MIDLAND, Mich. – The No. 17 Grand Valley State men's basketball team got back in the win column after defeating Northwood 80-79 on the road Monday (Nov. 9) night. The Lakers improve to 2-2 on the season, while Northwood falls to 0-1.
Austin Tory led the Lakers in scoring with a career high 18 points on 9-15 shooting from the field with seven rebounds and three blocks.
Dylan Smith notched his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds on 5-7 shooting from the field.
Antaune Allen scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds on 5-9 shooting with two three-pointers.
Myles Sidney added a career high 10 points on 3-4 shooting from the field.
GVSU shot an efficient 53% from the field, while Northwood shot 43% from the field. The Lakers outrebounded the Timberwolves 38-33 and 14-12 in offensive rebounds. GVSU blocked five shots and outscored Northwood 46-34 in the paint.
The Lakers got off to a fast start, taking a 12-1 lead in the first four minutes of play. Northwood would cut the lead to four halfway through the first half at 22-18. GVSU responded with a layup by
Marshawn Cocroft and three free throws by Allen to go back up seven points. The Timberwolves cut the Laker lead to one, but GVSU had another answer with four points by Tory and a bucket Cocroft to go back up by seven with just under five minutes. Northwood would end the half on a 7-0 run to send the Lakers with a 41-39 lead at halftime.
In the second half, the Timberwolves would take their first lead of the game at 45-43 just three minutes in. Northwood would increase the lead to five on a three-pointer, but
Marcus Gray II responded with a three to get the Lakers back within two. Tory would give the Lakers the lead again at 65-63 with a layup followed by an
Ezra Brown layup to go up four with over nine minutes remaining.
Northwood would tie the game at 67-67, but
Antaune Allen would hit five straight points for the Lakers to give them a 74-70 lead. With just over a minute to go, Cocroft hit a driving layup to put GVSU up 80-75. Northwood answered with a bucket and two free throws to pull within one with five seconds left. The Lakers would miss a one and one free throw, but would hang on as Northwood would miss the game-winning shot with no time left on the clock.
