Grand Rapids, Mich. -- Luke Bronkema's Raiders make it six in a row and stay unbeaten in the conference after slugging out a 70-61 victory over the visiting Stars of Lansing. With the win the Raiders improve to 11-4 and 4-0 in MCCAA play, while the Stars fall to 4-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

Playing in their first home game since last season, the Raiders played back and forth ball with the Stars for the first 20 minutes of action.  There were six ties and six lead changes and at the break the Stars went to the locker room up 35-30.  The Raiders shot just 32% from the field, but had just 6 turnovers, while the Stars shot 40%, but had 10 turnovers.

After the Stars Emmanuel Gildo (13 points-12 rebounds) scored on an Alley Oop to start the second it was pretty much all Raiders from there. Eight straight Raider points for Sammie Ryans (Kentwood, MI) (who was limited to just 5 points on 2 of 11 shooting in the first half) put his team up 51-46 with 12:22 left in the game, and his team would not give up the lead again. Ryans finished with 17 of his 22 points in the second half.

Point guard, David Hearns (Hazel Park, MI) scored half of the team's 30 points in the first half, and finished with a solid 24 points on 9 of 18 shooting, including 4 of 9 from behind the arc. He added 4 rebounds and a game high 4 steals.  The Stars as a team only had 3 steals with the Raiders totaling just 12 turnovers.  It was Hearns second highest scoring performance of the season and his 10th time finishing in double figures.

Defensively, the Raiders held the Stars to 35% overall shooting and 31% from behind the arc.  Diego Robinson (Lansing, MI) and Ike Kanu (Grand Rapids, MI) combined for 22 of the team's 48 total rebounds.  Kanu had 9th double double of the season while Cam Spicer (Grand Rapids, MI) knocked in 12 points coming off the bench, his fifth time scoring in double figures.

Up next for the Raiders, a trip to Glen Oaks Community College in Centreville, Michigan.  The Vikings will be looking for their first conference win after suffering a 91-86 setback to Jackson College on Saturday afternoon. Tip off will be around 7:30 PM.

To view conference standings and results throughout the season, visit the MCCAA website by clicking here.