PURDUE NORTHWEST: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE: Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio

ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Grand Valley State Lakers return home after a five-game road swing to host a pair of GLIAC North Division foes this weekend at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers take on Purdue Northwest on Thursday (Feb. 7) at 8:00 PM and then the North Division-leading Parkside Rangers on Saturday (Feb. 9) at 3:00 PM. Both games will be available live on ESPN3 and the Purdue Northwest game will broadcast on ESPN 96.1 FM while the Parkside game airs on Talk 1230 WTKG.
 
The Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak with an upset win over the then-No. 7 Ashland Eagles on the road last Saturday. The comeback win was sparked by a 16-2 run to start the second half that erased the Lakers' 14-point halftime deficit. Hunter Hale hit five three-pointers in the second half alone to help GVSU regain the offensive firepower.
 
Hale also matched the Grand Valley State single-game record with eight made three-pointers the day before in a loss to Wayne State. His 13 three-pointers over the last two games give him a GLIAC-best 64 on the season. Last year, he hit 68 in his first season in Allendale. The redshirt-junior is well on his way to surpassing that number with seven games left in the regular season.
 
Transfer Jeremiah Ferguson had what could be considered his best overall game of the season on Saturday, scoring 11 points while dishing seven assists, securing six rebounds and swiping five steals. If the Lakers' two starting guards can continue this kind of play, the team could be a huge threat in the post-season.
 
Currently, Grand Valley State sits in the eighth spot in the GLIAC standings; the final tournament spot. With five of the last seven games at home, including three straight contests to end the regular season, GVSU should feel confident in their ability to not only crack the conference tournament, but improve a few places to make their road easier.
 
The first test of this stretch run features a rematch with the Purdue Northwest Pride, who enter the weekend 6-15 overall and 2-11 in conference play. The Lakers beat the Pride, 79-62, the last time these two teams got together back on Dec. 1 in Hammond, Indiana. Jake Van Tubbergen led the Lakers with a double-double in that game, scoring a game-high 23 points while pulling in 11 rebounds. His quickness led to 17 free throw attempts, knocking down 13. Hale and Ferguson also stuffed the stat sheet in the win.
 
Purdue Northwest has lost six straight contests, dropping to the cellar of the GLIAC standings. Offensively, they're led by Dean Tate's 11.2 points per game and 48 made three-pointers. Anthony Barnard has 6.6 rebounds per contest. As a team, they're scoring 79.2 points per game but allowing 87.4 on the year, so fans can expect a fast-paced, up-and-down game full of energy and exciting plays.
 
The Parkside Rangers enter the weekend atop the GLIAC North Division at 9-4 in the conference to go along with an 11-8 overall record. In their first year since joining the GLIAC from the fellow Division II conference GLVC, the Rangers have come on strong the last few weeks. They've won six of their last seven games and have signature wins over both Ashland and Davenport this season. The Rangers are scoring 75.1 points a game and four players average double figures, led by Chavares Flanigan's 13.3 points per contest.
 
The Lakers begin this crucial stretch of the season with a pair of interdivisional contests that feature the leaders of the North. With five home games left, the Lakers are counting on energy from the fans inside the Fieldhouse Arena for an extra edge down the stretch as they battle for post-season positioning.