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ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State Lakers wrap up the 2017 GLIAC schedule with a brand new opponent in the Purdue Northwest Pride Saturday at 4:00 PM ET (3:00 CT) at John Friend Court in Hammond, Indiana. The Pride joined the GLIAC and Division II this academic year as a merger of two previous Purdue satellite schools, North Central and Calumet, both of which were separate NAIA institutions prior to this season. The Lakers enter the contest 3-7 overall and 0-4 in the GLIAC while Purdue Northwest is 0-9 on the year and 0-4 in the conference. 

The Lakers are coming off a tough 71-68 overtime loss to Northern Michigan last Saturday. The Lakers, playing in their first true home conference game of the year, opened a double-digit lead early in the second half. The Wildcats knocked down some big threes and got 12 free throws down the stretch and were able to tie the game with under 30 seconds to go and force overtime. Drake Baar led the way offensively for the Lakers, scoring 16 points off the bench, while Myles Miller and Hunter Hale each also scored in double figures.

After starting the season as a reserve, the senior Miller has been thrust into a starting role at the point guard position over the last four games. Since taking over the starting job, Miller has scored in double figures in each game including a season-high 14 points on Saturday. GVSU continues to mix up their starting rotation to find the right mix early in the season. Zach West got a look at a starting spot last weekend and nearly posted a double-double Saturday with nine points and 12 rebounds. The Lakers hauled in a season high 52 boards in the game with Northern Michigan, out-rebounding the Wildcats by 12 in the game. Jake Van Tubbergen has started each of the last two games and the freshman is quickly proving his value on both ends of the floor; second on the team with 8.7 points per game and eight steals in six games. 

The Lakers face the Pride for the first time in program history on Saturday. GVSU had brief history with both schools that combined to create PNW this year. The Lakers split a pair of games in the 1960's with Calumet and went 3-0 all-time against North Central, last facing them in 2014 in a 88-56 win. The Pride are still adjusting to the Division II level, but are starting to get their legs under them thanks to some home cooking over the last month. Purdue Northwest completes a four-game home stand Saturday, having played three of their first four GLIAC games at home. The three home contests for the Pride have been decided by single digits, the latest a 75-66 loss to Michigan Tech last Saturday. Purdue Northwest held a 63-61 lead late, but the Huskies ended the game on a 14-3 run to escape with a win.

A pair of seniors lead the Pride attack this season, with Torrance Jonson averaging 14.4 points per game and Tyree Coe adding 13.6 per contest. Johnson is averaging nearly a double-double, with 9.9 rebounds per game as well. Coe knocked down six threes last Saturday and poured in 23 points in the loss to the Huskies. Coe is a source of familiarity with the Lakers. The Fishers, Indiana native shares the same high school as GVSU's Lance Dollison. 

After the Lakers wrap up GLIAC play for 2017 on Saturday, they have two more home games before the calendar year ends. Grand Valley State hosts Lawrence Tech next Monday (Dec. 18) and Rochester on December 30 at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.