CHICAGO – Roosevelt took care of the basketball and punished Ferris State's mistakes to earn a 95-87 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over the Bulldogs on Monday at the Goodman Center.

The Lakers (4-17, 3-11 GLIAC) had just one turnover in the first 36 minutes of the game, all the while forcing 15 from the Bulldogs. Roosevelt turned those takeaways into easy points at the other end, finishing with 19 points off turnovers and 18 points in transition. The Lakers also took advantage of their second chances when they did arise, scoring 10 points off six offensive rebounds.

Ferris State led for most of the first half until the Lakers went on a supercharged 12-0 run over a two-minute span to take an eight-point lead. Roosevelt never trailed the rest of the way, fighting back each time the Bulldogs threatened to pull themselves back into the game.

Kaleim Taylor knocked down a late 3-pointer to give Roosevelt a seven-point edge at halftime, one of many clutch shots the senior hit. Taylor finished with a career-best 24 points evenly split between the two halves, and he always seemed to have the answer for Ferris State's rallies. The first time the Bulldogs clawed back to a single possession in the second half, Taylor drove the lane for a layup, then later he hit a 3-pointer to double the Lakers' lead to six.

But Taylor wasn't the only one answering the bell for the Lakers as all five starters finished with at least 13 points in the victory. Mikey West hit a mid-range jumper for two of his 16 points when Ferris State pulled to within one nearly midway through the second half. Hamahrie Bowers sank a pair of free throws the next time the Bulldogs fought to within one, then Dante Sawyer was perfect after being fouled on a 3-point play the final time Ferris State threatened.

Ferris State did not get closer than three points after Sawyer's three free throws as Roosevelt made 15 of 16 from the line in the second half to help ice the game. As a team, Roosevelt dished out 17 assists – led by five from West – and the Lakers are now 3-1 when they have at least 15 assists in a game this season.

Sawyer added four assists to go along with his 16 points on an efficient 5 for 9 shooting. Bowers scored 13 points and tied for the team high with eight rebounds, sharing the honor with Davon Smith-Johnson, who added 17 points. The Lakers outscored the Bulldogs 46-40 in the paint because of their fearlessness in attacking the basket, which opened up the floor for Roosevelt to make nine 3-pointers as well.

Mason Kleinsmith scored seven points and added three assists off the bench, and Mo Sall made a layup for his first two points at the Goodman Center this season.

UP NEXT: Roosevelt will try to make it three wins in a row Thursday night in Michigan when it faces off with No. 14 Grand Valley State at 6:30 p.m.