Red-Hot Grand Valley State Hangs 97-89 Loss on AU
January 9, 2003

Complete Box Score

Maybe it’s the El Nino effect. Or maybe it’s just maturing faster than anything on Wall Street right now.

Earlier this season, the Grand Valley State Lakers were sluggish and mistake prone. Now, they’re red hot and their stock is rising.

Guard Courtney James made three free throws with 1.2 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 84 and Grand Valley State outscored Ashland, 13-5 in overtime to win, 97-89 Thursday (Jan. 9) at Kates Gymnasium in Ashland. The win was Grand Valley’s fourth straight and the list of victims is impressive. Before knocking off AU, the Lakers got the better of Hillsdale and Wayne State.

In the overtime session, Grand Valley State (7-7, 3-4 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference), scored on a layup by center Jason Bauer with 4:13 left. That gave the visitors an 86-84 edge and the Lakers never trailed again.

Grand Valley State did major damage at the free throw line, hitting 31-38 shots (81.6 percent) compared to 12-22 (54.5 percent) for Ashland (12-3, 4-2). Late in regulation, AU had chances to put the game out of GVSU’s reach. But with one minute to play and AU in front, 83-78, senior forward Justin Larrick misfired on a pair of charity tosses. With 13 ticks remaining in regulation and AU in front, 84-81, senior guard Isaac Kincaid missed a pair of free throws. That set the stage for James dropping in three free throws after he was fouled on a three-point attempt.

James had 20 points, 11 from the free throw line, to pace Grand Valley State. Bauer had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Bauer was the main culprit as GVSU outrebounded the Eagles, 42-32.

After those three James free throws, it seemed as if all life had left AU. The Eagles were outscored, 6-1 in the first three minutes of overtime. Of those first six overtime points, four came at the free throw line, two more by James and two by Justen Naughton.

Ashland’s two senior guards both had productive offensive nights. Kincaid had 25 points and Angelo Edwards hit for 24. Senior swingman Tom Church had 16 points. Larrick and sophomore center Mike Campbell led AU with seven rebounds each.

Ashland scored the final 10 points of the first half to lead at the break, 45-40. The Eagles then scored the first six points in the second half to lead, 51-40 with 17:59 left in regulation. AU also had an 11-point lead with 8:54 to play.

Thursday’s game is the first in a three-game homestand for AU. Saturday (Jan. 11, 3 p.m.), the Eagles host Ferris State.