ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team dropped a close 67-65 game against the No. 17 Grand Valley State University Lakers on Saturday, Jan. 4 in Allendale, Mich.
The Lakers and Grand Valley both entered the game holding a 3-1 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play this season setting the stage for an evenly matched battle.
Senior Ke'Montrece Collins opened the game's scoring with a three pointer to put the LSSU Lakers ahead 3-0. Grand Valley would score the next seven points in the game before Justin Fischer netted back-to-back baskets to bring the Lakers within a point. At 14:35 of the first half, Brandon Allen would even the score at nine when he made a three point shot for LSSU. Following LSSU grabbing the lead 12-11 at 10:54, the Grand Valley Lakers would begin to pull away from the Lakers and would lead by six points with five minutes left in the half.
In the final three minutes in the first half, GVSU would made three consecutive three point shots to cap off opening twenty minutes of play to hold a 14 point lead (33-19) over Lake State.
Following back and forth scoring in the first five minutes of the second half, the Lakers would still trail by 14 points (43-29). The Lakers would build upon a layup from Jackson Schrameyer at the 15:10 minute mark that would lead to a series of plays that would bring LSSU back within six points of Grand Valley. Lake State would take a timeout at 11:26 down by nine points (48-39).
The final ten minutes of the second half saw the Lakers attempt a comeback beginning with another layup by Schrameyer, followed by a free throw by Collins and a three pointer by C.J. Robinson to close Grand Valley's lead to three points (48-45). Grand Valley would reclaim a ten point lead with 6:18 left in regulation (58-48) but the Lakers would not make down in the final minutes.
With four minutes left in the game, Robinson would sink a three point shot to close the gap to two points (58-56). The Lakers would trail 63-58 with just over a minute left before Nigel Colvin netted a three point shot to make it a 63-61 score with 1:13 left in the game. GVSU extended the lead back to five points on the following play (65-61).
Despite a late effort by the Lakers, the game would end with Grand Valley taking the win with a 67-65 final score.
Robinson led the Lakers with a team-leading, and season-high 18 points as well as five assists in the game. Colvin finished the game with 13 points for the Lakers to rank second on the team. Ashton Sherrell also had a strong game for the Lakers as he recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the game.
Up Next
The Lakers will play a pair of road games next weekend against Saginaw Valley and Northwood. The game against SVSU is set for an 8:00 p.m. start on Thursday, Jan. 9 and the game against Northwood is scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. tip off on Saturday, Jan. 11.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com
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