ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Grand Valley State Lakers held off Indiana Tech, 62-59, Saturday (Nov. 30) afternoon at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena to improve to 6-1 on the season as they earn a third straight win leading into the start of conference play next week.
 
Jake Van Tubbergen recorded a double-double for the fourth time this season, including a third straight, as he scored 21 points, nabbed 14 rebounds and swiped six steals. Jayden Hodgson played all 40 minutes, scoring 16 points and dishing four assists, while Christian Negron scored 10 points, secured five rebounds and swatted six shots.
 
Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm, each shooting around 32% from the field in the first half, but the Lakers were 7-7 from the free throw line in the period and that helped them to a four-point lead, 30-26, at the break.
 
GVSU seemed to find their stroke out of the locker room, scoring a quick four points out of halftime to open their largest lead of the game, 34-26. The Warriors would respond, trimming the Lakers lead back to a single point, and would see-saw back and forth for the lead for much of the final 10 minutes. With the Lakers down one inside the last two minutes, Van Tubbergen would hit a big shot to put the Lakers up. Moments later, it was déjà vu as he skied for a mid-range jumper to make it a three-point lead.
 
The teams would each hit a pair of free throws, but the spread remained three with 10 seconds left and the Warriors called timeout to set up the final play, but the Laker defense was stout and made it impossible for Indiana Tech to get a shot away as the horn sounded and the Lakers held on.
 
GVSU is back in action this Thursday (Dec. 5) as they begin GLIAC play by hosting the Parkside Rangers at 8:00 PM. The game will air live on ESPN 96.1 and the Grand Valley Sports Network while gvsulakers.com provides links to live coverage.