Big First Half Leads Ferris State To Perfect Mark In GLIAC/GLVC Challenge

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball squad turned a big start into a big victory as the Bulldogs stayed unbeaten on the season with a convincing 91-68 win over Quincy (Ill.) on Sunday (Nov. 15) to wrap up the season-opening GLIAC/GLVC Challenge in Allendale.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 19-point halftime lead against the Hawks and raced to an important regional win for the second consecutive day to improve to 2-0 on the year. A year ago, FSU dropped close games to open the year against both Quincy and Missouri-St. Louis, but the Bulldogs turned both games this year into 20-plus point wins against the same two opponents.

Ferris State shot a blistering 60.3% from the floor in the triumph and connected on eight-of-20 (40%) three's along with all seven free throw attempts. Defensively, the Bulldogs held the Hawks to 38.9% shooting, including a 27.8% figure in the first half. QU was only three-of-17 (17.6%) behind the three-point stripe and nine-of-14 (64.3%) at the line inside the Grand Valley State Fieldhouse Arena.

Bulldog senior center Jared Stolicker had a big game for the second consecutive day with a game-high 24 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the floor. He also grabbed a game-best 10 rebounds in 29 minutes of work for the Bulldogs.

Along with Stolicker, senior forward Josh Fleming scored 20 points for Ferris State and nailed four three-pointers in the win. He added six assists and five rebounds. Another senior, forward James Chappell, also reached double-figure scoring with 10 points for the Bulldogs despite battling foul trouble.

In addition to shooting the ball well, the Bulldogs also distributed it nicely as FSU totaled 24 assists on 38 baskets. Sophomore guard Drew Cushingberry had a career-best 10 assists to lead FSU while Chappell added three to go with Fleming's six dimes.

Both teams totaled 12 turnovers, but the Bulldogs managed to turn the Hawks' miscues into a 20-12 edge in points off turnovers. FSU came up with eight steals, including two from Chappell, as seven different players had at least one theft each.

Joseph Tagarelli led the way for Quincy with 16 points while Scottie Bruxvoort added 13 off the bench for the Hawks. FSU held all-conference performer Evan McGaughey to only three points on one-of-three shooting in the Quincy lineup.

Overall, Quincy outrebounded FSU 37-34 thanks to 20 offensive rebounds from a big front line. The Hawks netted 18 second-chance points to 10 for the Bulldogs, but FSU outran Quincy with eight fast break points to none for the Illinois opponent. Ferris State also outscored the Hawks 48-30 in the paint and the Bulldogs never trailed in the game.

A total of 12 different players saw action for Ferris State with 11 reaching the scoring column.

Ferris State will play two more Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opponents this week. FSU first visits Lewis (Ill.) on Wednesday, Nov. 18, for a 8:30 p.m. (ET) game in Romeoville, Ill. The Bulldogs then play host to St. Joseph's (Ind.) in their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 21, inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena.