ALLENDALE – The No. 19 Grand Valley State men's basketball team opened up their GLIAC schedule with an 85-79 home win over Lake Superior State Thursday (Dec. 4) night. The Lakers improve to 7-0 on the season and 1-0 in the GLIAC, while Lake Superior State falls to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the GLIAC. 
 
Trevor Smith Jr. led GVSU in scoring with 18 points and five assists on 7-15 shooting from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line. Charles Turner notched a career 16 points, five three-pointers, and eight rebounds. Turner knocked down four triples in the second half including three straight possessions knocking down a three. Jalen Charity scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds on 3-5 shooting from the field and 9-11 shooting from the free throw line. Javion Otten added eight points and four offensive rebounds, while Shamus Thompson scored seven points and hauled in eight rebounds with five offensive boards.
 
GVSU trailed only 42 seconds in the win and led for over 38 minutes. The Lakers shot 44% from the field and 31% from three, while Lake Superior State also shot 44% from the field 36% from three-point range. GVSU outrebounded LSSU 45-34 and 16-11 in offensive rebounds. Both teams dished out 11 assists, swiped nine steals, and turned the ball over 15 times. GVSU scored 32 points in the paint to LSSU's 30.
 
The two teams traded baskets to start the game as GVSU would jump out to an early four-point lead at 13-9 off a Turner three-pointer five minutes in. GVSU would go up by as many as six points, but LSSU kept the score close midway through the first half. Jalen Charity pushed the lead to double digits for the first time in the game at 28-18 with under six minutes off a made layup. LSSU would go on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to six, but GVSU responded with a 4-0 run to push the lead back to double digits with three minutes to go in the first half. Lake Superior State would make to shot just before the end of the half to send GVSU into the break up seven points.
 
In the second half, Charles turner knocked down three straight three-pointers in three possessions including a four-point play to give the Lakers their largest lead of the game at 51-37 with 15 minutes to play. LSSU would not go away and cut the lead in half at 56-49 with 10 minutes to go. GVSU answered with another big three from Turner to get the lead back to double digits at 61-51 with nine minutes left. Lake Superior State would answer by going on an 11-4 run to pull within one at 75-74 with 1:21 to play. Ethan Alderink drove and made a clutch layup and converted on the and one to put GVSU up two possessions with 56 seconds left. After LSSU made one free throw and two made free throw by Mason Docks to put the Lakers up 80-75, LSSU knocked down a big three-pointer to pull within two points with 33 seconds. Smith Jr. would knock down two clutch three-pointer to put GVSU back up four and GVSU turned LSSU over with 18 seconds left to seal the win.
 
GVSU will host Saginaw Valley State to close out the opening week of GLIAC play on Saturday, December 6^th. Tipoff is set for 3:00 PM at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. The game will be streamed live on FloCollege.