Grand Valley State posted a season-high 92 points in a tournament consolation victory over Salem International on Saturday night (Nov. 26) in Rensselaer, Ind., defeating the Tigers 92-68. The Lakers had a pair of milestones reached during the win, with senior Luke Ryskamp and junior Drake Baar providing those moments in the 24-point victory.

Ryskamp entered the game with 999 points and eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone on a three-pointer just 22 seconds into the game to become the 34th member of GVSU's 1,000 Point Club. The senior guard finished the game with 16 points, shot 6-of-12 from the field, and 4-of-9 from three-point range. He also passed for four assists in 26 minutes of the win.

Baar reached perfection on Saturday by going 10-for-10 from the field and totaling a new career-high with 23 points in 28 minutes of work. He was 3-of-4 at the line and added five rebounds, topping his previous career-high of 14 points against Upper Iowa on Friday night (Nov. 25). In the first half, Baar was 3-for-3 from the field and went 7-for-7 in the second stanza. The last time a Laker went 10-for-10 from the floor was on Feb. 10, 2005 when Callistus Eziukwu reached that exact tally in a home victory over Saginaw Valley State.

Saturday's victory pushed GVSU to 4-3 on the season, while Salem International falls to 0-5. The Lakers return to Allendale and will open GLIAC play next Thursday (Dec. 1) against Findlay at 8:00 p.m.

Grand Valley State shot the ball very well on Saturday night, connecting at a 53.1 percent clip and going 12-of-29 from three-point range. Seven Lakers drained a trifecta against the Tigers, while GVSU handed out 28 assists, seven coming from sophomore Zach West and another six from junior Myles Miller.

Senior Juwan Starks reached double-figures with 11 points and three assists, as Starks buried a pair of three-pointers. West totaled eight points, seven assists, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocked shots; the assists and blocks are new career-highs. 

With just one point to go to reach 1,000 for his career, Ryskamp wasted little time in doing so, as the senior hit a three-pointer and added a layup in the opening 39 seconds into the contest. Midway through the half, Starks hit a three-pointer, followed by a Ryskamp jumper and a trifecta from freshman Ben Lubitz. After a pair of Baar free throws, the Lakers were up 28-15. 

GVSU was ahead 32-22 at the 2:56 mark when the Lakers ran off a 13-1 run to close the first half. Baar hit a pair of jumpers sandwiched around a West three-pointer. Sophomore Alec Marty converted an old-fashioned three-point play to up the advantage to 42-22. After Salem International split two free throws, Ryskamp ended the half the same way he started it; the senior buried a three-pointer with two seconds remaining and Grand Valley State took a 45-23 lead to intermission.

Consecutive three-pointers from senior Trevin Alexander and Starks early in the second half were followed shortly by a Marty trifecta and the Lakers had their largest lead of the night at 66-39 with 12:22 remaining. GVSU led by at least 18 points the rest of the contest, going wire-to-wire and not trailing at any point for the first time this season.

Ryskamp scored all 16 of his points in the first half, while Baar followed his eight-point first half with 15 points and four rebounds in only 13 minutes of the second stanza, as he went 7-for-7 from the floor.

Marty provided seven points, three assists, and three steals off the bench, while junior Chris Dorsey added seven points and three rebounds, as well. Alexander tied West for the team-high in rebounds with six boards each. 

The Lakers only led 10-9 in offensive rebounds, but turned that into a 17-5 advantage in second chance points. GVSU was also on top in points in the paint (32-20), points off turnovers (23-11), and bench points (36-7).