GVSU men’s hoops drops 100 points on Olivet College

GVL / Sara Carte
Grand Valley’s Men’s Basketball player, Aaron Hayes, shoots to score against Olivet in the Fieldhouse on Nov. 20.

GVL / Sara Carte Grand Valley’s Men’s Basketball player, Aaron Hayes, shoots to score against Olivet in the Fieldhouse on Nov. 20.

Mason Tronsor

The Grand Valley State men’s basketball team took care of business Friday against non-conference foe Olivet College. With suffocating defense and bench contributions, the Lakers routed the Comets 105-57.

Junior Luke Ryskamp led the way for the Lakers with 17 points and five rebounds, while shooting 50 percent from the field.

“My teammates just found me in the corners,” Ryskamp said. “We made the extra passes and tonight it was just me that was the guy to shoot it on the extra pass. And some nights it will be other guys and we just have to knock down the shots.”

Ryskamp wasn’t the only one involved in the high-scoring affair. Four other Lakers scored in double figures. All four of those players came off the bench.

GVSU’s bench outscored OC’s bench 63-17. Senior forward Ricky Carbajal and freshman sharpshooter Zack West each added 13 points, while junior and sophomore energizers Juwan Starks and Sam McClendon tallied 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“(We) historically have scored a lot off our bench,” said GVSU head coach Ric Wesley. “We’ve always had the mindset that if we play them they should score. We played a lot of guys so they should score.”

In addition to his double-figures scoring, McClendon dove all over the floor and stepped in front of passing lanes to record two steals and a block.

“Coaches just told me to be ready before the game,” McClendon said. “I just want to be energy off the bench. I just wanted to motivate the guys and just get the run started.”

The Comets came strong out of the gate. Early in the first half, Olivet held a slim edge, but later in the half the Lakers used a quick spurt to separate themselves on the scoreboard.

From then on, GVSU ruled. The Lakers outscored the Comets 58-25 in the second half. GVSU also scored 30 points off turnovers compared to Olivet’s 13 points.

GVSU shot 40 percent from the 3-point line, but the true damage was done down low. The Lakers outscored the Comets 54-10 in the paint.

Senior Chaz Rollins had an even stat line with eight points and eight rebounds. Fellow junior big man Trevin Alexander collected eight points and four rebounds.

With the win, the Lakers begin the 2015-16 campaign with a 3-0 record. GVSU will face two more non-conference foes before GLIAC play begins.

“This time of year you just want to get some wins under your belt,” Wesley said. “Just as important as winning, you want to play well. I think this game was important for us to not only get the win but play well and have so many guys contribute for us.”

GVSU rolled out 13 different players in the contest — 12 of whom scored. The Lakers shot 57 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line. GVSU also dished out 19 assists.

The Lakers will suit up again Monday back at Fieldhouse Arena against Grace Bible College.