at #24 Lake Superior State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.): Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
vs. Northwood (Saturday, 8:00 p.m.): Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
The Grand Valley State men's basketball team has another away/home swing this weekend and both games are crucial to the Lakers' hopes of advancing to the GLIAC Tournament. GVSU travels to take on #24 Lake Superior State on Thursday night (Feb. 12) at 7:30 p.m. before returning to Allendale to take on Northwood on Saturday (Feb. 14) in an 8:00 p.m. tipoff.
 
On Thursday, the Lakers look to snap their three-game road losing streak. GVSU is 10-13 overall and own a 6-11 GLIAC record. The team still has a chance to earn a berth in the eight-team conference tournament, but need a win on Thursday to help keep those playoff hopes alive.
 
Both games can be heard on a pair of radio stations; WTKG-AM 1230 is the flagship for Laker basketball and carries both the men's and women's games. WMUS-FM 107.9 also airs the men's contest. All games can be heard online; click the link above to access iHeart radio. Fans can also watch the Northwood game on Saturday by clicking on the 'Watch' link.
 
Lake Superior State enters Thursday's game in a tie for second place in the GLIAC North Division and also in the overall league standings. LSSU is 19-4 overall and 14-3 in conference play. On Saturday, Northwood will bring a 12-11 overall mark and an 8-9 GLIAC record. Entering Thursday's contests, Northwood and Hillsdale are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot, with GVSU two games behind.
 
GVSU split at home last weekend, earning a 60-54 victory over Northern Michigan on Thursday (Feb. 5). Three Lakers scored in double figures, led by 18 points and nine rebounds from sophomore Luke Ryskamp. Junior forward Ricardo Carbajal totaled 14 points and seven boards, while senior Ryan Sabin added 12 points. In the victory, Grand Valley State went 25-of-27 at the free throw line, while NMU was just 1-for-2.
 
Michigan Tech earned a 71-60 victory over the Lakers on Saturday (Feb. 7) thanks to a strong shooting effort. The visiting Huskies shot 52 percent from the field and made 9-of-20 three-point tries. GVSU fell despite owning a 30-18 advantage in points in the paint, much of which was produced by Carbajal. He tied a career-high with 24 points and added a new personal best 13 rebounds in the loss.
 
Grand Valley State dropped games to both teams in earlier meetings this season, but the two losses came by a combined 11 points. On Jan. 22 in Allendale, GVSU fell at home by a 78-75 decision to Lake Superior State. Two days later in Midland, the Lakers lost 78-70 to Northwood.

Winners of seven of its last eight games, Lake Superior State is in prime position with the postseason just weeks away. The Lakers, 10-1 at home this season, start a four-game homestand with the Thursday night game. LSSU's lone home loss this season was an 81-76 defeat against GLIAC leader Saginaw Valley State on Jan. 15. The team's most recent two home games were both close contests, including a 74-69 win over Hillsdale on Jan. 17 and a 76-72 victory over Northwood on Feb. 2.
 
Senior guard Alex Williams, the team's leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, ranks fifth in the GLIAC with 51 three-pointers and sixth with 41 steals. Junior Devin Daly comes off the bench and puts up 11 points and six rebounds per game. Daly is seventh in the GLIAC with a 55.0 field goal percentage. Guard Tony Harris ranks fourth in steals (44), ninth in free throw percentage (81.4), and 13^th in assists (61).
 
Since beating GVSU on Jan. 24, Northwood has lost four of its last five games, with the lone victory being a 90-81 win at Hillsdale on Feb. 5. The Timberwolves are one of the leagues top home teams with an 8-1 record, but are just 3-9 in true road games. In road games in 2015, NU is just 2-6, including overtime losses at Saginaw Valley State and Northern Michigan.
 
Guard Dylan Langkabel leads Northwood with 16.2 points per game, fifth-best in the league, while his 44 three-pointers are fourth-most. He ranks fourth, fifth, and eighth in three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and field goal percentage, respectively. Backcourt mate Maurice Jones puts up 15.3 points per game and leads the GLIAC in assists (156) and steals (62). Center Will Bowles scores 15.0 points per game and is fourth in the league in blocks (31) and total rebounds (166).
 
GVSU will have another road/home stretch next week. On Thursday (Feb. 19), the Lakers will travel to Saginaw Valley State before the home finale versus Hillsdale on Saturday (Feb. 21).