vs. Upper Iowa
Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
vs. Saint Joseph's or Salem International
Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT or 9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
The Grand Valley State men's basketball team will take a three-game winning streak into the SJC Thanksgiving Classic in Rensselaer, Ind., as the Lakers will take on Upper Iowa in the opening game of the tournament on Friday night (Nov. 25). GVSU will square off with the Peacocks at 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT) on Friday before facing either the host school Saint Joseph's or Salem International on Saturday evening (Nov. 26).
 
After an 0-2 road trip to the GLVC-GLIAC Challenge in St. Louis two weekends ago, Grand Valley State has rattled off three consecutive victories in Allendale to move to 3-2 on the year. The Lakers have posted victories of 55, 37, and 33 points in a six-day span to move above the .500 mark this season.
 
Most recently, GVSU totaled an 88-55 win over visiting Grace Bible on Monday (Nov. 21) thanks to its torrid outside shooting. After connecting for 11 triples in each of their previous two games, the Lakers went 14-for-28 from long range, with seven different players hitting a trifecta. It was the most three-pointers in a game since Dec. 20, 2006, when Grand Valley State hit 15 triples in an 89-67 home victory over Rochester.
 
Senior Luke Ryskamp was 4-of-7 from downtown en route to 22 points, while the guard added seven rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals. Ryskamp heads into this weekend with 984 career points and needs just 16 points to become the 34th member of GVSU's 1,000 Point Club.
 
Also in the win over Grace Bible, senior Trevin Alexander notched 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, four steals, and a pair of blocked shots. He connected on 2-of-5 three-pointers. Sophomore guard Zach West went 3-for-3 from downtown and totaled nine points, four boards, and three assists in 19 minutes. This season, West is 11-of-15 from long range through five games.
 
The Lakers have been very good in a number of categories during the early part of the season. Among all GLIAC teams, Grand Valley State is ranked first in points per game allowed (54.8) and opponents field goal percentage (32.1), as well as steals per game (10.6), total rebounds per game (43.8), and offensive rebounds per game (12.4).
 
GVSU had four different leading scorers through its first five games, while Alexander has been the team's leading rebounder in four of the five contests. He's collected nine or more boards in all four of those games and is averaging 9.4 rebounds per game to go along with his 11.6 points per contest. Alexander also passed for six assists against Grace Bible, setting a new career-high.
 
Ryskamp is leading the way with 12.4 points per game, while junior guard Danzel Wright is scoring 12.0 points per game in 14.5 minutes per game off the bench. The Lakers have eight players averaging over seven points per game.
 
Upper Iowa enters Friday's game with a 1-3 record, having lost a pair of contests recently to Quincy (86-78) and Truman State (87-76). The lone win for the Peacocks is a 77-68 victory over Missouri Western on Nov. 13, while Upper Iowa lost to #6 Northwest Missouri State 87-52 in its season opener.
 
The teams have played just twice in school history, with both meetings coming in 2006, albeit in separate seasons. GVSU was victorious 75-43 on Jan. 16 at Upper Iowa before also taking the rematch 74-40 in Allendale on Nov. 21.
 
Though Upper Iowa is scoring 70.8 points per game on offense, the Peacocks are allowing 82.0 points per game defensively. They shoot 45.7 percent from the field, but opponents are connecting at a 48.1 percent clip, including 44.2 percent from three-point range.
 
Senior guard Jimmy Roth is averaging 18.0 points per game and is shooting 59.5 percent from the field, while leading the Peacocks in free throws made (17) and attempted (26). Senior guard/forward Jordan Hay is putting up 11.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and sophomore guard Dennis Austin III leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, while chipping in 9.5 points per contest.
 
In true tournament style, the Lakers will play in either the championship (9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT) or consolation game (7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT) on Saturday night (Nov. 26).
 
Grand Valley State is 11-10 all-time against the host school Saint Joseph's, having won six of the last seven meetings against the Pumas, though the teams have not met since Nov. 23, 2010 when the Lakers won 92-74 in Allendale. If GVSU faces Salem International, it will be just the second time the schools have met on the court. The Lakers defeated Salem International 91-60 in Allendale on Nov. 28, 2015 in the first-ever meeting.
 
After this weekend's tournament, GVSU will open up GLIAC play next weekend at home. Next Thursday (Dec. 1), the Lakers will host Findlay at 8:00 p.m. and follow up with Ohio Dominican at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday (Dec. 3).