ALLENDALE, Mich. â€Ã‚“ The â€Ã‚˜Cats used a little help fromthe bench on Thursday night at Grand Valley State University to defeat theLakers.  Four players came off the benchand scored a combined 37 points to spark the â€Ã‚˜Cats to a 62-59 win over theLakers.  With the win on Thursday nightthe â€Ã‚˜Cats improve to 12-7 overall and 8-3 in the GLIAC.  The Lakers fall to 9-10 and 4-7.

GVSU held a four point lead at the half (24-20), as bothteams were struggling from the floor in the first 20 minutes.  The â€Ã‚˜Cats were shooting 25 percent (7-28)while the Lakers were a little bit better at 29.4 percent (10-34).  The Lakers controlled the first half as theyheld the lead for the entire half except for one tie at 10 all at the 12:36mark.  After the tie the Lakers went onan 11-0 run to take the lead at 21-10 with 4:42 left in the first half.  The â€Ã‚˜Cats would answer with a run of theirown to close the half by scoring 10 points to the Lakers three.

The second half started with the Lakers holding a sevenpoint lead at 32-25 with 16:45 left in the game.  David Noelâ€Ã‚™s three-pointer at 14:39 of the second half tied thegame at 33.  Marco Volcy then followedthat up with a three-pointer of his own to give the â€Ã‚˜Cast the lead at 36-33 atthe 14:21 mark.  With 4:59 left in thegame, Steve Watts drained a three-pointer to give the â€Ã‚˜Cats the lead for goodat 54-52. 

Three players led the â€Ã‚˜Cats on the night as all three cameof the bench.  Watts ended the nightwith 14 points; Milan Azanjac and Antwuan Holt both had 10 points.  Adrian Whitten had 11 points for theâ€Ã‚˜Cats.  For the game the â€Ã‚˜Cats shot 36.8percent form the floor (21-57) and 37 percent from the three-point line(10-27).  From the free throw line theâ€Ã‚˜Cats were 10-16 for 62.5 percent.  TheLakers did beat up the â€Ã‚˜Cats on the boards as they held a 49 to 36 reboundingadvantage.  GVSU had 18 offensiverebounds on the night.

The â€Ã‚˜Cats are at Ferris State on Saturday (Feb. 1).