Feb. 21, 2006

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State is ranked 8th in the lastest NABC/DII Men's Basketball poll released today by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. GVSU, 22-3 overall and 14-2 in GLIAC action, moved up six spots from its #14 ranking last week. The Lakers' #8 ranking is the highest ranking ever the NABC coaches poll. Grand Valley State has won 12 straight games and stands alone in first place of the GLIAC North Division with a 14-2 record. GVSU will host Saginaw Valley State Wednesday (Feb. 22) at 8 p.m. The Lakers will then tangle with #24 Ferris State Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

GVSU sophomore center Callistus Eziukwu was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week it was announced by league office. Eziukwu led the 8th-ranked Lakers to a pair of GLIAC wins last week. Callistus averaged 17.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists as Grand Valley State upped its overall winning streak to 12 games. Eziukwu scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the Lakers' 67-55 victory over Michigan Tech. He converted 6-of-12 shots from the floor and 10-of-11 free throws, while dishing out three assists. Callistus then notched his third double-double of the season with a 12-point, 11-rebound outing at Hillsdale. Eziukwu also dished out three assists and blocked three shots versus the Chargers.

GVSU Notes...GVSU has won 12 straight games and 17-of18...The Lakers' 12-game winning streak set the NCAA DII schoolrecord for consecutive wins. Grand Valley State ranks third in the country in scoring defense (57.2 ppg) and 7th in field goal percetage defense (38.1)...The Lakers are 32th in field goal percentage as a team, converting 48.5 percent from the floor...Grand Valley State ranks 22nd in the country in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by 6.1 per game (36.0-30.0)...GVSU ranks 3rd in DII in scoring margin (+17.0)...A balanced attack has allowed the Lakers to have just seven individual scoring games of 20 points or more on the year. (Jamerson 3, Eziukwu 2, Trammell 1, Hall 1)...Seven different players have led GVSU in scoring this season and those seven are the top seven scorers on the squad...Eziukwu has led GVSU in rebounding 11 times, followed by Jamerson (7), Trammell and Hall (3)...Courtney James has led the Lakers in assists 15 times, while Eziukwu is second with five games as the top dealer.