vs. Wayne State (9-4, 6-3 GLIAC)
Thursday, 8:00 p.m.
Radio: ESPN 96.1 FM | Listen
Video: ESPN3 | Watch
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
vs. Saginaw Valley State (11-5, 4-5 GLIAC)
Saturday, 2:00 p.m.
Radio: ESPN 96.1 FM | Listen
Video: American Sports Network
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
After starting the new year with three consecutive road games, Grand Valley State is back in Allendale for a big two-game homestand inside the Fieldhouse Arena this weekend. The Lakers host Wayne State on Thursday night (Jan. 19) at 8:00 p.m. and will welcome Saginaw Valley State to town on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 21) in a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
 
With a 10-6 overall record, GVSU enters the weekend in a five-way tie for second place in the conference standings at 6-3 in league play. One of those other four teams the Lakers are tied with is Wayne State, as the Warriors are 9-4 on the season and also 6-3 in GLIAC action.
 
Saginaw Valley State was ranked #1 in the entire country in the Dec. 6 national rankings, but the Cardinals have lost five of their seven games since becoming the top team in Division II. Currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak, SVSU is still 11-5 overall, but just 4-5 in conference play.
 
Both of this week's games can be heard on ESPN 96.1 FM, with sixth-year play-by-play voice DJ Foster calling all of the action. Thursday's game against Wayne State can be watched on ESPN3, while Saturday's contest with Saginaw Valley State is on the nationally televised American Sports Network. Fans can watch, listen, or follow along to the games through the links at the top of this page.
 
In a split road trip last week - Grand Valley State won at Northwood 93-78 on Thursday before falling 99-78 at Lake Superior State on Saturday - the Lakers shot above 50.0 percent in both contests, including well above that mark in the win over Northwood. Against the Timberwolves, GVSU shot 64.9 percent from the field and made 10-of-18 three-point attempts. The team's 64.9 field goal percentage was the highest by a Laker team since Jan. 17, 2007 when GVSU shot 66.7 percent in a 79-40 home win over Marygrove.
 
Despite falling to Lake Superior State two days later, the Lakers shot 51.8 percent from the field in the loss. In fact, Grand Valley State is shooting an even 50.0 percent this season, which is the best mark among all GLIAC teams. Defensively, the Lakers also rank first in opponents field goal percentage (38.1), with that offensive-defensive balance as likely the main reason GVSU sits in a second place tie in the conference standings.
 
There was an interesting scoring differential in Grand Valley State's two games last weekend. Against Northwood, all five Laker starters reached double-digits and combined for 82 of the team's 93 points. Two days later at LSSU, it was the GVSU reserves that combined for 50 of the 73 points scored.
 
In the win at Northwood, two Lakers - senior Trevin Alexander and junior Myles Miller - set new career-highs in scoring. Alexander was 8-for-13 from the field and totaled 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in one of the best all-around games of his career. Miller was a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor and produced career-highs in points (19) and steals (four), while tying his career-best with seven assists.
 
Sophomore Zach West joined the party on Saturday, as the guard posted his career-high of 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting (4-of-6 from three-point range) and six rebounds. He was one of three Laker reserves (junior Drake Baar - 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting - and classmate Chris Dorsey - 11 points, five assists) to reach double figures against Lake Superior State.
 
Five Lakers averaged double-digits in the two game road split last week. Alexander led the way with team-highs of 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds, while connecting on 10-for-19 shooting and 5-of-11 from three-point range. Classmate Luke Ryskamp put up 14.0 points per game, made 10-of-18 shots and 4-of-8 from downtown.
 
West ended up 9-for-13 from the floor and 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, while scoring 12.5 points per game. Baar (9-for-12 shooting) and Miller (9-for-15, 10 assists) each averaged 10.5 points per game in the two contests last week.
 
Grand Valley State has not been at home since Dec. 19, when the Lakers defeated Ashland 87-75 in a solid GLIAC win prior to the Christmas holiday break. Overall, GVSU is 5-2 on its home floor this season and 2-2 against conference foes inside the Fieldhouse Arena. After this weekend's games, the Lakers will also be at home this month against Ferris State on Jan. 30.
 
Wayne State lost its opening game of the year before rattling off nine straight victories, including six consecutive GLIAC wins. After starting 9-1, however, the Warriors have dropped their last three contests (two of which came at home last weekend), but were by six, five, and four points, respectively.
 
WSU fell at Findlay (70-64) on Jan. 7, then dropped a pair of close games to Michigan Tech (63-58) and Northern Michigan (75-71) last weekend in Detroit. On the road, Wayne State is 3-2 this season, which includes a two-point win at Tiffin (Dec. 8), a five-point victory at Ashland two days later, and a nine-point win over Walsh on Jan. 5.
 
Four Warriors average double-digits in scoring, led by junior guard Ronald Booth and his 15.5 points per game and team-highs of 28 three-pointers and 27 steals. Junior forward Chuck Key is scoring 13.2 points per game and leads WSU with 6.6 rebounds per game, shooting 49.4 percent from the field. Another junior - guard Marcus Moore - has dished out a team-high 51 assists and is putting up 12.6 points per game, along with 5.6 rebounds each contest.
 
Saginaw Valley State won their first nine games of the season en route to the program's first #1 ranking in school history, but since then has won just two of its last seven games, including a current four-game losing streak. Three of their five losses this year have come by six points or less. SVSU has dropped its last four GLIAC games at Findlay (88-78) and Walsh (87-85) before falling in two home games last weekend to Northern Michigan (82-76) and Michigan Tech (93-72).
 
In true road games, the Cardinals are just 1-3, with the lone victory coming on Dec. 8 at Ashland, 75-68. Saginaw Valley State's senior forward CJ Turnage was named the GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year and is a back-to-back member of the All-GLIAC First Team after earning conference Freshman of the Year honors in 2013-14. Turnage leads the team with 8.1 rebounds per game and is second in scoring (14.6), assists (43), and field goal percentage (.575).
 
Senior guard Garrett Hall is a two-time honoree on the All-GLIAC Second Team and is pacing SVSU with 16.9 points per game and 28 three-pointers. Hall shoots 46.7 percent from the field and 85.9 percent at the line, making 67-of-78 free throw tries. Senior forward Caleb Davis is scoring 9.3 points per game (10.7 in GLIAC contests) and also shoots above 85 percent at the line, while making 22 triples this season.
 
Next weekend, Grand Valley State heads back to the Upper Peninsula, with a Thursday night (Jan. 26) game at Michigan Tech at 7:30 p.m. before a Saturday afternoon (Jan. 28) contest at Northern Michigan at 3:00 p.m.