Grand Valley State University’s men’s basketball team started the winter semester on the road against the No. 5 ranked Ferris State Bulldogs, but fell short 63-77. About halfway through the regular season, the Lakers’ overall record is 6-7 and the team is 2-3 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The heavy loss in Bulldog territory added a fifth game to the Lakers’ losing streak.
The Lakers have played in some highly competitive games, but couldn’t secure the wins. Two of the five losses required overtime play, and in each match, the average margin of the deficit was only 5.6 points. Despite the outcomes and their record, the Lakers continue to compete and play their game, as they are optimistic for the future.
“(The losses) make it tough because (while) our record might not reflect it, we are a really good team,” said redshirt senior guard Trevon Gunter. “When you’re losing games by a close margin and in overtime and things of that nature, especially at this level, it’s more about the little tweaks and changes rather than the big ones.”
The Lakers arrived at Ferris State University on Thursday, Jan. 9, seeking a crucial win to end their losing streak, and were determined to implement changes. The Bulldogs and Lakers are no strangers to one another, having matched up against each other 47 times since 2002. Historically, the Lakers have 20 wins to the Bulldogs’ 27.
With 1,634 eyes awaiting who would secure ball possession during tip-off, the last buzzer at 7:30 p.m. gathered the Bulldogs and Lakers face-to-face at Jim Wink Arena. Ferris won the initial battle and secured the first two points on the board. 10 minutes into the first half, Ferris led 20-7, which put the Lakers in a difficult situation early on. With six minutes in the half, GVSU junior forward Jalen Charity was fouled by Bulldog Ethan Erickson, which propelled the momentum for the Lakers with back-to-back free throws. Climbing up the score board, Charity and junior guard Mason Docks put up 3-pointers to begin closing the gap. As the clock ticked down to the last minute of play, Gunter released a 3-pointer, securing the Lakers 28-31 to end the half.
Charity led both teams in points during the first half, totaling 12, with Bulldog Erickson trailing with nine. In the first 20 minutes, the Bulldogs never let up the lead, and were successful in rebounds (24) and free throws (7-9), while the Lakers had 19 rebounds and 5-8 in free throws.
“On the defensive end, we’ve been struggling (to) defend on the block, and so the teams throwing the ball inside have been able to get (plays) done (and score),” said head coach Cornell Mann. “We need to figure that out. We have to knock down free throws, figure out how to post out the defense and take care of one or two possessions. Then we are in good shape.”
Charity tied the game with a jump shot and a free throw 30 seconds into the second half. Two minutes into the game, Docks sunk a 3-pointer, which granted the Lakers the lead for the first time in the game. The race for the lead continued with the Lakers and Bulldogs trading points and two turnovers in the span of 12 seconds. At the halfway point, the Bulldogs took the lead 54-48, and both teams tested one another on the free throw line by drawing fouls. Both Docks and senior forward William Dunn executed two free throws each.
During the last few minutes of play, the Lakers fell short in producing points with four missed 3-pointers and two unsuccessful layups. This allowed the Bulldogs to run with the lead. Docks and Dunn produced 3-pointers in the last minute, but it wasn’t enough. Despite the loss, the Lakers fought until the end, and were focused on areas of improvement.
Charity was highlighted for tying a career high of 17 points with five rebounds and three steals. Docks trailed Charity with 13 points and four rebounds. Overall, the Lakers shot 30% from the field and 78% from the free throw line. Defensively, the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Lakers 51-35, but the Lakers shone by forcing 16 turnovers and 11 steals.
Gunter expressed the team’s resilience is different compared to that of past seasons, and that their losing streak doesn’t define the group.
“Even though we’re on a losing streak, we’ve consistently kept the games close with all of our opponents, who are all highly ranked in the country,” Gunter said. “Those games, as well as the analytics, prove that we’re among some of the best teams in the region and country. We just have to put the last pieces of the puzzle together to unlock (our) true potential. This team stands out because of (the) belief in our potential, even during tough times.”
