Jan. 15, 2004

Box Score

Detroit, Mich. - Grand Valley State was unable to overcome a 22-2 advantage by Wayne State in the opening seven minutes of this GLIAC road tilt and dropped a 76-69 decision in Detroit, Mich. GVSU falls to 10-3 overall and 2-2 in GLIAC action.

GVSU scored first on a Mike Hall layup just 35 seconds into the game, but WSU then outscored GVSU 22-0 over the next seven minutes to take a 22-2 lead. The Lakers turned the ball over seven times and missed seven shots before Eric Chess hit a free throw to break Warrior scoring run. The Lakers clawed their way back into the game and trailed by 12 (40-28) at the half when Courtney James hit a three-pointer. GVSU opened the second half with a 16-9 scoring run of its own and trailed by just five (51-46) with 11:21 remaining when James hit another jumper. WSU built its lead back up to 14 (64-50) with a 13-4 run. GVSU pulled to within four (66-62) with 2:20 left when Eric Chess hit a layup. However, four straight points by the Warriors quickly built the lead to eight points. James and Chess converted four straight free throws with 1:23 remaining, but a Wayne State layup and four free throws built the lead back to 10 points (76-66) with 21 seconds remaining.

James led GVSU with 19 points, while Eric Chess added 11 points and Mike Hall 10. Jeff Grauzer chipped in nine points and Nate Bassett eight. The Lakers shot 46.9 percent from the field (23-49), 55.0 percent from the three-point line (11-20), but just 46.2 percent (12-26) from the charity stripe.

Grand Valley State will be at Hillsdale College Saturday (Jan. 17). Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.