Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team (22-6) went on the road Tuesday to Caledonia to face Davenport University (13-14), earning a 59-54 victory. The Lakers then returned home Thursday for senior night against rival Ferris State University (10-17), defeating the Bulldogs 72-64 in their final, regular-season game.
The two wins capped a strong closing stretch for the Lakers, leaning on perimeter shooting, senior leadership and home-court energy to build momentum heading into the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament.
Against Davenport, the Panthers scored first on a layup to take an early 2-0 lead, but the Lakers responded quickly. Junior guard Antuane Allen knocked down a 3-pointer to give GVSU a 3-2 advantage. With 2:42 remaining in the first half, Allen connected on his second 3-pointer of the game to put the Lakers ahead, 26-22. Despite the surge, GVSU went into halftime trailing by one, 28-27.
The Lakers opened the second half strong, as Allen buried his third 3-pointer of the game, assisted by redshirt junior forward Shamus Thompson, to give GVSU a 30-28 lead. Graduate forward Ethan Alderink followed with a 3-pointer of his own, assisted by redshirt senior guard Trevor Smith Jr., extending the lead to 36-31.
Following a Davenport turnover, Alderink struck again, this time with a 3-pointer assisted by senior guard Mason Docks, pushing the Lakers’ lead to 39-31. At the 10:47 mark, Alderink hit his third 3-pointer of the game, again assisted by Docks, to make it 42-31. Docks added to the scoring run with a 3-pointer assisted by redshirt junior David Wilkerson, giving GVSU a 49-37 advantage with 8:19 remaining. Moments later, Allen drained his fourth 3-pointer of the night, also assisted by Wilkerson, to put the Lakers up 52-39.
In the closing minutes, GVSU held a 57-52 lead with 2:10 remaining. The Lakers went on to secure the 59-54 win, despite a late 2-point basket by the Panthers. The 59 points marked the fewest GVSU has scored against Davenport since November 15, 2008, when it totaled 55.
The Lakers carried that momentum into Thursday’s senior night matchup against Ferris State. Before tipoff, GVSU honored four graduating seniors: forward Jalen Charity, Alderink, Smith Jr. and Docks. The Lakers entered the contest ranked No. 3 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Midwest Regional Rankings.
Ferris State jumped out early, but Charity helped settle the Lakers with a turnaround jumper assisted by Docks to cut the deficit to 4-3. Alderink then gave GVSU its first lead, 8-6, with a pull-up 3-pointer assisted by Allen. Allen followed with a 3-pointer of his own, assisted by Smith Jr., to give the Lakers a 15-12 lead with 15:04 remaining in the half.
After a timeout with the game tied at 15-15, redshirt junior guard Charles Turner knocked down a 3-pointer, assisted by Smith Jr., to put GVSU back in front. Later, with the Lakers trailing 23-22, Allen hit his second 3-pointer of the game, assisted by sophomore guard Marcus Gray II, to make it 28-25.
Smith Jr. tied the game at 30-30 with a 3-pointer assisted by sophomore forward Cam Regnerus with 4:04 remaining in the half. Charity closed the half with a floating jumper to give the Lakers a 38-34 lead with 24.5 seconds remaining. After a Ferris State dunk, GVSU took a 39-36 lead into halftime.
Ferris State regained momentum early in the second half, taking a 49-44 lead on a 3-pointer. The Lakers responded with a run that included a Regnerus slam dunk to tie the game at 49-49. Smith Jr. followed with a floating jumper to put GVSU back on top, 53-51.
The Lakers extended the lead down the stretch, highlighted by a Charity 3-pointer assisted by Wilkerson that made it 65-58. With a packed Fieldhouse Arena, the student section erupted when Docks knocked down a 3-pointer assisted by Smith Jr. to give GVSU a 70-64 lead with 28 seconds remaining. GVSU held on for the 72-64 victory.
Head coach Cornell Mann described the impact that energy from the stands can have on the team’s performance.
“It was electric,” Mann said. “I hope fans understand how much impact they have on our program and our team.”
After the game, Alderink emphasized how meaningful the night was for everyone involved.
“This game’s always a very competitive game, and for it to be our senior night, it’s just a blessing,” Alderink said.
The Lakers will host a GLIAC Tournament game Wednesday at Fieldhouse Arena against No. 6 seed Wayne State University (13-13) at 7:30 p.m.
