The Grand Valley State men's basketball team scored 20 of the game's final 25 points to turn a two-point deficit into a 13-point victory at home against Northwood on Saturday (Jan. 23). GVSU outscored Northwood 40-24 in the second half and closed out the 66-53 victory with the decisive 20-5 run.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 14-4 on the season and 8-4 in GLIAC play. Grand Valley State is now 9-3 inside the friendly confines of GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The victory puts the Lakers in a three-way tie (with Ashland and Lake Superior State) for fourth place in the league standings. Northwood drops to 10-8 overall and 6-6 in conference action. 

The Timberwolves entered Saturday's game averaging a league-high 83.9 points per game. Northwood had scored over 100 points in three games this season and topped the 90-point mark in three other contests. On Saturday night, however, the Grand Valley State defense - best in the league at just 65.9 points per game - exerted its will. 

Northwood did shoot 45.8 percent in the first half, helping the T'Wolves get out to a 29-26 halftime advantage. But over the final 20 minutes, the Lakers held NU to 25.0 percent shooting. For the game, Northwood shot 34.6 percent and just 8-for-23 from three-point range. The 53 points for NU is the team's season-low and 31 points below the season average.

Grand Valley State's defense helped the Lakers notch a 40-24 advantage in the second half, when the GVSU offense stepped up a notch. The Lakers shot 41.4 percent in the second half (after 30.3 in the opening 20 minutes), but also made 15-of-20 free throws in the final stanza. 

Senior Aaron Hayes scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, going 6-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 at the charity stripe. He made 2-of-3 triple tries. Trevin Alexander supplied a double-double in just 17 minutes, as the junior totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds. It was his third double-double of the season. 

Northwood was on top 12-8 after a three-pointer, but freshman Zach West drilled a trifecta and Hayes scored on a jumper to give GVSU the 13-12 lead. Alexander and Hayes each knocked down a three-pointer to put the Lakers ahead 24-21 with 3:13 to go. Luke Ryskamp's layup at the 1:29 mark made the score 26-21. 

However, the Timberwolves answered with a pair of three-pointers and a jumper right before the halftime buzzer to lead 29-26. To start the second half, Northwood hit a trifecta and a jumper to cap off a 13-0 run over the two halves and take a 34-26 advantage.

A pair of freebies from Ryskamp at the 14:06 mark tied the score at 39-39, but the game was tied three more times. After Northwood led 48-46, Hayes knotted the score for the seventh and final time at 48-48 with 9:05 remaining. That spurred the 20-5 Laker run to close the game.

Senior Darren Kapustka hit two free throws and classmate Chaz Rollins scored on a laup, followed by a Ryskamp free throw and a jumper from Alexander. That put GVSU on top 55-48 with 5:51 to go. After a Timberwolf three-pointer, West responded with a trifecta and Hayes added a layup and two free throws to help the Lakers get ahead 63-51 with 1:19 remaining. The Lakers made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 1:11 to seal the victory.

West and Ryskamp each scored eight points and both had a pair of steals, while Ryskamp tied his season-high with eight rebounds. Rollins pulled down nine boards and blocked three shots, while freshman Justin Greason added six points, five rebounds, a block, and a steal in 11 minutes.

GVSU had a 22-9 edge in bench points and a 14-5 advantage in second chance points. The Lakers again won the rebounding battle 47-35, including a 15-5 cushion in offensive rebounds.

Next Thursday, Grand Valley State heads to University Center, Mich. to take on Saginaw Valley State in a crucial GLIAC contest. SVSU is the conference leader at 10-2 in league action. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.