at 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 puts its four-game winning streak on the line this weekend in another set of important GLIAC contests. GVSU's schedule is a little different than normal, as the Lakers will play at Lake Superior State on Thursday night (Jan. 21) before returning home for a Saturday evening (Jan. 23) showdown with Northwood.

This weekend's away/home schedule is one of our such "split" weeks that Grand Valley State will play the rest of the season. Thursday night's contest at Lake Superior State will take place at 7:30 p.m., while the home game versus Northwood on Saturday is an 8:00 p.m. start.

There are links above to follow along to the radio broadcast of both games, as well as links to follow the live stats. As usual, Saturday's home game against Northwood will also have a free video feed. The games will be aired on WTKG-AM 1230 and WMUS 107.9 FM, with fifth year play-by-play announcer DJ Foster calling the action.

A pair of home victories last weekend pushed the Lakers to 13-3 overall and 7-3 in conference play. It also allowed GVSU to record its third winning streak of the season of at least four games; the Lakers have a pair of four-game win streaks, as well as the season-opening five-game winning stretch. Since falling to Ashland and Lake Erie on Dec. 3-5, Grand Valley State has won eight of its last nine contests.

The Lakers used strong defense at home last weekend to defeat Northern Michigan (83-63) and Michigan Tech (64-53). GVSU outshot both opponents, made more free throws in both games, and - as is the norm - outrebounded both teams in the victories. Grand Valley State was in control nearly all weekend; the team's largest deficit in either game was just one point, which came early in the first half of each contest.

Against Northern Michigan, the Lakers had five players - including four starters - reach double-digits, led by junior guard Luke Ryskamp's 18 points in just 25 minutes. Senior Aaron Hayes posted 16 points, while junior Trevin Alexander came off the bench to add 16 points in only 17 minutes of action. The Lakers led 44-23 at halftime and held a 32-point second half advantage. GVSU outscored Northern Michigan 40-16 in the paint and forced 16 Wildcat turnovers.

Two days later, the Lakers held Michigan Tech to just 15 points in the first half, as GVSU was on top 29-15 at intermission. For the game, Grand Valley State forced Michigan Tech into just 36.2 percent shooting and 4-for-22 from three-point range. Again, four of five starters reached double figures, including Ryskamp's team-high 14 points and a dozen points apiece from Hayes and freshman Zach West.

In the victory over Michigan Tech, senior Chaz Rollins notched his fifth double-double in the last 10 games with 11 points and a season-best 16 rebounds. Versus Northern Michigan last Thursday, Rollins played only 11 minutes before fouling out in the second half, but still recorded 10 points and nine rebounds (six offensive). Over the last 10 games, Rollins is posting 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 59.2 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures in eight of those 10 games and has rebounding totals of 13, 11, 10, 14, and 16 over the same stretch.

The Lakers switched their lineup prior to the Dec. 5 game against Lake Erie to Hayes, West, and Ryskamp in the backcourt and Rollins and senior Ricardo Carbajal in the post. That group has helped Grand Valley State go 8-2 in the last 10 games.

Over that same period, senior Darren Kapustka has handed out 47 assists, while committing just 11 turnovers. Of GLIAC players who have totaled over 300 minutes this season, Kapustka's 3.4 assist/turnover ratio is the third-best in the conference. He has two or fewer turnovers in nine of the last 10 games.

Lake Superior State (12-4 overall) is one of six GLIAC teams - along with GVSU - that is 7-3 in conference play, all sitting one game behind league leader Saginaw Valley State (8-2). However, after a nine-game winning streak that spanned Nov. 24 to Jan. 3, LSSU has lost three of its last four games. The notable characteristic in that stretch is all four games were on the road. Lake Superior State is 7-0 at home this season.

The Lakers fell at Ohio Dominican (87-75) on Jan. 7 and lost both games last weekend, by only a combined seven points. Lake Superior State was upended at Saginaw Valley State (75-70) and lost a late game lead in an 82-80 loss at Hillsdale two days later.

LSSU is very good defensively, ranking first in the league in steals (8.8), second in blocks (3.9), and third in both fewest points allowed (68.8) and opponents field goal percentage (41.6). They also take care of the ball, turning it over just 10.9 times (fourth-best) and shoot 73.1 percent from the free throw line (also fourth-best).

Senior forward Devin Daly ranks second in the GLIAC in scoring (22.1 ppg.) and third in rebounding (9.4), while shooting 58.0 percent from the field. He has totaled the most points (354) and second-most rebounds (150) of any player in the league. Sophomore guard Akaemji Williams is scoring 18.8 points per game (sixth-most in the GLIAC) and leads the conference in steals (44), but also turnovers (49). Williams has handed out 97 assists this season, second most in the league.

Six GLIAC teams are 7-3 in conference action, but Northwood (10-6 overall) is just one game behind that group at 6-4. The Timberwolves have had an up-and-down 2016, though, going 3-3 in the new year with a 17-point loss at home against Ashland, a 39-point road loss at Ohio Dominican, and a 22-point loss at Hillsdale. However, Northwood gave Saginaw Valley State just its second loss of the year with a 94-84 victory last Saturday and also squeaked by Lake Erie (78-77) and Tiffin (79-76) in consecutive games in early January. NU also gave Findlay one of its only three league losses this season.

The Timberwolves are 3-3 in true road games, but have lost three of their last five such contests. Northwood has the top offense (84.4 ppg.) in the GLIAC, puts up the most field goal attempts (65.6), and shoots the top free throw percentage (77.7) in the conference. NU makes the fourth-most three-pointers per game and hands out the fourth-most assists. Defensively, however, they've struggled thus far, as the Timberwolves rank 16th out of 16 teams in points per game allowed (82.6), opponents field goal percentage (49.0), and opponents three-point percentage (43.6).

Senior point guard Maurice Jones - a former two-year starter at USC - is the GLIAC leader in assists (101) and is scoring 21.8 points per game, third-best in the league. He is coming off of a career-high 39 points (including 15-of-15 at the free throw line) in the win over SVSU last weekend, his 10th 20 scoring effort this season. His backcourt mate Dylan Langkabel is scoring 15.4 points per game and shoots 48.2 percent from the field, 38.5 from beyond the arc, and 84.8 percent at the charity stripe. Senior guard Jermaine Myers is also averaging 10.6 points and nearly four rebounds per game, while knocking down 27 three-pointers.

Grand Valley State will have another split week next weekend. The Lakers play at Saginaw Valley State next Thursday night (Jan. 28) and return home to face Hillsdale on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 30).