HAMMOND, Ind. -- The No. 20 Grand Valley State Lakers outlasted the Purdue Northwest Pride, 82-78, Thursday (Jan. 30) at John Friend Court. GVSU improves to 17-3 overall and 10-2 in league play to take sole possession of first place in the conference standings. Five different Lakers scored in double figures as foul trouble tested their depth but GVSU was able to grind out a seventh victory in their last eight games. 

Marius Grazulis had a career night, scoring 10 points and securing eight rebounds, six offensive, including the game-clinching offensive board with 12 seconds left and the Lakers up two to force Purdue Northwest to foul and Isaac Gassman hit the free throws for the dagger. Jeremiah Ferguson led the Lakers with 18 points while Jake Van Tubbergen had 14 points and eight rebounds despite heavy foul trouble. 

The Lakers exploded out of the gate, hitting 10 of their first 15 shots and opening a 12-point lead midway through the first half. Foul trouble and conceding offensive rebounds hurt them down the stretch of the first half as PNW hit 14 of their 15 free throws to storm back and take a one-point lead with under a minute left in the half. Ferguson would answer with a three before the horn to give GVSU a 42-40 lead at half. 

With a bevvy of fouls on both sides, the second half never really got much flow but the Lakers held Purdue Northwest off just enough to earn the win. The Lakers are back in action on Saturday (Feb. 1) against the Parkside Rangers at 4:00 PM ET/3:00 CT with the game airing live on Talk 1230 AM WTKG.