ALLENDALE – The No. 22 Grand Valley State men's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season after defeating Lewis 89-73 in their home opener Wednesday (Nov. 26) afternoon at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. 
 
The Lakers were led by Ethan Alderink who scored a career high 28 points on 6-13 shooting with three three-pointers and 13-16 shooting from the free throw line. Alderink also led GVSU with a game high nine rebounds including four offensive rebounds. Mason Docks scored 14 points with three triples, five rebounds, and a game high five assists. Jalen Charity notched 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists on 3-6 shooting from the field. Trevor Smith Jr. added 10 points and four assists on a perfect 3-3 shooting from the field. Shamus Thompson hauled down seven rebounds while Cam Regnerus posted eight points and blocked two shots.
 
GVSU shot 40% from the field as a team and 31% from three and never trailed at any point in the game. Lewis shot 49% from the field and 40% from three. The Lakers outrebounded the Flyers 43-33 including 14-3 in offensive rebound. Both teams scored 30 points in the paint, while GVSU outscored Lewis 12-0 in fast break points. The Lakers forced Lewis to commit 10 turnovers, while only turning the ball over a season low five times. 
 
GVSU started the game on a 14-2 run through the first three minutes off seven points from Ethan Alderink and a three by Trevor Smith Jr. The Lakers would follow it up by going on a 9-3 run over the next five minutes to take a 24-6 lead with 11 minutes to play in the first half. Lewis would cut the Laker lead to 13 points off a three-pointer with eight minutes left in the first half, but Javion Otten knocked down a three to stop the Flyers run and put GVSU up 16 points with three minutes left in the half. The two teams would trade baskets in the final minutes as the Lakers would take a 13-point lead into halftime. 
 
In the second half, Jalen Charity would push the lead back up to 15 points on a driving and one layup three minutes in. Shamus Thompson would increase the lead to 56-40 on made layup off a great pass by Docks. Lewis would not go away as the Flyers would cut into the Laker lead, but GVSU answered with an and one by Antaune Allen followed by a layup from Charity to go back up 16 points. Lewis continued to climb back and cut their deficit to 10 with just under eight minutes to go, but the Lakers had another answer by going on a 5-0 off free throws by Smith Jr. followed by a three from Charity. The two teams would trade points over the next five mintues as Docks would hit a three-pointer with two minutes to go to put the Lakers up 15 points to seal the win. 
 
GVSU will be back home on Sunday, November 30^th when they host Grace Christian. Tipoff is set for 1:00 PM at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The game will be streamed live on FloCollege and can be listened live on Thunder Country 107.3.