at Northwood (4-12, 2-5 GLIAC)
Thursday, 8:00 p.m.
Radio: ESPN 96.1 FM
Listen | Watch (Pay per view)
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
at Lake Superior State (8-3, 5-2 GLIAC)
Saturday, 3:00 p.m.
Radio: WTKG-AM 1230
Listen | Live Stats | Game Notes
 
Grand Valley State stays on the road and begins GLIAC North Division play this weekend against a pair of familiar foes. On Thursday night (Jan. 12), the Lakers travel to Midland to take on Northwood at 8:00 p.m. before GVSU heads north to face Lake Superior State at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 14) in Sault Ste. Marie.
 
The Lakers have played well on the road recently and look to keep that trend going this weekend against Northwood and Lake Superior State. With four straight road/neutral site wins against Salem International, Hillsdale, Walsh, and Lake Erie, Grand Valley State sits at 9-5 overall and 5-2 in GLIAC play entering this weekend.
 
Northwood owns a 4-12 record and the Timberwolves are 2-5 in league action, while Lake Superior State is 8-3 overall and tied with GVSU at 5-2 in GLIAC play. Entering Thursday night's play, Grand Valley State, Lake Superior State, and Ferris State are all tied for third place in the overall GLIAC standings.
 
Thursday's game at Northwood will be aired on ESPN 96.1 FM, with sixth-year play-by-play voice DJ Foster calling the action. Saturday's contest at Lake Superior State can be heard on WTKG-AM 1230, with longtime Laker football announcer (and former GVSU basketball play-by-play man) Steve Lloyd-Jones handling the play-by-play duties. Fans can watch, listen, or follow along to the games through the links at the top of this page.
 
The Lakers began 2017 the same way they end 2016; with a victory over an Ohio school. After defeating Ashland 87-75 in Allendale on Dec. 19, Grand Valley State had nearly a three-week break before recording a 73-62 win at Lake Erie last Saturday afternoon. GVSU shot 54.9 percent from the field and held decisive advantages in the paint (44-26), from its bench players (26-8), and makes at the free throw line (14-4).
 
Sophomore center Justin Greason put together his best game in a Laker uniform, totaling career-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. While Greason was 7-of-9 from the field, senior Trevin Alexander also shot well at 5-for-6 rom the floor for 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a pair of steals. Classmate Luke Ryskamp added 11 points and junior Chris Dorsey provided nine points and three assists off the bench.
 
Winners of four of their last five games, the Lakers are getting it done on the defensive end of the floor. GVSU ranks first among all Division II teams in defensive field goal percentage, as opponents are shooting just 37.2 percent from the floor. Moreover, Grand Valley State is fourth in the country in scoring defense - allowing only 61.6 points per game - and 13th in the nation with a GLIAC-best +8.1 rebounding margin per game.
 
This weekend's contests continue a three-game road trip, while the Lakers will play five of their eight January games away from Allendale. The team will cross the bridge to face Lake Superior State on Saturday and do so again on Jan. 26-28 when GVSU heads further north to take on Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan. After losing its first three road/neutral games, Grand Valley State has won four straight outside of the Fieldhouse Arena.
 
Last season, the Lakers split with both Northwood and Lake Superior State, with each team winning on its home floor. However, Grand Valley State played a split trip against NU and LSSU last season; in the first meetings, GVSU lost at Lake Superior State 82-74 in overtime on Jan. 21 before winning at home against Northwood 66-53 on Jan. 23.
 
In round two, the Lakers responded with an 84-70 home win over LSSU on Feb. 11 before traveling to Northwood and falling to the Timberwolves 79-73 on Feb. 13. The all-time series lead in both matchups belongs to Grand Valley State; the Lakers are 65-23 against Northwood in series history, while owning a 69-36 advantage over Lake Superior State.
 
Northwood enters Thursday's game at 4-12 overall, but has won three of its last six games after starting the year with seven consecutive losses. Three of NU's four victories have come on its home floor, including wins over Lake Erie (84-71 on Dec. 17), Albion (88-72 on Dec. 10), and Tiffin (74-56 on Dec. 1). The Timberwolves are 3-5 overall on their home floor.
 
Most recently, Northwood dropped an 85-75 overtime decision at Hillsdale last Thursday before falling in Columbus to Ohio Dominican last Saturday, 101-67. The Timberwolves also have a pair of one-point losses to Ashland and Lubbock Christian and a two-point loss to Washburn, the latter two defeats coming in Puerto Rico over the Thanksgiving weekend.
 
Junior Matt Crowl leads the T-Wolves at 12.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 82.7 percent at the charity stripe. Classmate Nick Spitzley is scoring 10.9 points per game and tops NU with 39 three-pointers and nearly a 38 percent clip from beyond the arc. Senior PJ Weaver is posting averages of 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 39 percent from the floor.
 
At 8-3 overall, Lake Superior State has won six of its last seven games and four straight in Sault Ste. Marie. Even LSSU's three losses were close contests, as they have a 78-77 loss at Ohio Dominican on Jan. 5, a 95-87 loss to Ashland on Dec. 1, and a 91-86 defeat at Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 23. Last weekend, Lake Superior State fell at Ohio Dominican 78-77 on Thursday before bouncing back to win at Hillsdale 78-65 on Saturday.
 
The GLIAC's highest scoring team at 91.5 points per game, the Lakers are led by junior point guard Akaemji Williams, who is putting up averages of 22.5 points, 8.9 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. Williams ranks first in the league in assists (98) and steals (34) and is second in scoring. The 2015-16 All-GLIAC First Team selection has five games of 30 or more points this season.
 
Sophomore forward Blake Marquardt is tallying 14.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while leading LSSU with 39 three-pointers and a 48.8 percentage from downtown. Classmate Carson Manger is shooting 46.2 percent from downtown, has buried 24 three-pointers, and is putting up 13.2 points per game. Junior center Michael Nicholson is the fourth Laker averaging double-digits at 12.3 points and a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game.
 
GVSU returns home next weekend to host Wayne State on Thursday (Jan. 19) and Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Jan. 21) inside the Fieldhouse Arena.