MARQUETTE, Mich. – The No. 15 Grand Valley State men's basketball team defeated No. 15 Michigan Tech 82-70 behind a big second half in the GLIAC semifinals Saturday (Mar. 7) afternoon. The Lakers improve to 24-6 on the season which is the most wins in a season since the 2007-08 season. 
 
David Wilkerson led the Lakers in scoring with 20 points on 8-13 shooting with four three-pointers, five rebounds, and three assists. Antaune Allen scored 16 points and grabbed four rebounds on 6-11 shooting with two triples. Mason Docks notched 11 points and three rebounds on 5-8 shooting from the field. Ethan Alderink added nine points and a team leading six rebounds, while Jalen Charity scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out four assists. 
 
GVSU shot 50% from the field and 47% from three-point range, while Michigan Tech shot 38% from the field and 35% from three. The Lakers outrebounded the Huskies 39-37, but Michigan Tech grabbed 11 offensive rebounds to the Lakers eight. GVSU committed just seven turnovers and swiped five steals. 
 
The Lakers started the game on a 12-0 run in the first four minutes of the game. Antaune Allen knocked down the first two shots of the game followed by four straight points by Mason Docks, two free throws by Jalen Charity, and another jumper by Docks. Michigan Tech cut the Laker lead to six at 13-7 but David Wilkerson answered with a three followed by a made free throw by Trevor Smith Jr. to push the lead buy to double digits with over 12 minutes to play in the first half. 
 
Michigan Tech would go on a 19-7 run to take their first lead of the game at 26-24 with over five minutes to play in the first half. The Huskies would hit a three to take a four-point lead but a bucket by Wilkerson and two free throws from Allen tied the game at 29-29. With under a minute to go in the half, Michigan Tech regained the lead with a three-pointer. On the next Laker possession, Smith Jr. knocked down a three from the top of the key to tie the game at 39-39. The Huskies would hit a layup just before the buzzer to take a two-point lead into the break. 
 
In the second half, Michigan Tech converted on an and one to take a five-point lead on the first possession. The Lakers would go on a 14-1 run to take a 53-45 lead with over 14 minutes remaining. Wilkerson would knock down his third three of the game to give GVSU a double-digit lead at 56-46 lead followed by a made layup to put GVSU up 12 with 12 minutes left. Ethan Alderink would go on an 8-0 run by himself to put GVSU up 20 points followed by a Wilkerson three in transition to give the Lakers a commanding 23-point lead with eight minutes to go as the Lakers would hold on to win by 12 points.
 
GVSU advances to the GLIAC championship game where they will face the one seed and host Northern Michigan tomorrow afternoon. Tipoff is set for 2:00 PM at Vandament Arena in Marquette, Michigan. The game will be streamed live on FloCollege and can be listened live on Thunder Country 107.3.