Grand Valley State fell victim to a hot-shooting Northern Michigan team on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18) in Allendale, as the Lakers fell to the visiting Wildcats, 82-77. NMU shot better than 54 percent from the field and made 13 three-pointers in the win, while GVSU shot 48 percent from the floor and made 24-of-30 free throw tries.

The loss puts Grand Valley State at 16-11 overall and 12-8 in GLIAC play. With one game remaining in the regular season, the Lakers are tied with Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, and Wayne State in a four-way tie for third place in the league standings. It would appear that two of those four teams will host a first round GLIAC Tournament game on Feb. 28, while the other two teams go on the road.

Northern Michigan, already eliminated from the conference tournament, is now 8-17 on the season and 6-14 in conference play. But the Wildcats played like a postseason team on Saturday, shooting 54.5 percent from the field and made 13-of-28 triple tries, including a 7-of-14 mark in the first half. They also turned the ball over just five times.

It was Senior Day for three Lakers, as Trevin Alexander, Luke Ryskamp, and Juwan Starks each played their final regular season home game inside the Fieldhouse Arena. Alexander posted 17 points, nine rebounds, and two steals, while Starks added 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Ryskamp finished with eight points and a pair of boards.

Sophomore Justin Greason was the team's leading scorer on Saturday, as he posted a career-high 24 points, with 14 coming in the first half. Greason was 7-of-9 from the field and 10-of-12 at the free throw line, while adding eight rebounds, five of which came on the offensive glass. 

Alexander's nine rebounds pushed him to 671 career boards and into 10th place in GVSU career history in that category. He passed Ron Polus for 10th place, as Polus pulled down 668 rebounds from 1981-85.

The first half had 10 lead changes and four tie scores, with the Lakers' first lead coming on a Greason layup that made the score 6-4. Greason sank a pair of free throws at the 13:28 mark to give GVSU what would be its last lead of the game at 14-13. Northern Michigan pushed out to a 26-18 lead midway through the half. The Lakers responded and used a Starks three-pointer and a Greason layup to pull within a point at 31-30 with 4:51 to go.

Greason scored on another jumper in the paint to make it 33-32 in NMU's favor, but the Wildcats hit a pair of trifectas in the next minute to open a seven-point cushion. Two Greason free throws made the score 39-34 at halftime.

Grand Valley State shot a solid 45.8 percent from the field and made 10-of-13 free throws in the opening 20 minutes, but Northern Michigan was 7-of-14 from downtown and shot 59.3 percent from the floor.

A jumper from Alexander and a Greason layup tied the score at 50-50 with 13:47 to play in the second half. NMU scored eight straight points to open a 58-50 cushion, thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Marcus Matelski in a 20-second span. 

The Lakers were within five points (58-53) after Alexander hit a jumper and split two free throws, but Northern Michigan went on a 14-3 run to take control of the contest. NMU held the game's biggest lead at 16 points with 3:38 to play, but Grand Valley State fought within four points (79-75) with 29 seconds remaining after a Zach West layup and a Starks three-pointer.

However, Northern Michigan made 4-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the road win.

GVSU dominated in the paint (24-10) and held a 36-23 rebounding advantage, including a 14-7 edge on the offensive glass. 

In addition to the three Lakers in double-digits, junior Chris Dorsey added eight points, six rebounds, and three assists. Grand Valley State shot 48.1 percent from the floor and 3-of-12 from downtown.

Next Thursday night (Feb. 23), the Lakers will travel to Ferris State to take on the Bulldogs in the regular season finale. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m.