Feb. 2, 2008

Box Score

Ashland, Ohio - Senior center Callistus Eziukwu notched his seventh straight double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead #2 Grand Valley State to an 84-58 road victory over Ashland Saturday afternoon. GVSU, which improves to 24-0 overall and 12-0 in GLIAC action, will host Michigan Tech Thursday, Feb. 7.

Grand Valley State took the lead for good (10-8) on a three-pointer by Pete Trammell at the 13:24 mark of the first half. Nick Freer slammed home a dunk a minute later to up the Laker lead to four (12-8) and Ashland would get no closer. GVSU outscored Ashland 18-4 in the paint and 9-0 on points off turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. The Lakers shot 48.1 percent from the floor and limited Ashland to 39.3 percent from the floor. Leading 35-28 at the half, the GVSU defense took over in the second half and dominated the game. The Lakers opened the second half with a 15-4 and led 50-32 on a pair of Eziukwu free throws with 13:52 left in the game. Ashland managed just five baskets the second half, the first of which came at the 9:56 mark. Ashland shot 20.0 percent from the floor (5-25) in the second stanza as the Lakers outscored the Eagles 49-30. GVSU hit 65.0 percent from the floor (13-30) in the second half, including 5-of-9 three-pointers and 18-of-22 free throws. The Laker bench outscored Ashland 21-0 in the final 20 minutes and 26-7 for the game. In addition, GVSU outscored Ashland 32-8 in the paint.

Five Lakers scored in double figures, led by Eziukwu's 19 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Jamerson added 14 points, Justin Ringler 13, Nick Freer 12 and Pete Trammell 11. GVSU dished ot 20 assists on 26 buckets and outrebounded the Eagles 34-28. The Lakers tallied eight steals and blocked eight shots. Grand Valley State shot 55.3 percent from the floor and a season-best 82.1 percent (23-28) from the charity stripe.

Notes...GVSU held Hillsdale 32 points below their scoring average (50) and Ashland 22 points under their 80-point per game average (58). For the week Laker opponents were held 54 points under their per game average...GVSU has won a school-record 24 straight games overall and 28 straight regular season games...The Lakers' 24 straight wins to start the season is the best start in school history...Head coach Ric Wesley leads all active coaches in the NCAA ranks with an .838 winning percentage (98-19). GVSU is 80-9 since the 2005-06 season overall, including a 43-5 record in GLIAC action.

GVSU has been known for defense during the Ric Wesley era. GVSU has held 88-of-its-117 opponents under 67 points. 67 opponents have scored less than 60 points and 34 have tallied 50 points or less. The Lakers currently lead the nation in points yielded per game (53.5). GVSU ranks second in field goal percentage defense (36.7) and third in scoring margin (21.9). GVSU is 10th in field goal percentage (50.9).

The 2007-08 Grand Valley State became the school's all-time winningest class with a 98-19 record. The 2007-08 team eclipsed the previous mark of 92-19 held by the 1976-77.