vs. Ferris State (17-3, 11-2 GLIAC)
Monday, 8:00 p.m.
Radio: ESPN 96.1 FM | Listen
Video: ESPN3 | Watch
Live Stats | Game Notes
 
Not often in the recent history between West Michigan rivals Grand Valley State and Ferris State have both schools been so highly positioned in the GLIAC standings as in this year's opening matchup. On Monday night (Jan. 30), the Lakers will welcome the Bulldogs to Allendale for an 8:00 p.m. tipoff for the first of two regular season meetings between the teams.
 
Entering the Big Monday matchup between the North Division rivals, Grand Valley State sits in a three-way tie for second place in the GLIAC standings; the Lakers are 13-7 overall and 9-4 in league action. GVSU is tied with Findlay and Michigan Tech for second place in the conference. Ferris State comes into the contest with a 17-3 overall record and leads the GLIAC with an 11-2 record in league play.
 
Fans can follow along with Monday night's game by watching live on ESPN3 or clicking on the 'Watch' link above. Sixth-year GVSU play-by-play voice DJ Foster will be calling all of the action on ESPN 96.1 FM, the radio home for Laker basketball. Grand Valley State fans can watch, listen, or follow along to the games through the links at the top of this page.
 
GVSU has won six of its last eight games, with only a pair of road losses against Upper Peninsula schools during that timeframe. Over the weekend, the Lakers split at Michigan Tech (72-64) on Thursday night before using a huge second half run to wipe out Northern Michigan (79-56) on Saturday afternoon in Marquette.
 
Those road games in the Upper Peninsula were the start of a stretch with three games in five days and five games in a 10-day span, easily the toughest stretch of the year for the Lakers. Moreover, four of those five games will come on the road for Grand Valley State, but the Lakers were able to garner a split with Saturday's victory over NMU.
 
With 14:10 remaining in the second half of Saturday's contest in Marquette, the Wildcats were in front of GVSU, 45-41. From there, the Lakers scored 20 consecutive points as part of a larger 34-2 run to take complete control of the game with a 75-47 advantage in the final few minutes. Strong defense was obviously crucial, but Grand Valley State shot 70.4 percent from the field and 8-of-9 from three-point range in the final 20 minutes, outscoring Northern Michigan 51-30 in the second half.
 
Four Lakers reached double figures in the victory, led by senior Luke Ryskamp's game-high 17 points and 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range. Sophomore center Justin Greason tallied 15 points off the bench, all of which came in the second half. Also off the bench was freshman Ben Lubitz, who more than doubled his career-high with 13 points; Lubitz was 5-of-7 from the field and 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Lastly, senior Trevin Alexander posted a double-double of 12 rebounds, 10 points, two assists, and a pair of blocks.
 
The win came on the heels of a tough 72-64 loss at Michigan Tech on Thursday night, as it was the Huskies who used a strong second half to take down GVSU. Over the final 20 minutes, MTU outscored the Lakers 43-36 and shot 55.6 percent from the field and 11-of-15 at the line. Ryskamp provided a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds, while Alexander added 14 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Greason was 4-of-5 from the field and notched 11 points and five boards.
 
Again, Monday night's game is the lone home contest in this current five-game stretch, where GVSU has won three straight games - defeating Ashland, Wayne State, and Saginaw Valley State. On the year, the Lakers are 7-2 inside the Fieldhouse Arena. After road games at Wayne State and SVSU this weekend (Feb. 2-4), Grand Valley State returns to Allendale for four consecutive home contests the following two weekends.
 
The all-time series lead is in Ferris State's favor, 55-51, though the Lakers have won four of the last seven matchups. Both teams won on their home floor last season, with FSU winning 74-71 on Feb. 1 in Big Rapids and Grand Valley State capturing the rematch 78-69 on Feb. 25 in Allendale. Overtime is a definite possibility, as well, as the teams have went to an extra session four times in the last 12 meetings; both teams won two of those four overtime contests.
 
Ferris State had lost three of four games in late-November to early December (including back-to-back GLIAC losses to Findlay and at Walsh), but since then the Bulldogs have won 12 consecutive games, including all eight January contests. Only five of the 12 wins have come by less than 10 points, including both of last weekend's wins at Northern Michigan (86-80) and Michigan Tech (77-76). Four times during that stretch, FSU has surpassed the 100-point plateau.
 
The Bulldogs are 10-1 in true road games, with the only defeat coming at Walsh on Dec. 8 in a 65-69 loss to the Cavaliers. Ferris State leads the conference in offense (87.9 ppg.), field goals made (32.6) and attempted (67.2), defensive rebounds (28.8 and total rebounds (41.0) per game, and blocked shots (7.2) per game.
 
Zach Hankins leads the Bulldogs at 14.9 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game, while shooting 66.1 percent from the field, but just 59.2 percent from the free throw line. Quentin Ruff is scoring 13.9 points per game (up to 15.4 in GLIAC contests) and has knocked down 53 three-pointers at a 39.6 percent clip. Peter Firlik is averaging 12.1 points per game and shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 78.2 percent at the charity stripe. Firlik ranks second on the Bulldogs with 42 assists and 29 steals.
 
After Monday's game, the Lakers head to Detroit for a 7:30 p.m. start on Thursday (Feb. 2) against Wayne State before facing Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Feb. 4) at 6:00 p.m. GVSU defeated both teams on Jan. 19-21 in Allendale.