PURDUE NORTHWEST 78, GRAND VALLEY STATE 82

The Purdue University Northwest Men's Basketball team hosted the Grand Valley State Lakers at the Hammond Fitness and Recreation Center on Thursday, January 30. Both teams would battle until the final seconds of the game, with the Lakers ultimately edging out the Pride 82-78.
 
HEAR FROM COACH ROBERTS

"Our guys showed why they are a fun group to coach tonight," said Roberts. "They fight, they grow, and it's tough to keep coming up a little short when we see how far they've come. Jordan Doss continues to play well, Durante Lee and Gregory Boyle were great defensively, and Jyrus Freels is getting better every game. We knocked down free throws, but we shot it really poorly from the three-point line. With Grand Valley's size, you have to make perimeter shots to beat them."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
At the end of the first half, the Pride trailed GVSU 42-40. PNW got 12 points in the paint and 10 from the bench in the first half. The close score would hold early in a foul-heavy second half, as both teams traded points until the Lakers would reopen the gap, leading by as much as 11 points with eight minutes remaining in play. PNW would continue to chip away at that lead throughout the rest of the half, getting as close as one point. The final two minutes of play were chippy, but when the final whistle blew, the night ended with Grand Valley State claiming the hard-fought victory of 78-82.

WHO LED THE WAY FOR THE PRIDE
Doss scored 15 points, shooting 40% from both the field and three-point territory. Lee was close behind with 14 points, and Freels and Chandler Spring each recorded 12 points. Freels grabbed four rebounds and blocked one shot as well.

TEAM STATS
Purdue Northwest shot 43% from the field and 23% from behind-the-arc. They held GVSU to 47% and 33%, respectively.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Pride will play the Davenport University Panthers on Saturday, February 1. This will be the second content between these two programs this season, as PNW hopes to avenge their 93-74 loss at Davenport on December 5. Saturday will also be PNW's Kids Day, sponsored by Spark Marketing. Admission is free for kids with tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (CST).