ALLENDALE – The No. 19 Grand Valley State men's basketball team opens their GLIAC schedule at home when they host Lake Superior State on Thursday, December 4^th at 7:30 PM and Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, December 6^th at 3:00 PM. 
 
LSSU: Watch | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
SVSU: Watch | Live Stats | Listen | Tickets
 
The Lakers improved to 6-0 on the season for the first time since the 2013-14 season and were ranked number 19 in the latest NABC national Top 25 poll. GVSU opened up their home schedule last week with an 89-73 win over Lewis and a 100-46 win over Grace Christian. Ethan Alderink scored a career high 28 points in the win over Lewis and grabbed a game high nine rebounds. Jalen Charity scored in double figures in both wins last week and blocked a career high three shots against Grace Christian.
 
Through the first six games of the season, GVSU is averaging 81.8 points which ranks third in the GLIAC shooting at a 45% clip from the field and rank ninth in the country shooting 80% from the free throw line. The Lakers defense has been one of the best in the country this season. GVSU ranks eighth in the country in scoring defense allowing 61.3 points per game. The Lakers rank fifth in defensive three-point percentage as teams are shooting 23.9% from behind the arc this season. Opponents are averaging 17.8 turnovers against the Laker defense which ranks first in the GLIAC and 27^thnationally. 
 
Ethan Alderink leads the Lakers averaging 15 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 51% from the field and 56% from three-point range. Alderink has scored in double figures in four straight games including his new career high 28 points against Lewis. Jalen Charity has posted 13.3 points and 5.5 rebounds shooting 48% from the field and 89% from the free throw line. Charity has scored in double figures in five straight games including tying a career high 20 points last game against Grace Christian. Trevor Smith Jr. is averaging 13 points and is second on the team with 13 assists while shooting a team best 63% from the field and 75% from three. Mason Docks leads the GLIAC averaging 4.8 assists and aa 4.1 assist/turnover ratio. Docks is also averaging double digits in scoring at 10 points on 37% shooting from the field. 
 
Lake Superior State enters conference play with a 3-3 overall record and lead in the GLIAC in scoring averaging 86.7 points per game shooting 47% from the field. LSSU has won their last two consecutive games including a 99-87 win over No. 9 Gannon last week. Omar Suleiman was named the GLIAC offensive player of the week and is third in the conference averaging 21.5 points on 49% shooting from the field and 42% shooting from three. Suleiman has scored in double figures in every game this season and notched a career high 32 points against St. Cloud State. Nino Carter-Smith has notched 12 points and leads LSSU with 21 assists and 12 steals. Tyler Jamison is scoring 10.3 points and 4.7 rebounds on 33% shooting from the field.
 
Saginaw Valley State is the other only undefeated team remaining in the GLIAC. The Cardinals have started the season 5-0 averaging 79 points on 45% shooting from the field and 30% shooting from three-point range. SVSU defeated Ashland 80-71 on the road in their last game. Kevonne Taylor was named the GLIAC defensive player of the week after blocking a career high seven shots against Ashland. Xavier Thomas leads the Cardinals in scoring averaging 16.4 points 44% shooting from the field and 32% from three. Dontez Scott II has scored 15.2 points on 48% shooting and 50% shooting from behind the arc. Josephs Marquese has added 13.2 points and leads SVSU with 17 assists shooting 59% from the field.
 
Both games will be streamed live on FloCollege and can be listened live on Thunder Country 107.3. Follow @gvsubasketball on Twitter for live in-game updates all weekend long.