SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Grand Valley State men's basketball team improved to 4-0 to start the season after defeating Sioux Falls 77-73 on the road Saturday (Nov. 22) night. The Lakers picked up their second win of the weekend in South Dakota and begin the season 4-0 for the first time since the 2021-22 season. 
 
It was a balanced offensive attack for GVSU that saw three players score in double figures and seven players score at least five points. Ethan Alderink led the Lakers with 18 points, eight rebounds, and three steals on 7-9 shooting including 3-4 from three-point range. Jalen Charity scored 16 points and grabbed three rebounds on 5-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-6 shooting from the free throw line. Mason Docks notched 13 points with four assists and tied a career high five steals on 6-10 shooting. Trevor Smith Jr. and Shamus Thopmson each added eight points in the win. 
 
The Lakers shot and efficient 52% from the field and 35% from three. Sioux Falls shot 44% from the field and 17% from behind the arc. The Cougars outrebounded the Lakers 45-29 and 23-10 in offensive rebounds. The Lakers outscored Sioux Falls 52-48 in the paint and 22-8 in bench points. 
 
GVSU jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead just three and a half minutes into the game. The Lakers forced Sioux Falls to call their first timeout of the game after a steal by Alderink that led to a fastbreak alley-oop slam by Charity off the assist from Smith Jr. Thompson would score four straight points for GVSU with under 14 minutes in the first half to give the Lakers a 16-9 lead. Three minutes later, Docks would push the lead to double digits at 21-11 off a steal and made layup. After Sioux Falls would cut the lead to two with just under eight minute to go, the Lakers would end the half on a 13-5 run, with their largest lead being 14 points during that span off a dunk by Charity before taking a 10-point lead into halftime.
 
In the second half, Sioux Falls cut the lead in half just two minutes in. Alderink responded with a three followed by a Charity dunk to push the lead to eight at 45-37. Antaune Allen would put GVSU up nine at 53-44 with a floater in the paint with 13 minutes to play in the game. The Cougars would go on a 9-2 run to cut the Laker lead to two with nine minutes to go, but Docks would hit a big three to stop the run and put GVSU back up five. 
 
After Sioux Falls got their deficit back down to two again, Alderink hit a big three to put the Lakers up 63-58. Following Alderink's three, the Cougars would respond with a 7-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 65-63 with 6:56 remaining. GVSU answered by going on 9-4 run to retake the lead at 72-69 after an Alderink driving layup. After the Cougars made a layup to get within one, Alderink hit another big three to go up four with 1:26 remaining. The Lakers would hold Sioux Falls to just two points in the remaining time to secure the four-point win. 
 
GVSU will be back in action for their home opener on Wednesday, November 26^th when they host Lewis. Tipoff is set for 3:00 PM at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The game will be streamed live on FloCollege and can be listened live on Thunder Country 107.3.