'Dawgs Drop Exciting OT Road Game At Wayne

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball team trailed by 13 points midway thru the second half, but battled back to force overtime before falling on the road at Wayne State by a 72-69 score on Thursday (Feb. 16) night in Detroit.

The Warriors led by 13 points with 10:50 remaining before FSU stormed back.  The Bulldogs tied the game up in the final minute of regulation on a layup by senior forward Jerrell Sanders (Grand Rapids/Creston) and had a chance to win the contest on the final possession of regulation before turning the ball over.

In overtime, WSU's Stacey Waters connected on a pair of key three-pointers to lift the Warriors to the win.  Ferris State had another chance to tie the game at the end of the extra session, but freshman guard Dietrich Lever's (Detroit/Canton) potential tying three-pointer came up short and no foul was called as time expired.

FSU was down by 10 points with 6:45 to go in regulation, but kept climbing back until the final horn sounded.

With the loss, FSU fell to 15-8 overall and 12-4 in the GLIAC and now owns a one-game lead over Northwood atop the divisional standings with three regular-season league games remaining.

Junior forward Daniel Sutherlin (Detroit/Renaissance) led the Bulldogs with 18 points, nine rebounds and three steals while Sanders chipped in with 18 points, four steals and two blocked shots.

FSU also received 13 points and three assists from senior guard Dontae Molden (Detroit/Pershing) while junior guard Kenny Brown (Farmington Hills/Harrison) chipped in with 10 points.

The Bulldogs shot 40.7% for the game, but were only two-of-seven (28.6%) in overtime.  Meanwhile, WSU shot 44.3% on the night and hit three-of-five (60%) in the extra session.

Wayne State was paced by Ike Udanoh's game-high 20 points and 17 rebounds in a double-double showing.  Cole Prophet added 15 points, Waters netted 14 points and Ian Larkin scored 11 points.

The Warriors outrebounded FSU 41-32 for the game and had 14 offensive boards to 11 for the Bulldogs, which helped lead to a 17-11 margin in second chance production.

Wayne State also outscored FSU 14-11 in points off turnovers despite having 15 miscues to only 12 for Ferris State.

With the win, the Warriors improved to 15-8 overall and are now 12-5 in the GLIAC.

WSU made 10-of-21 (47.6%) three's compared to only seven-of-23 (30.4%) for the Bulldogs.

Overall, the game featured eight lead chances and the score was tied seven times.

The loss snapped FSU's six-game winning streak and began a stretch in which the Bulldogs play three of their last four regular-season games on the road.

Despite the setback, FSU has clinched a spot as one of the eight teams for the 2012 GLIAC Postseason Tournament.  The Bulldogs are currently listed ninth in this week's initial NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Rankings.

FSU will wrap up its two-game road trip by visiting Findlay on Saturday, Feb. 18, for a 3 p.m. (ET) league tilt at UF's Croy Gymnasium in Findlay, Ohio.  The Oilers have won 75-straight league regular-season home tilts and have not lost a conference game at home since 2004.