KENOSHA, Wisc. – The Grand Valley State men's basketball team opens up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play this weekend with a pair of road contests against two of the newest additions to the league. GVSU begins with newcomer Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday (Nov. 29) at 8:30 ET (7:30 CT) before a trip to Purdue Northwest on Saturday (Dec. 1) at 2:00 ET (1:00 CT).
The Lakers have gotten off to a hot start in the 2018-19 season, winning four of their first five games. Their only loss came at the hands of now-No. 14 Indianapolis, a game in which the Lakers had the lead most of the way. GVSU is averaging 89 points per game, good for third in the GLIAC and have fourplayers averaging double figures in scoring so far this year.
Hampered by a leg injury in the preseason, reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year
Jake Van Tubbergen has gotten off to an electric start in his sophomore campaign. The West Ottawa native is averaging 15.2 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per contest. Junior
Hunter Hale has hit 15 three-pointers already and leads the team with a 16.2 scoring average. Point guard
Jeremiah Ferguson and center
Isaiah Brock have made major impacts early on in their first seasons in Allendale.
Parkside scored 97 points in their only home game this year, downing Clarke, 97-59, to start the season. Since then, the offense has sputtered in two road contests – scoring a combined 113 points in losses to Hillsdale and Ohio Dominican. They'll hope a return to their home court reignites their offense this weekend. Adam Bonk is the only Ranger averaging double figures in scoring (10.7) and has hit a team-high eight threes. This will be the first meeting between the Lakers and Rangers since 1976. The team has split their six games in the series history.
Purdue Northwest has started the season 2-3 on the year. They'll host Davenport Thursday before the Lakers come to town on Saturday afternoon. Dean Tate has shown an impressive start to the season, scoring 12.7 a game. The Lakers beat the Pride in both meetings last season, the first-ever contests between GVSU and the newly formed Purdue Northwest.
The Lakers aim to start conference play the right way and continue their impressive start to the young season. As the new pieces throughout this team continue to gel and roles get defined, the Lakers would be thrilled to have all the kinks worked out and feel like their firing on all cylinders after the opening weekend of GLIAC play.
