This past week summed up exactly who the Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team (15-3) is when things get difficult. Defying adversity has been an essential part of the Lakers’ month, as they took down rival Ferris State University (8-8) 84-80 and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (9-9) 77-67.
Last Monday, against Ferris State, the Lakers were pushed to the brink. At first, nothing came easy, and by the middle of the second half, GVSU found itself staring at a 19-point deficit in the hostile, away environment of Big Rapids. The shots weren’t falling and Ferris had full control of the game, but the Lakers were not letting up.
Head coach Cornell Mann compared the game to a boxing match.
“In the first half, we took punches,” said Mann. “In the second half, we started throwing punches, and we kept throwing them. I was really proud of our resiliency.”
What changed wasn’t one play or one shot, but a collective effort. Defensive pressure started to turn into stops, and stops turned into transition opportunities. Slowly, possession by possession, GVSU clawed its way back.
The Lakers relied on their seniors to get back into the game. Redshirt senior guard Trevor Smith Jr. consistently attacked the rim, senior forward Jalen Charity dictated the pace and senior guard Mason Docks provided one of the defining moments of the night with a clutch 3-pointer. This was followed immediately by a steal and score that completely swung momentum into the Lakers’ favor.
Suddenly, a game that felt out of reach turned into a head-to-head fight with both teams fighting for the win.
Late in regulation, the Lakers finally took their first lead courtesy of Smith Jr., only for Ferris State to answer back. With seconds left, senior forward Ethan Alderink delivered under pressure, knocking down two free throws that put GVSU ahead. Ferris responded at the buzzer to force overtime, but by then, the momentum had fully shifted.
In overtime, the Lakers took control. Smith Jr. buried a massive 3-pointer that gave GVSU breathing room. Charity followed with a dagger from deep and the Lakers closed the game out with composure, securing one of their most impressive comeback wins of the season against their biggest rival.
After the game, Mann summed it up best, pointing to his team’s resiliency and second-half response.
“We didn’t treat it like a rivalry game, we treated it like any other game,” said Mann. “In the first half, I didn’t think we came out and played like ourselves, but in the second half, we got that corrected.”
That boxer mentality carried straight into Thursday night as GVSU hit the road again to face Parkside. The Rangers jumped out early, forcing the Lakers to chase the game and match their physicality. The first half was choppy and back and forth, with both teams trading buckets, but neither found a rhythm.
Parkside took a slim lead into halftime, but if the matchup against Ferris had shown anything on Monday, it was that the Lakers are at their best after halftime adjustments.
“We had a rough defensive first half, and at halftime, it was about locking in on defense,” said Alderink. “We did that in the second half, and it made a big difference.”
GVSU embraced the comeback mentality as the Lakers managed to force far more turnovers in the second half, adding up to 17 total across the game. They controlled the glass and limited second chances. Smith Jr. sparked the push with a smooth floater that gave GVSU its first lead of the half, and from there, the Lakers slowly started to separate.
Charity delivered the biggest momentum swing of the night, drilling back-to-back 3-pointers that stretched the lead and silenced the crowd. When Parkside tried to respond, Smith Jr. answered again, scoring five straight points, pushing the advantage into double digits.
Late in the game, Alderink took over. He scored six straight points during the final stretch, showing poise and control as the Lakers shut the door. Charity capped it off with a strong finish inside, putting the result beyond doubt as GVSU closed out the road win.
“I try to do whatever it takes to help us win,” said Alderink. “Whether that’s scoring, rebounding or playing defense, I’m willing to do anything. It makes it easy when you have a group of guys who genuinely want the best for everyone.”
After the game, Alderink credited the team’s mindset during this January surge, emphasizing unselfishness and effort.
“The biggest thing for us is playing every game as a team,” said Alderink. “Being happy for each other’s success, whether shots are falling or not, and just playing harder than the other team and doing the little things it takes to win.”
GVSU moves into February ranked third in the conference, and has the biggest games of the season this week. The Lakers will host the top two teams in the conference, facing No. 13 Northern Michigan University (18-2) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., followed by a matchup with No. 6 Michigan Tech University (18-2) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
