ALLENDALE--The Grand Valley State men's basketball takes on GLIAC leader Parkside to open the 2023 calendar year. The matchup can be seen live online via FloSports with a paid subscription. The game will be aired on radio on The Ticket (106.1 FM) with Bryan Fongers on the call.

GVSU rides a four-game winning streak into the new year. The Lakers defeated Aquinas on Saturday to close out the 2022 calendar year, 93-45. GVSU held a 16-point advantage at halftime but came out on fire in the second half. GVSU scored 51 points in the second half while allowing Aquinas to just 19 points. The Saints (6-8) didn't manage to score until the 14:00 mark of the second half. Kingsley Okanu and Marius Grazulis dominated down low for GVSU. Okanu led the way with 15 points and Grazulis added 13 points of his own. The pair also combined for 13 of the Lakers' 35 rebounds.

The Rangers come into the matchup leading the GLIAC with a 4-0 conference record and a 10-3 record overall. Parkside also played on Saturday night. The Rangers took a trip to St. Louis, Missouri, to take on UMSL and lost, 83-61.

The Lakers and Rangers have faced off 13 times. GVSU has won eight times, including five of the last seven matchups since Parkside joined the GLIAC in the 2018-19 basketball season.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS
The Rangers sit atop the GLIAC, boasting a 10-3 record overall and a 4-0 mark in conference games. Parkside has won six of its last seven contests with the only loss coming to No. 5 UMSL on Saturday. In conference play, the Rangers have taken down Northern Michigan, Michigan Tech, Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State.

Parkside is stout on the defensive end, ranking 35th in the country in scoring defense. The Rangers are holding opponents to just 64.9 points per game. The Rangers also play clean defense, ranking fifth in fouls per game, fouling just 12.7 times per game. Rasheed Bello leads the Rangers in scoring, averaging 18.2 points per game and is shooting the 3 at a 47.9 percent clip.

POWER IN THE POST
The Lakers were anchored once again by Kingsley Okanu and Marius Grazulis against Aquinas. Okanu led the way with 15 points and Grazulis added 13 points of his own. The pair also combined for 13 of the Lakers' 35 rebounds. So far this season, Grazulis and Okanu lead the way in scoring, rebounding and blocks for the Lakers this season.

FOLLOW THE NUMBERS
Shooting percentages and rebounding have been solid indicators of GVSU's success this season. When the Lakers shoot better from the field, they are 6-1. On the flip side, when the GVSU opponent shoots better from the floor, it is 1-5 on the season. The lone win while being outshot came against McKendree. On the glass, six of the Lakers' seven wins have seen GVSU outrebound its opponent.