at Saginaw Valley State (Thursday, 8:00 p.m.): Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
vs. Hillsdale (Saturday, 3:00 p.m.): Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
Grand Valley State men's basketball begins a crucial stretch this weekend with the start of a five-game, 10-day schedule against GLIAC North Division opponents. This weekend's contests are part of a second straight "split" week, where the Lakers play one road and one home game. On Thursday night, GVSU will travel to University Center to take on league-leading Saginaw Valley State followed by a home game against Hillsdale on Saturday.
 
This is the second split week in a row for Grand Valley State, as the team will have the same setup twice more this season. Thursday night's game at SVSU is an 8:00 p.m. start, while Saturday's home contest versus Hillsdale is a 3:00 p.m. tipoff.
 
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 Hillsdale 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.
 
Last week, Grand Valley State earned a split in its two contests and is now 9-2 over the last 11 games. The Lakers dropped a tough battle at Lake Superior State on Thursday (Jan. 21) by an 82-74 overtime final, as LSSU outscored GVSU 13-5 in the extra session. Sophomore Myles Miller drained a three-pointer in the final 10 seconds to push the game to overtime; Miller tied his career-high with 15 points in the game. Grand Valley State did shoot 46.7 percent from the field and 10-for-28 from three-point range, but committed a season-high 28 turnovers.
 
After the trip back to Allendale, GVSU responded with a great performance against Northwood last Saturday (Jan. 23). The Lakers held Northwood to 31 points below its season average in a 66-53 victory. Trailing 48-46 with over nine minutes to play, Grand Valley State used a 20-5 run to end the game, while holding the Timberwolves to their lowest scoring output of the year. Senior Aaron Hayes scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, while junior Trevin Alexander added his third double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The split kept GVSU at 14-4 on the season and 8-4 in conference play. Grand Valley State is tied with Ashland and Lake Superior State with an 8-4 GLIAC record; that trio is one game behind Ferris State and Findlay (both 9-3) and two games back of Saginaw Valley State (league-leading 10-2).
 
One constant for Grand Valley State this season has been its defense. The Lakers rank first in the conference in scoring defense (65.2 ppg.) and opponents field goal percentage (39.2); in fact, GVSU's 39.2 opponents field goal percentage is seventh-lowest in all of Division II. Grand Valley State has held seven of its last 10 opponents under 40.0 percent shooting from the field and is 12-0 when holding opponents to 70 points or less.
 
In addition to the strong defense, the Lakers are also first in the conference in free throws made (16.7) and attempted (24.6) and the league leaders in rebounding margin at +7.2 rebounds per game.
 
Saginaw Valley State is on top of the GLIAC standings at 10-2 this season, while the Cardinals are 14-4 overall. At home, SVSU has been unbeatable, sporting a perfect 8-0 home record even though its last three GLIAC home games were decided by three, five, and five points. Saginaw Valley State's most impressive home win thus far is a 75-70 victory over Lake Superior State on Jan. 14.
 
The Cardinals' lone losses in league play came at Findlay (75-70) on Jan. 7 and at Northwood (94-84) on Jan. 16. SVSU bounced back after the Northwood loss to defeat Northern Michigan (83-79) and Michigan Tech (68-62) last weekend in the Upper Peninsula.
 
In the league rankings, SVSU is first in the GLIAC in scoring (82.6 ppg.) and second in field goals made (29.8), field goals attempted (62.6), three-point percentage (38.6), and steals per game (8.3). Saginaw Valley State ranks third in the conference in field goal percentage (47.6), rebounding margin (4.2), assists per game (16.1), and opponents three-point percentage (31.1).
 
Former GLIAC Freshman of the Year CJ Turnage is posting team-highs of 16.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 58.3 percent from the field. The junior forward is also SVSU's leader in steals (27) and blocks (16), while handing out 48 assists, second-most on the team. He is only a 54.3 percent free throw shooter, however. Senior guard Damon Bozeman is scoring 15.1 points per game and shoots nearly 41 percent from beyond the arc and 76.0 percent at the line. Senior point guard Kellen Smith has passed for the third-most assists (107) in the conference.
 
At 7-5 in GLIAC play, Hillsdale (11-5 overall) is not far behind both SVSU and GVSU. The Chargers are a perfect 7-0 at home, but just 3-5 on the road, which includes losses in five of their last six road contests. Last weekend, HC dropped a pair of close games at Michigan Tech (74-69) and Northern Michigan (70-64). The Chargers have also dropped road games at Ashland, Lake Erie, and Findlay, with their lone road victory coming at Wayne Sate on Jan. 7.
 
Hillsdale does have an impressive 82-80 comeback home victory over Lake Superior State after trailing by 14 points with five minutes remaining for its most recent win.
 
The Chargers are a terrific shooting team, ranking first in both field goal percentage (48.5) and three-point percentage (39.0), while owning the second-highest free throw percentage (76.1). Hillsdale averages the fewest turnovers (9.8) per game, while passing for the second-most assists (16.8) per game. HC ranks 14th and 15th, respectively, in steals and blocks per game, while allowing opponents to shoot 38.1 percent from three-point range, the fourth-highest average in the league.
 
Senior forward Kyle Cooper leads the GLIAC with 23.2 points per game and is second with 9.9 rebounds per contest. His 138 made field goals are also the most in the league, while he shoots 57.7 percent from the field. Cooper is 28-for-62 from three-point range for a 45.2 percentage, second-best in the conference. He has scored at least 20 points in 11 games, including four 30-point efforts, and a career-high 41 points in a 94-90 home win over Walsh. Sophomore guard Stedman Lowry has drained 50 three-pointers and is scoring 16.1 points per game, while senior guard Zach Miller is handing out over six assists per game.
 
The Lakers continue their five-game, 10-day stretch next Monday (Feb. 1) when they travel to Ferris State for a rivalry game against the Bulldogs at 8:00 p.m. GVSU will then head to the Upper Peninsula next weekend (Feb. 4-6) to face Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.