GVSU repeats GLIAC semifinal win
FINDLAY, Ohio - Lake Superior State made its second straight trip to the semifinal round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament and lost for the second straight year to Grand Valley State.
LSSU (21-8), the No. 2 seed, lost 81-69 to No. 3 seed GVSU (21-8) Friday at the University of Findlay. Last year, GVSU was the No. 1 seed and beat the Lakers, 76-64.
GVSU advances to Saturday's championship game and will play undefeated Findlay at 7 p.m.
Both GVSU and LSSU are still in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament bid. Lake Superior State went into the week ranked sixth in the Midwest Region, while Grand Valley State was 10th. No. 7 Kentucky Wesleyan, No. 8 Hillsdale and No. 9 Lewis also lost in league tournament play. The top eight seeds advance, and selections will be announced Sunday at 9 p.m. on www.ncaa.com.
Grand Valley State, which had to beat LSSU in order to have a shot at a national tournament berth, shot 81 percent (17-of-21) from the field in the second half and 62.5 percent for the game. It was the fourth time this season that GVSU has shot over 60 percent from the field and its best shooting night since Jan. 17 against Tiffin.
Lake Superior State shot only 38.7 percent and was out-rebounded, 37-28. GVSU held LSSU to its lowest rate since a Jan. 8 loss to Ferris State when the Lakers shot 34.7 percent.
Lake Superior State led by four points late in the first half, but Grand Valley State answered with a 13-2 run and claimed a 32-25 halftime advantage. GVSU extended its lead to 37-27 with 17:08 remaining in the second half. LSSU cut it to three points, 39-36, with 14:30 to go, but couldn't get any closer.
Grand Valley State maintained a double-digit cushion during the final 11 minutes. Justin Ringler led GVSU with 19 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. Pete Trammell and Alvin Storrs scored 17 points each. Nick West totaled seven points and 13 rebounds.
Scott Perkins totaled 16 points and eight rebounds to lead LSSU. Tim VanOudheusden, Mark Morse and Kyle Hunt added 11 points each.
LSSU was 7-of-19 from three-point range and 14-of-17 at the free-throw line. GVSU made 3-of-9 three-point attempts and 18-of-29 free throws.
