Big Second Half Leads SVSU Over Bulldog Men

Big Rapids, Mich. - Host Saginaw Valley State used a big second half showing to beat Ferris State University by a 79-59 count in GLIAC men's basketball play on Saturday (Jan. 7) night in University Center, Mich.

SVSU led just 26-23 at halftime, but tallied 53 points in the second half to hand the Bulldogs only their second league loss of the year.  FSU fell to 8-6 overall and 5-2 in conference play while Saginaw Valley State improved to 5-7 overall and 2-4 in the league.

The Cardinals shot 82.4% (14-17) from the floor in the second half alone and also made 20-of-25 (80%) free throws over the final 20 minutes as FSU fell a half-game into second place behind Michigan Tech in the divisional standings.

Chris Webb led SVSU with 20 points while both Brett Beland and Greg Foster netted 18 apiece.  FSU was led by junior guard Kenny Brown's (Farmington Hills/Harrison) game-high 23 points, but he was the lone Bulldog player to reach double-digits.

Overall, Ferris State was limited to 36.4% (20-55) shooting for the night and made three-of-16 (18.8%) three's in addition to a 16-of-25 (64%) showing at the free throw stripe.  FSU connected on only one-of-12 (8.3%) three's in the second half.

On the other side, Saginaw Valley State hit 55.8% (24-43) of its field goals and sank seven-of-14 (50%) three's to go with 24-of-33 (72.7%) free throws.

SVSU owned a slim 32-30 rebounding edge, but FSU came up with 13 offensive boards to only five for the hosts.  Both teams netted three steals while SVSU had four blocked shots and the Bulldogs managed two on the night.

Besides Brown's 23 points, the Bulldogs also received eight points from freshman guard Drew Lehman (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) while senior forward Jerrell Sanders (Grand Rapids/Creston) totaled seven points and six rebounds before fouling out of the game after seeing 25 minutes of action.  Junior forward Daniel Sutherlin (Detroit/Renaissance) led FSU with a game-high eight rebounds and had five points.

Freshman guard Dietrich Lever (Detroit/Canton) led the Bulldogs with four assists as FSU totaled 13 helpers in the game on 20 made baskets.  SVSU had 11 assists with five going to Foster.

The Bulldogs host Northwood next Saturday, Jan. 14, in league action starting at 3 p.m. (ET) inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids.