CANTON, Ohio – The Grand Valley State men's basketball team claimed a 71-68 win on the road against Malone Saturday (Nov. 23) afternoon. The Lakers improve to 3-1 on the season, while Malone falls to 3-3.
 
GVSU shot 42% from the field and 51% in the second half. The Lakers knocked down eight three-pointers and dished out 11 total assists. Malone shot 44% from the field and also knocked down eight three-pointers. GVSU outrebounded Malone 39-30 and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds to the Pioneers eight. 
 
Jalen Charity led GVSU in scoring with a career high 15 points on 5-8 shooting while grabbing four rebounds. Ethan Alderink scored 11 points on an efficient 5-6 shooting with a team leading eight rebounds and four assists. William Dunn and Marcus Gray II each notched 10 points. Dunn hauled in seven rebounds and went 5-6 from the free throw line. Gray II knocked down two three-pointers and grabbed two rebounds.
 
The game started with four lead changes and one tie through the first 10 minutes. Trailing by four points with seven minutes to play in the opening half, the Lakers would go on a 7-0 run over three minutes to take a 21-18 lead. The half would close with three ties and three lead changes as Malone would take a 34-33 lead into the break.
 
In the second half, GVSU would begin the half on a 10-4 run to take a 43-38 lead off a layup by Jalen Charity. After Malone retook the lead at 50-48 with 12 minutes to play, the Lakers responded with a layup by Marcus Gray II and a driving dunk by Charity to go up 52-50.
 
Malone would answer, taking a 59-56 lead with just over eight minutes to play. GVSU would respond with a 12-2 run capped off by a Mason Docks three-pointer to give GVSU their largest lead of the game at 68-61 with just under three minutes to play. Malone would go on a 5-0 run to cut the Laker lead to two, but GVSU would close it out by getting a stop in the final seconds to claim the three-point win. 
 
GVSU will return home on Wednesday (Nov. 27) for a nonconference matchup against Hillsdale. Tipoff is set for 3:00 PM at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The game will be streamed live on FloSports and can be listened live on Thunder Country 107.3.