at #11 Ashland (Tuesday, 8:00 p.m.): Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes

After extending its season last Thursday night with a win in the regular season finale, the Grand Valley State men's basketball team travels to Ohio to take on #11 Ashland in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament. GVSU will battle the Eagles at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday night (Mar. 1) in Ashland's Kates Gymnasium.

Grand Valley State (18-10 overall, 12-10 GLIAC) topped West Michigan rival Ferris State 78-69 last Thursday night (Feb. 25) in Allendale, but also needed a 96-94 Northwood loss to Lake Superior State to clinch a spot in the conference tournament. The Lakers enter Tuesday's game as the GLIAC's seventh seed.

Ashland (24-4, 18-4 GLIAC) tied Saginaw Valley State for a share of the GLIAC regular season championship. The Eagles have won 11 straight regular season games and are the tournament's #2 seed.

There are links above to watch the online webcast (provided by Ashland) or listen to the radio broadcast of the game, as well as a link to follow the live stats. The game will be aired on WTKG-AM 1230 and WMUS 107.9 FM, with fifth year play-by-play announcer DJ Foster calling the action.

The GVSU-Ashland contest is one of four opening round tournament games. #1 Saginaw Valley State hosts #8 Walsh at 8:00 p.m., #3 Findlay welcomes #6 Ferris State for a 7:00 p.m. start, and #4 Lake Superior State will also host #5 Hillsdale at 7:00 p.m. Both semifinal games will be played on Saturday (Mar. 5), with the championship game set for Sunday (Mar. 6) afternoon.

Grand Valley State used one of its best offensive halves of the year to earn the comeback win over Ferris State on Thursday night. After trailing 27-21 at intermission, the Lakers scored 57 second half points by shooting 58 percent from the field and making 18-of-24 free throws in the final 20 minutes. For the game, GVSU shot 46 percent from the floor, went 7-of-12 from beyond the arc, and was 21-of-32 at the charity stripe.

Senior guard Aaron Hayes and junior guard Luke Ryskamp each notched game-highs of 21 points. Hayes scored all 21 of his points in the second half, marking his second-straight 20-point second half. He was 16-of-17 at the free throw line (again, all in the final 20 minutes) to tie a 26-year old GVSU single-game record. In 1990, former Laker Steve Harvey went a perfect 16-of-16 at the line against Lake Superior State.

Ryskamp also notched 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while adding six rebounds, as senior Chaz Rollins totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds, and a pair of blocks. The Lakers topped Ferris State (the league's top rebounding team) by a 41-34 rebounding tally.

Grand Valley State and Ashland played just once in the regular season and it was back on Dec. 3 in Allendale. It was the first GLIAC game for both teams. The game was tied at the end of the first half (27-27) and the end of the second half (65-65) before the Eagles pulled away with a 76-72 overtime victory. Last season, AU earned a 93-92 four-overtime victory over the Lakers in Ashland.

In that December meeting, both teams had five players in double-digits. Senior Ricardo Carbajal led the Lakers with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Ryskamp added 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Hayes supplied 13 points, junior Trevin Alexander notched 11, and Rollins scored 10 points. GVSU shot 41.0 percent from the field and made 20-of-27 free throws, but went just 2-of-11 from beyond the arc.

Ashland had a pair of players with 16 points, as junior forward Wendell Davis also added seven assists and six rebounds. Guard Adrian Cook also scored 16 points, backcourt mate Boo Osborne notched 15 points, and Nick Bapst (13 points) and Marsalis Hamilton (10 points) rounded out the double figure scoring. AU shot 47.3 percent from the floor and made 10-of-25 three-pointers.

GVSU won the rebounding battle (35-32) and led in points in the paint, 42-28. Ashland had 11 turnovers, while the Lakers committed just eight miscues.

On Monday afternoon, Ryskamp and Rollins each earned their first All-GLIAC recognition. Ryskamp was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team, while Rollins was one of 10 players in the league voted to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team.

For Ashland, Davis was a First Team All-GLIAC selection and Osborne earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors. Both Osborne and center Michael Hundley were named to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team.

Tuesday's game is a matchup of the top two defenses in the league. In fewest points allowed, Ashland (65.1) ranks first, while GVSU (68.1) is second. AU (39.7) also leads in opponents field goal percentage, as the Lakers (40.8) are also second. The Eagles' 29.7 opponents three-point percentage is also first, while Grand Valley State's 34.8 clip is sixth-best.

The Lakers are 6-6 on the road this season and Ashland owns a 12-2 home record, with its only home losses coming by two points apiece (Saginaw Valley State on Dec. 12, Walsh on Jan. 14).

Grand Valley State is 22-11 all-time in 17 previous GLIAC Tournament appearances, last winning the conference tournament championship in the 2007-08 season. The Lakers have faced Ashland once in the league tournament, defeating the Eagles 90-77 on Mar. 3, 2006 in Allendale.