Fast Start Helps Keep FSU On Top In GLIAC

Postgame Press Conference Video 
(Coach Bill Sall, Dontae Molden, Jerrell Sanders)

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball team started quickly and held off a pesky Lake Superior State squad down the stretch to record a 73-64 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) victory on Thursday night (Feb. 2) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

With the win, the Bulldogs held on to their half-game lead over Michigan Tech atop the GLIAC North Division standings as FSU is now 12-7 overall and 9-3 in league play this campaign.

Ferris State started quickly as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 29-9 edge with 8:04 to play in the first half.  LSSU cut the lead in half before the Bulldogs managed to take a 41-27 advantage at the break.

In the second half, the Lakers fell behind by 16 points, but cut the lead down to six points with 11 minutes to go. FSU surged back in front by 10 points with only 2:50 remaining.  However, the Lakers didn't go away quietly as they pulled within four points with a minutes to play.

Ferris State managed to make five free throws in the final 30 seconds to pull out the win.  LSSU fell to 10-10 overall and 5-8 in league play with the setback.

The Bulldogs shot 57.1% (16-28) from the floor in the initial half, but were limited to only 33.3% (8-24) shooting over the final 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, LSSU converted 11-of-22 (50%) tries in the final half and finished shooting 47.9% (23-48) for the night.

Senior guard Dontae Molden (Detroit/Pershing) paced FSU as he hit six-of-nine shots from the floor and connected on three long range tries along with five-of-six free throws to finish with a team-high 20 points.  He added two assists and a steal.

FSU also received 16 points from junior guard Kenny Brown (Farmington Hills/Harrison), which included 13 in the second half.  Senior forward Jerrell Sanders (Grand Rapids/Creston) added 13 points and nine rebounds with two assists, two steals and a blocked shot.  Also, junior forward Daniel Sutherlin (Detroit/Renaissance) chipped in with seven points and a contest-best 11 boards in the game.

LSSU's Derek Billing kept the game tight down the stretch as he nailed five three's and totaled a game-high 28 points on the night.  Derek Kinney added 12 points to help the Laker cause.

Ferris held a 34-22 rebounding edge and outscored the Lakers 12-5 in second chance scoring.  The Bulldogs also totaled 11 points off turnovers to only eight for the Lakers despite turning it over 13 times to only 11 for LSSU.

Overall, the Bulldogs made six-of-20 (30%) three's, but hit only one in the second half.  They connected on 19-of-24 (79.2%) free throws and held an advantage at the stripe where Lake Superior State was 12-of-14 (85.7%). The Lakers sank six-of-18 (33.3%) three-pointers.

FSU finished with seven assists, seven steals and two blocked shots in comparison to LSSU's eight assists and seven thefts with no blocks.

While LSSU maintained a 30-22 margin in points scored inside the paint, FSU never trailed in the game and it was never tied.

The victory came in the 125th all-time series meeting between the two schools and it gave FSU a regular-season sweep over Lakers in GLIAC North Division action.

Ferris State continues its five-game homestand as the Bulldogs host Saginaw Valley State in 
league play on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Wink Arena.  Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. (ET).  Saturday 
is "Kidz Day" as all children in grades K-12 are free with a paid adult and a number of 
special activities will take place, including face painting, a bounce house, chasing the 
Bulldogs and more.

Also, the Mariachi Nacional Band of Indianapolis will provide music at halftime on Saturday 
as part of the area's annual Festival of the Arts Celebration.