BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The only two undefeated teams in conference play face off as Grand Valley State Lakers open a new decade as they resume the 2019-20 season on Thursday (Jan. 2) in a battle for first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) against the No. 13 Ferris State Bulldogs at 5:30 PM at Jim Wink Arena. The game can be heard live on ESPN 96.1 FM in Grand Rapids as well as the iHeart app. The Lakers will also play at home on Saturday (Jan. 4) against Lake Superior State. We will preview that game on Friday.
 
The Lakers are receiving votes in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, coming in one spot shy of a top-25 ranking as they enter this nearly-top-25 showdown. GVSU last played on December 18, when they shook off a slow start to down Grace Christian, 87-75, for a seventh straight win. The Lakers have started the GLIAC schedule 3-0 with home wins over Parkside and Purdue Northwest and a road victory over the defending GLIAC regular season champions, Davenport, on December 14.
 
Jake Van Tubbergen has fulfilled his preseason All-Conference selection thus far; he's scored 20+ points in seven games and also recorded seven double-doubles. He scored 20 points and snagged 10 rebounds in the last game of the decade and looks to keep the hot play going in 2020. Christian Negron has also lived up to his hype; the Loyola-Chicago transfer is second in the GLIAC in rebounding (behind only Van Tubbergen) and is also avenging double figures in scoring.
 
The two bigs in the Laker starting five have not only provided a spark in the box score, but an outstanding chemistry that has set a tone for a cohesive unit that has turned heads in the young season.
 
"This is a huge game for us out of a two-week break. Our team had great focus before the holidays and it's imperative we keep that going into a really tough matchup," said head coach Ric Wesley. "I'm happy with the way we've competed, for the most part, this season. We need to keep that edge and hunger going into the first week out of break. This is when we can set the tone for the rest of the year."
 
The Lakers went into the holiday break with confidence and numbers to back it up, but face a Ferris State team that has the same mantra as 2020 begins. The Bulldogs, three years removed from a national title, are off to a 14-1 start to the season, including a 3-0 conference mark. Their only loss on the year is a two-point defeat to the reigning top regional seed the Lewis Flyers. Since then, the Bulldogs have won six straight games and haven't scored below 90 points in any of those contests.
 
Junior Walt Kelser has been the offensive standout this season; scoring 19.1 points a game – which ranks fifth in the conference. The Bulldogs also have three players in the top 20 in the GLIAC in assists per game, highlighting how versatile and team-oriented their offense can be.
 
"Ferris State is a very talented and well-coached team and we expect a tough, 40-minute game," Wesley said. "This is going to be a game that starts on the defensive end. If we can maintain our intensity and edge this game will be competitive all the way through."
 
The Lakers look to not only change the recent tide against their arch rival, but also set the tone and make a statement about this 2019-20 season. As a team that tasted the NCAA Tournament and came up just short a year ago, they have become a squad that embraces big moments. And they've got a big one to tip off the decade.