ALLENDALE, Mich. – The No. 11 Grand Valley State Lakers couldn't finish off a second miraculous comeback in as many games as they fell at the buzzer, 75-73, to the Northern Michigan Wildcats Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon in the second annual Sawyers Day game in front of 2,281 fans. The Lakers drop to 16-3 overall but remain tied for first place in the GLIAC with a 9-2 conference record. Northern Michigan improves to 10-9 overall and 7-4 in the league.
 
Jake Van Tubbergen recorded his 11^th double-double of the season, matching his career best with 16 rebounds while scoring 30 points, the second time he's reached the 30-mark this season. Both Jeremiah Ferguson and Jayden Hodgson scored 13 points and Christian Negron scored eight points and nabbed 10 rebounds.
 
GVSU shot 46% from the field, including a 47% mark (8-17) from three and made three of their lowly four free throw attempts. Northern Michigan connected on 14 of 30 three-point attempts; hitting on 11 of their last 17 attempts. The Wildcats hit six straight threes down the stretch of the first half to open a seven-point lead at the break.
 
The "Sawyers" found themselves in the same position as Thursday night, down double digits with four minutes left. This afternoon was an even more precarious situation, though. The Lakers trimmed a 15-point deficit to five at the under-eight media timeout, but Northern responded with a 15-4 run. After a pair of made baskets, GVSU found themselves down by 13 points with 1:46 to go.
 
Jayden Hodgson hit a midrange jumper then, after a Van Tubbergen steal, drilled a three to give the Lakers a pulse; trailing by eight with 90 seconds left. GVSU fouled and Northern missed the front end of a one-and-one and Ferguson streaked the other way for a layup to put a real jolt in the crowd as the deficit trimmed to six with just over a minute left.
 
Another Hodgson three cut the Northern lead to four points with :30 left. After an intentional foul and another miss on the front end, Ferguson took a three that rimmed out but Van Tubbergen soared into the lane and outmuscled three NMU potential rebounders to put the ball back up and in, making it a two-point game with six seconds left.
 
Again, the Lakers fouled intentionally and Sam Taylor missed both free throws, giving GVSU a chance. As Ferguson was sprinting up court, NMU used their foul to give to force a sideline, backcourt inbound with 2.8 seconds left. Ferguson would get in range for a buzzer-beater, potentially game-winning three, but the shot glanced off the right side of the rim and GVSU saw their six-game win streak come to an end.
 
The Lakers look to bounce back Thursday (Jan. 30) as they venture west to face the Purdue Northwest Pride at 8 PM. The game can be heard live on ESPN 96.1 FM in Grand Rapids and worldwide on the iHeart app.