Ferris State Men's Basketball To Face Stars From The Past In Saturday's Alumni Game

Big Rapids, Mich. - Former Ferris State University men's basketball stars from the past are expected to be on hand Saturday (Oct. 25) afternoon to square off against the Bulldogs in FSU's 2014 Alumni Game at Jim Wink Arena.  Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. (ET).

Admission to Saturday's alumni contest is free and nearly 20 former standouts are expected to return to campus for the day's events. The feature game will be a full contest with select alumni taking on the current Ferris State team in an exciting Old Stars vs Current Stars format. 

The public is encouraged and invited to attend the contest to watch both the current FSU men's squad and the alumni in action. An evening social will take place following the contest.

"We're excited to welcome the former players back to campus and to have an opportunity to compete against them on the floor," said second-year FSU head coach Andy Bronkema. "As was the case a year ago, when this group of alumni step on the floor together, it may very well be one of the best teams we will face all season."

Among the past standouts expected to return will be members from several of FSU's most recent Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship teams. Past players from FSU's back-to-back league title and NCAA Tournament teams from 2004-06 such as Michael Daniels, Willie Burrel, CJ Van Wieren and Julies Vines are expected back.

In addition, some of FSU's most recent standouts from league title teams in 2011 and 2012 will also return, including perhaps as many as eight players from the Bulldogs' 2011 NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen squad in Darien Gay, Dontae Molden, Lou Williams, Matt DeHart, Jerrel Sanders, Daniel Sutherlin, Jim Boylan and Spencer Sellner.

Other alumni planning to attend and participate in the day's events will include past performers and standouts such as Jason Holder, Ray Pope, Ty Miller, Raymoan McAfee and Josh Young.

"We are in our third year of the Alumni game and are working hard to build a culture of coming back," Bronkema said. "It's important for our current players to know who came before them and to understand the rich history of the program. It is also important for our Alumni to migrate back to share the stories."

The Ferris State men's basketball program has a long track record of success that includes more than 1,000 all-time victories, 13 GLIAC Championships and nine NCAA Tournament appearances. FSU has also reached the GLIAC Postseason Tournament eight of the last 10 years, which ranks as one of the conference's top showings over the past decade. The Bulldogs have won four league championships and twice reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen since 2004. 

Ferris State will open its second season under Bronkema, who led the Bulldogs to wins in three of their final four contests a year ago as FSU finished the 2013-14 season on a high note. 

Expectations are high for FSU heading into the 2014-15 season with the Bulldogs returning 10 letterwinners from a year ago. Last season, under Bronkema's directon for the first time, marked the 12th consecutive year to date in which FSU has finished with double-digit victories. A strong incoming recruiting class will join a Bulldog squad that is expected to return nearly every key piece from last season after losing only a single senior in McAfee.

Follwing Saturday's alumni contest, FSU opens exhibition play at NCAA Division I Oakland on Nov. 1 before hosting Calvin on Nov. 8 in preseason action at Wink Arena. 

The official season opener for the Bulldog men takes place on Saturday, Nov. 15, as FSU opens the 2014-15 campaign on the road against regional foe Quincy (Ill.) at the Microtel GLVC/GLIAC Challenge at Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Ill. FSU will face another Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opponent in Missouri-St. Louis the following day (Nov. 16).