Box Score

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State Lakers are already battle-tested. Two games in, two games decided by just points, and on Saturday night they came out on top with a 59-57 win over the Quincy Hawks for the first win of the Lakers 2017-18 season. Four Lakers scored in double figures with Justin Greason, Ben Lubitz and Lance Dollison leading the way with 12 points each, followed closely by Hunter Hale's ten. Chris Pearl made it two games in a row with double-digit rebounds to start the year, hauling in ten boards in the victory. 

With the Lakers (1-1, 0-0 GLIAC) up by one and under a minute to go, Lubitz hit a 35-footer with the shot clock winding down to give GVSU some separation. The Hawks (0-2, 0-0 GLVC) answered with a quick two, then forced a turnover to earn a front court possession and a chance to tie or win the game. But, with the painful memories of a night ago fresh in their minds, the Lakers defense held tight and got the stop they needed to secure the win. Again the Lakers defense was stingy, holding the Hawks to 38.2% from the field. The Lakers held a lead for nearly 30 of the 40 minutes played. GVSU shot 37% from the field in the game, including 8-25 from beyond the arc.

Again it was a quick start for Grand Valley State, who led by as many as seven in the first half, but the Hawks were able to rally and tie the game at 30-30 headed into halftime. The Lakers never trailed until the three-minute mark of the first half and Quincy held a lead for just 3:37 of the contest. The Lakers look to ride the momentum into their home opener on Tuesday (Nov. 14) against Olivet at 7:00 PM in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.