Allendale, MI – The Grace men's basketball team gave the 10-1 NCAA DII Grand Valley State University Lakers all they could handle Wednesday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse.  The Tigers built an early lead and kept it throughout the entire first half, entering the break with a 43-40 advantage.  The Lakers knocked down three straight three-point shots in the second half to capture the lead, but it remained anyone's game for the majority of the second half.  A key turning point occurred when Tigers' key frontcourt players Austin Jackson and Hank Schemmel fouled out of the game and the Lakers took advantage of their significant size advantage, especially on the offensive glass.

 "I was really proud of our guys tonight and their effort," said Grace Head Coach Gary Bailey.  "We had a chance to get this game from Grand Valley but having both our posts in foul trouble and then fouling out early hurt us in the second half.  I was disappointed in the free throw disparity from the game but we have to learn to play through that.  GVSU is a really, really good team and we battled.  I know we are a good team but we need to be locked in like we were tonight in every game for all forty minutes.  Tonight was a good step in that direction."

Adam Kregel and Austin Jackson led the Tigers with 18 points.  Brandon Winchester-Jones had 15 points and a season-high 9 assists. 

The Tigers have two more games throughout the Holiday break, facing Aquinas College on the road this Saturday and then Cornerstone University on the 28^th of December at home.