ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Grand Valley State men's basketball team find themselves facing a pivotal weekend as they host the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals Thursday (Jan. 10) and the Northwood Timberwolves Saturday (Nov. 12) at 8:00 PM.
After a 9-2 start to the season and winning three of their first four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) games, a three-game skid sees the Lakers at 9-5 on the year and 3-3 in GLIAC play. To add to the urgency, following these home games the Lakers hit the road for a five-game stretch that features a tough trip to the UP and a rematch with the currently undefeated Ashland Eagles.
At 3-3 in the league, the Lakers are right in the thick of the action in a seven-way tie for third place with 14 games left. With a long road stretch looming, they know the importance of these games in the comfy confines. Fouling has been a problem for the Lakers during the streak, having been called for 54 fouls between their last two contests. Offensively, the Lakers continue to find success when they can get shots up; the team has shot 45% or better from the field in each of their last six games.
Saginaw Valley State is coming off a weekend sweep of Purdue Northwest and Parkside for their first two GLIAC wins of the season (2-4) and improve to 5-8 overall. Despite a losing record in league play, all four losses have been by single digits, showing the Cardinals have been in every conference game until the end.
Four Cardinals average double figures this season, led by freshman winger Myles Belyeu's 15.8 points per game. He's shooting .453 from the field and is second on the team in rebounding average (6.3), and leads the team in assists per game (2.4) and steals per game (1.5). Fred John Jr. will provide a strong physical presence down low, averaging 11.2 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting .560 from the floor.
Northwood enters the weekend 6-8 and 3-3 in GLIAC play. Like the Lakers, they are on a three-game skid and have dropped two straight conference games after a 3-1 start in the league. The Timberwolves have really struggled away from home. They're 4-1 in Midland but just 2-7 in road and neutral site contests. They average 78 points per game and shoot .460 from the field.
Alec Marty's 14.2 points per game lead the Timberwolves attack while Trey McBride brings down a team-best 5.5 rebounds a contest. Ja'Kavien Lewis has proved to be one of the best passers in the league, averaging six assists per game so far in his freshman campaign while also swiping 1.9 steals a contest.
The Lakers look to get back on track in their final home games of the month of January. They end the season with five of their last seven games at home, so this weekend will be big towards building momentum into the long road stretch.
