The Basics
Score: Grand Valley 76, No. 12 Saginaw Valley 73
Records: SVSU (21-5, 17-3 GLIAC) | GVSU (17-9, 11-9 GLIAC)
Location: Fieldhouse Arena - Allendale, Mich.
ALLENDALE, Mich. - The 12th-ranked SVSU men's basketball team traveled to GLIAC rival Grand Valley State University for a Thursday night matchup in North Division action. After a hard fought game, Saginaw Valley fell to the Lakers, 76-73 in GVSU's Fieldhouse Arena.
After SVSU opened scoring with an early jump shot from C.J. Turnage, Grand Valley took the lead, pulling ahead 7-2 at the 17:31 minute mark. The Cardinals responded with an 11 point run, taking the lead and extending it to six (13-7) by the 13:57 mark. SV earned their largest lead of the game after Sterling Johnson hit a three pointer with 12:47 left in the half, making the score 18-11.
The Lakers came back to take the lead (21-18) with 8:57 left on the clock after scoring 10 unanswered points. They traded the lead three more times before the Cardinals drove the lead back up to seven, 33-26 with 1:03 left in the half. Grand Valley cut the lead to three, 33-30, before the half ended.
In the second half, the Lakers tied it up five times and traded the lead five times. Neither team led by more than five until Chaz Rollins made a lay up followed by a free throw, taking the Lakers up by six, 69-63 with 3:47 left in the game. The Cardinals came back within one point of Grand Valley after free thows from both Damon Bozeman (71-70) and Turnage (73-72) with less than two minutes on the clock. Despite their late game efforts, Grand Valley ended the game three points ahead, 76-73.
Inside the Boxscore
- Bozeman led the Cards with a game-high 23 points, going 8-of-14 shooting. He also posted three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
- Turnage recorded 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
- Kellen Smith posted a game-high seven assists, also notching in eight points, four rebounds and two steals. He now has over 500 career helpers in a Cardinal uniform.
- Garrett Hall added nine points, two assists and a steal. Wade Gelhause netted seven points and five rebounds.
- Grand Valley shot an even 50.0% (29-of-58) from the floor while Saginaw Valley was 44.8% (26-of-58).
- The Lakers grabbed 37 rebounds compared to SV's 32. The Cardinals had 22 points from the bench compared to GVSU's 12.
Meijer "Player of the Game"
Bozeman was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" after his game-high 23 points, three boards, two assists and one steal.
Up Next for SVSU
The Cardinals host Ferris State University at O'Neill Arena on Saturday (Feb. 20). The Bulldogs are 19-6 overall and 13-4 in the conference and are coming of an 88-70 loss at home against Hillsdale. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. SVSU has clinched the North Division and is one game ahead of Ashland University in the overall league standings.
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