GLIAC -- This week marks the start of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play for both the league’s men’s and women’s basketball programs.
On Thursday (Dec. 2), conference action will open with five games on the schedule — Purdue Northwest at Ferris State, Parkside at Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan at Northwood, Saginaw Valley State at Grand Valley State and Wayne State at Davenport.
Michigan Tech, voted both the men’s and women’s preseason favorite, is idol and will begin GLIAC play on Saturday at Northwood.
The Grand Valley State men’s and women’s teams each enter the conference season ranked No. 13 in the nation. The Ferris State men are also ranked, polling at No. 23 in Division II, according to the NABC.
On the men’s side, Grand Valley State (5-0) and Lake Superior State (4-0) boast undefeated records. GVSU is led by senior forward Jake Van Tubbergen (11.2 rpg), the GLIAC’s leading rebounder while LSSU is headlined by the conference’s leader in assists, senior guard Justin Fischer (7.0 apg).
Atop the women’s standings is 5-0 Grand Valley State while Ferris State (6-1), Michigan Tech (5-1), Northwood (5-1) and Wayne State (4-1) each open its GLIAC schedule with one loss.
The Lakers feature the NCAA’s fourth-ranked defense, allowing just 46.6 points per game.
In addition to MTU-NU, Saturday’s matchups include Purdue Northwest at Lake Superior State, Wayne State at Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State at Davenport and Parkside at Ferris State.
