LSSU Runs Past Ferris In Final Half For Win

Big Rapids, Mich. - A strong second-half performance fueled visiting Lake Superior State past Ferris State in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men's basketball play on Thursday (Jan. 7) evening inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

After falling behind by a single point (29-28) at halftime, the Lakers shot a blistering 64% (16-25) from the floor in the final 20 minutes and limited the Bulldogs to only 27.3% (6-22) shooting over the same span in outscoring Ferris 53-26 in the second half.

The game between the two GLIAC North Division leaders featured only two lead changes as a three-pointer by Bulldog junior guard Matt DeHart at the end of the opening half gave FSU its only lead of the game.

The Lakers improved to 8-4 overall with the win while FSU fell to 6-5 this campaign. LSSU also remains in front of FSU atop the division with a 6-1 league record after the win as Ferris dropped to 4-2 in conference play.

Lake Superior State regained the lead by opening the second half on a 15-4 run and never looked back. The Bulldogs were not able to stay any closer than eight points the rest of the way.

LSSU shot 47.3% (26-55) from the floor overall and held Ferris to only 29.6% (16-54) shooting for the game. The Lakers also connected on 10-of-28 (35.7%) three-pointers and knocked down 19-of-26 (73.1%) free throws.

Ferris was seven-of-22 (31.8%) beyond the three-point line and 16-of-26 (61.5%) at the stripe in a game that featured both teams being called for 21 personal fouls.

Lake Superior State also benefited from a commanding 47-32 rebounding edge with 16 coming on the offensive glass. They forced 19 Bulldog turnovers and outscored FSU 22-17 in points off turnovers despite 22 miscues of their own.

Four Lakers reached double-digits with Kyle Hunt scoring a game-high 21 points. The league's leading scorer, Scott Perkins, added 18 points with Garrett Konuszewski contributing 17 points and Derek Kinney adding 11 points with a team-high nine rebounds.

The Bulldogs had only a single player reach double-figures as junior guard Darien Gay tallied a team-best 15 points. Junior forward/center Justin Keenan was limited to nine points and nine rebounds in the losing effort while DeHart also added nine points.

FSU squares off against Saginaw Valley State in a conference home contest as part of the "Basketball Bonanza" high school-college quadruple header on Saturday, Jan. 9, with the men's game scheduled for a 5 p.m. (EST) start at Wink Arena.

Bulldog Bites: Thursday's game represented the Bulldogs' first home outing since a win over Tiffin (Dec. 5) ...... The game was FSU's first in 2010 ..... Justin Keenan had reached double-figure scoring in 38 of his last 39 games prior to the contest ...... FSU had won nine of the last 13 series' matchups entering the game ..... The scheduled officiating crew for the game did not arrive prior to the contest and the three officials from the women's game (Rob Doss, Pat McKenna and Bob Diminico) also worked the men's contest ....... Saturday's "Basketball Bonanza" features two high school and two college games with the all-day event starting at 1 p.m. (EST). Tickets will be sold at the door.