Grand Valley State shot nearly 52 percent on Saturday in Sault Ste. Marie, but was unable to match Lake Superior State's firepower and outside shooting in a 99-78 road defeat. LSSU knocked down 13 three-pointers and went 24-for-30 at the charity stripe to snap GVSU's three-game win streak.
 
Both teams shot the ball very well in LSSU's Bud Cooper Gymnasium; Grand Valley State finished at 51.8 percent from the field and had a decent three-point percentage of 36.4, making 8-of-22 triple tries. While Lake Superior State made 24 free throws, GVSU was 12-for-18 at the line in a physical game that saw 47 total fouls.
 
It was Grand Valley State's first loss away from home in six games. The visiting Lakers are now 10-6 overall and 6-3 in GLIAC play. Lake Superior State improves to 9-4 on the year and is also 6-3 in conference action. In fact, GVSU and LSSU are in a five-way tied for second place in the league along with Findlay, Michigan Tech, and Wayne State.
 
GVSU owned a 50-21 edge in bench points, including a career-high and team-high 22 points from sophomore Zach West. The guard was 8-of-11 from the field, 4-for-6 from three-point range, and 2-of-3 at the free throw line to go with six rebounds in 32 very productive minutes off the bench. West's previous career-high in scoring was 14 points against Great Lakes Christian on Nov. 16, 2016.
 
Junior Drake Baar provided 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting, including burying a three-pointer, in 26 minutes. Also playing well off the bench was transfer Chris Dorsey, as the junior added 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds in 21 minutes played.
 
The Lakers nailed a pair of three-pointers from seniors Luke Ryskamp and Trevin Alexander in the opening 90 seconds in what would prove to be a high-scoring affair. Lake Superior State answered GVSU's scoring, but Baar converted a layup and a jumper and West drilled a trifecta with 11:21 remaining to keep up the score at 19-15 in LSSU's favor.
 
GVSU trailed 27-20 when the home Lakers used an 11-0 run to open a 38-20 cushion. Facing a 41-27 deficit with 2:32 to go, Grand Valley State closed the half with 10 of the next 11 points, as West delivered six points and Alexander added four in the 10-1 run. At halftime, GVSU had cut the deficit to just five at 42-37.
 
In the opening 20 minutes, the visiting Lakers shot an even 50.0 percent and made 5-of-11 three-pointers, while Lake Superior State connected on 46.9 percent of its attempts and was 7-for-17 from beyond the arc.
 
An early jumper from junior Myles Miller made the score 42-39 just 30 seconds into the second half and GVSU would keep the deficit to single digits for the next five minutes, but could not get any closer. Lake Superior State turned a 52-44 lead into a 76-55 advantage with a game-changing 24-11 run over a 6:43 span that basically put the game out of reach.
 
Grand Valley State could only get as close as 14 points (84-70) with 4:44 to go on a layup from West, who scored 13 points of his career-high total over the final 20 minutes.
 
Lake Superior State led in rebounding 34-30 and forced GVSU into a season-high 21 turnovers. Grand Valley State did hold a 36-26 advantage in points in the paint, while LSSU was on top in points off turnovers (27-17) and second chance points (14-10).
 
Ryskamp provided nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Alexander added eight points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.
 
Grand Valley State returns home next week to face Wayne State on Thursday (Jan. 19) at 8:00 p.m. and Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Jan. 21) at 2:00 p.m. The Lakers are 5-2 at home this season.