ALLENDALE – The Grand Valley State men's basketball team is set for their last road trip of the 2023 calendar year when they face regional opponents McKendree and Illinois Springfield. The Lakers will first face McKendree on Sunday (Dec. 17) at 4:00 PM ET in Lebanon, Illinois before ending the road trip against Illinois Springfield on Tuesday (Dec. 19) at 7:00 PM ET. 
 
GVSU is 4-4 on the season and 1-0 in the GLIAC. The Lakers are coming off a 75-65 win over Davenport in the GLIAC opener. GVSU is averaging 71.6 points per game on the year while holding their opponents to 69.8 points per game. The Lakers are shooting 45% from the field and 37% from behind the arc. 
 
Rebounding has been a key piece for the Lakers this season as they have outrebounded their opponents in seven of the eight games. The Lakers have an 11.5 rebound advantage against their opponents hauling in 41.9 rebounds per game.
 
Marius Grazulis leads the Lakers averaging 13.9 points and 9.9 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field. Grazulis has notched four double-doubles on the season including hauling in a career high 19 boards in a win vs Findlay. Britain Harris is averaging 12.9 points per game on 43.4% shooting. Harris is tied for the team lead with nine steals. 
 
William Dunn is averaging 11.4 points per game while bringing down 5.6 rebounds per game. Dunn has scored in double figures six times through the first eight games including notching a season high 19 points on 6-11 shooting and 4-6 from three last game against Davenport. Trevon Gunter is averaging double figures in scoring at 10.4 per game on 45% shooting from behind the arc. Mason Docks is averaging 10.3 points off the bench and is second on the team with 18 assists. 
 
McKendree enters Sunday's game with a 6-3 overall record and 2-2 conference mark. This is just the third meeting between the two teams with the Lakers winning both matchups. The last time these two teams faced each other was last season where the Lakers won 72-69 at home.
 
McKendree is averaging 75.4 points per game, shooting 55% from the field and 35 % from three. The Bearcats have scored over 70 points in six of their nine games including a season high 99 in a win over Blackburn.
 
The Bearcats are led by Milos Vicentic who is 10^th in the country averaging 24 points per game. Vicentic is shooting 58% from the field and 35% from three. The junior scored a career high 33 points in the season opner against Tiffin. Caleb Zurliene is averaging 14 points per game and six rebounds. Zurliene is second on the team shooting 62% from the field and 40% from three. 
 
On Tuesday the Lakers will travel to face Illinois Springfield. This will be the first ever matchup between the two programs. Illinois Sprinfield has posted an 8-4 record and 3-1 conference mark. The Prairie Stars will face GLIAC foe Purdue Northwest on Sunday before Tuesday's game against GVSU. 
 
Illinois Springfield is averaging 84.2 points per game on 52% shooting from the field and 42% from behind the arc. The Prairie Stars average 15 assists per game and turn the ball over an average of nine times a game. 
 
Four Priaire Star players are averaging double digits in scoring led by Jordan Rice with 16.4 per game. Rice is shooting 55% from the field and 46.9% from three and also leads his team with 15 steals. Jacob Hanna is averaging 12.9 points per game and 6.3 rebounds on 54% shooting from the field. Jack Weber has added 12.8 points per game while Max Kunnert has scored 10.4 points.
 
Both games will be streamed on the GLVC sport network. Visit gvsulakers.com for links to live video and live stats and follow @gvsubasketball on Twitter for live in-game updates all week long.