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ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Grand Valley State Lakers look for their fifth straight win when they host the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals Saturday (Jan. 6) at 1:00 PM at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers enter the contest 7-7 on the year and 2-4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) while Saginaw Valley comes into town 5-9 on the year and 2-4 in GLIAC play. With the Lakers in the North Division and SVSU in the South, this is the only meeting of the year between the rival schools. 

The Lakers are currently riding their longest win streak of the season with four consecutive victories, coming off an 88-80 road win over Northwood on Thursday. The Lakers have scored at least 80 points in all four games and have turned the ball over 10 times or less in each contest as well. As has been a theme all year for the Lakers, the team is getting major contribution from a bevvy of players. GVSU has had at least two players score in double figures in every game this season, but as of late the versatility has increased: five or more Lakers have scored in double figures in three straight games. While the saying goes 'it's not how you start, it's how you finish,' an important contributor to the recent success is a solidified starting lineup. The Lakers have used the same starting five in each of the last four games. Prior to this stretch, the team had not gone more than two consecutive games with the same starting lineup. 

The Lakers have historically dominated the "Battle of the Valleys," leading 71-26 in the all-time series between the two rivals. The Lakers and Cardinals enter their 98th meeting in history, having played every year since 1970. The Lakers won the first 15 meetings between the two schools, not losing until 1978, but recent history has been more evenly matched. The teams are an even 3-3 over the last six meetings with the Lakers fell in the most recent matchup, 64-42, at SVSU on February 4, 2017.

Freshman Jake Van Tubbergen continues to stuff the stat sheet for the Lakers. He was the team's leading scorer (16) and rebounder (6) while also contributing a block and pair of steals in the win Thursday. After missing the first four games of the season, Van Tubbergen's progressed into the team's second leading scorer in per game average (9.6) and collects the second-most rebounds per game (5.4) on the team. Redshirt sophomore Hunter Hale continues to lead the Lakers in scoring, contributing 13.8 points per game. Hale has proven one of the best outside shooters in the GLIAC this year and also makes the most of his opportunities at the free throw line, connecting on 31 of his 33 attempts this season. Ben Lubitz, who scored a career-high 20 points in the Lakers win last Saturday over Rochester College, has also shown great strides during his sophomore campaign. 

The Cardinals are coming off a narrow victory over Purdue Northwest on Thursday when Mike Wells Jr. knocked down the game-winning shot with 1.8 seconds left to seal a 73-71 victory. Wells posted a game-high 22 points for the Cardinals in the win. On average, the Cardinals shoot .408 from the field this season and score a league-low 66 points a game while allowing 76 points per contest. They average just over 32 rebounds a game, of which the Lakers - who continue to lead the GLIAC in rebounding margin this season - will look to take advantage.

DJ Hoskins leads the way in scoring for the Cardinals this season, averaging 10.3 points per game. He's also quick on the defensive end with 25 steals this season, which is tied for the third-most in the league.  The Cardinals make an average of just over six three-pointers per game and their outside shooting is heavily reliant on Jake Daniels, who has drained a team-high 21 three's this year. Malik Garner will serve as the floor general for the Cardinals. He enters play Saturday with 59 assists on the year, the third-most dimes in the league this season.

The Lakers have a chance to get back over .500 on the year and move back within a game of even water in GLIAC play. With 13 games remaining, all of them conference contests, GVSU looks to keep building on their momentum - and their winning streak - Saturday afternoon. After Saturday, the Lakers won't play on their home court until two Saturdays later against Ferris State. The second Downtown Thursday game is mixed in that stretch, with Lake Superior State and GVSU facing off at the DeltaPlex Arena in downtown Grand Rapids on Thursday, January 18.