ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State men's basketball coach
Ric Wesley earned his 300
th career win and the Lakers clinched a berth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) with an 85-62 win over the Northern Michigan Wildcats Thursday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers, winners of three straight, improve to 15-11 overall and 9-9 in GLIAC play.
Four Lakers scored in double figures, led by
Hunter Hale's 23 points.
Jake Van Tubbergen scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while stuffing the stat sheet with four assists, a block and a steal.
Jeremiah Ferguson scored 13 points and dished three assists while
Isaiah Brock celebrated Military Appreciation Night with a career-best 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Lakers never trailed, jumping out to an early 7-0 lead. Northern Michigan would answer with five straight points and the teams would stay close through the first half of the opening period. A Northern run got them within three, 17-14, with 10:30 left in the first half before the Lakers went on a 29-6 run the rest of the half to open a massive lead at the half. The Lakers would keep the Wildcats at arm's length the rest of the way as they coasted to victory.
Hale connected on four three-pointers in the game and now has 77 made triples this year, which ties Jason Jamerson for fourth-most all-time in a single GVSU season. The Lakers are back in action for Sawyers Day on Saturday (Feb. 23) at 3:00 PM as they take on Michigan Tech at the Fieldhouse. The game will broadcast live on Talk 1230 WTKG and the iHeart app and ESPN3. Tickets for the game and Sawyers Day Beer Garden experience are available now at gvsulakers.com.
