team was on the road for the first time this season, but the Lakers looked right at home on Friday night (Dec. 11) against the Tiffin Dragons. GVSU shot an even 50.0 percent from the field and drained a season-best 12 three-pointers - while leading wire-to-wire - in an 83-69 victory in Tiffin, Ohio.

Friday's win snaps the Lakers' two-game losing streak, as Grand Valley State improves to 6-2 overall. GVSU also moves to 1-2 in GLIAC play. Tiffin falls to 3-5 on the season and 0-3 in conference action. It was the second time this season that the Lakers led wire-to-wire, also doing so against Salem International on Nov. 28.

The Lakers have not been better from beyond the arc this season. Grand Valley State was a terrific 9-for-17 from three-point range in the opening half, when the Lakers jumped out to a 46-36 haftime advantage. Those nine trifectas in the first half tied the team-high for an entire game this year. GVSU added three more triples in the second half to cap off a 12-for-26 performance from long distance. 

Four players reached double-figures for the Lakers, led by junior guard Luke Ryskamp's game-high 20 points. Ryskamp rached the 20-point mark for the third time in the last five games by shooting 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range. He did so in just 29 minutes.

Senior guard Aaron Hayes finished with 12 points, five boards, five assists, and three steals. Hayes was 4-for-5 from the floor and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Senior forward Chaz Rollins added 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block, and a steal in 24 minutes, while junior forward Trevin Alexander notched 10 points, four boards, two assists, a steal, and a block.

GVSU owned a 33-26 edge in rebounds and did a masterful job on the defensive glass. Tiffin was averaging a GLIAC-best 15.9 offensive rebounds per game entering the game, but recorded just two offensive boards. Contrastingly, the Lakers pulled down nine offensive rebounds and owned a 12-3 edge in second chance points.

To start the game, Grand Valley State scored the first four points on buckets from Ryskamp and Carbajal. The lead grew to 16-7 on baskets from Rollins and Carbajal and an Alexander three-pointer. Five straight points from Ryskamp upped the score to 21-10 midway through the half and another Ryskamp trifecta made the score 29-22 with 6:23 to play.

Tiffin continued to chip away at the deficit, getting within four points at 29-25 with 4:54 remaining before Hayes took over for the Lakers. Hayes connected on three consecutive three-pointers for GVSU at the 4:28, 3:18, and 2:43 marks, with the last of the three trifectas putting the Lakers on top, 38-28. A long three-pointer from Alexander just before the halftime buzzer pushed Grand Valley State to a 46-36 halftime cushion.

The Lakers actually shot better from beyond the arc (9-of-17, 52.9%) than from the field (17-of-33, 51.5%) in the opening 20 minutes. Hayes led the way with 12 points, while Ryskamp added 10.

GVSU's lead would stay in double-digits the entire second half of action. Every time Tiffin tried to get within single-digits, the Lakers would answer. After a Dragon bucket at the 14:53 mark, freshman Justin Greason scored on layups on consecutive possessions for Grand Valley State. The lead was 10 points when freshman Alec Marty connected on a three-pointer with 12:06 to play.

Minutes later, with the lead again at 10 points, Ryskamp drilled a three-pointer to put the Lakers up 66-53 midway through the half. The score was 69-59 with 7:41 to go when Grand Valley State pulled away. Alexander sank two free throws, Rollins scored on a layup, Ryskamp added an old-fashioned three-point play, and Marty hit two freebies after a Rollins free throw to conclude the 10-0 run. It was 79-59 in GVSU's favor with 4:41 to go and the Lakers would cruise to the 14-point win.

Grand Valley State owned a 27-13 edge in bench points, a 28-20 advantage in points in the paint, and a 14-9 lead in points off turnovers. The Lakers recorded 21 assists on their 30 buckets and made 11-of-15 free throws.

On Sunday, GVSU returns to action against Ohio Dominican in Columbus. The tipoff is slated for 3:00 p.m.