Despite a fantastic defensive effort and a strong first half, the Grand Valley State men's basketball team fell to Missouri-Saint Louis at the Microtel GLIAC/GLVC Challenge in Quincy, Ill. The Lakers led 34-18 at halftime, but only scored 19 points in the second frame, falling 58-53 to open the 2014-15 campaign.
 
Ryan Sabin led the way for GVSU with a double-double. The senior guard poured in 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting and collected a game-high 10 rebounds. Three of Sabin's buckets came from beyond the arc, bringing his career total to 149 and moving him into eighth all-time in the GVSU record book.
 
Junior forward Ricardo Carbajal was the only other Laker to reach double figures. The Munster, Ind. native also went 5 for 12 from the field, tallying 12 points and six rebounds. He also came away with a game-high three steals.
 
At the defensive end, GVSU was stellar. Missouri-Saint Louis shot just 24.5 percent from the field and were forced into 10 turnovers.
 
Unfortunately for the Lakers, some season-opening rust led to 20 turnovers of their own. The Tritons turned those miscues into 15 points, helping them overcome their poor shooting. GVSU's 21 personal fouls gave UMSL 28 free throw attempts as well. By converting 26 of those freebies, 24 of which came in the second half, the Tritons were able to erase a 16-point halftime deficit.
 
Both teams got off to a rocky start from the field, but junior guard Ernijs Ansons broke the Lakers out of their funk with a layup at the 12:42 mark. The basket sparked a 16-8 run over the next five-plus minutes, giving GVSU a 22-12 lead.
 
Four consecutive points by Carbajal expanded the advantage to 14 points. Following a Triton basket, Chaz Rollins got to the charity stripe on consecutive possessions, converting all four free throws. A layup by Brandon Barkley on the ensuing possession gave GVSU a 17-point edge (32-15), its largest of the half.
 
Sabin and junior guard Darren Kapustka drained a pair of three-pointers in the opening minutes of the second frame, giving the Lakers their largest lead of the afternoon (40-20).
 
GVSU would only make five more baskets the rest of the way.
 
The Lakers will have to bounce back quickly, as Quincy lays ahead on Sunday (Nov. 16). Tip off for the final Microtel GLIAC/GLVC Challenge game is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. ET.