#18 Ferris State Basketball Wins Showdown Of Unbeaten Teams To Stay Perfect

Big Rapids, Mich. - Nationally 18th-ranked Ferris State increased its season-opening win streak to six-straight games as the Bulldogs recorded an impressive 84-58 road win over previously unbeaten Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday (Nov. 28) in Kenosha, Wis.

The Bulldogs topped the Rangers in a battle of unbeaten and returning NCAA Tournament squads for their sixth consecutive victory against a Midwest Region opponent to open the campaign.

Ferris State jumped out to a 49-32 halftime lead and then outscored UWP 35-26 in the second half to move to 6-0 overall this season. The Rangers fe3ll to 4-1 on the year with the setback on their home floor.

The senior quartet of point guard Jibreel Jackson, forwards Josh Fleming and James Chappell along with center Jared Stolicker combined for 52 points in the FSU victory. Chappell led the way with 14 points while both Stolicker and Fleming added 12 points each. Finally, Jackson scored 12 as four FSU players reached double-digits.

The Bulldogs hit on 54.2% of their field goals in the contest and sank seven-of-17 (41.2%) three's along with 13-of-22 (59.1%) free throws.

Meanwhile, defensively the Bulldogs held the Rangers to only 29.3% shooting overall, including a one-of-11 (9.1%) showing from beyond the arc. Wisconsin-Parkside went 23-of-30 (76.7%) at the line.

The Bulldogs never trailed in the game and owned a 41-34 rebounding edge against the Rangers. FSU led by as many as 29 points in the contest and also outscored UWP 36-28 inside the paint along with 16-10 in second chance production.

Alexander Brown led UWP with 11 points while Goran Zagorac chipped in with 10 points as the Rangers fell to 4-1 overall this season.

On the boards, Stolicker paced FSU with nine rebounds and Jackson added six. Redshirt freshman Zach Hankins added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench while sophomore guard Peter Firlik tallied eight points and junior guard Quentin Ruff totaled six in the victory.
Sophomore guard Drew Cushingberry distributed a team-high six assists.

Ferris State will return home to host Lake Erie in its 2015-16 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) opener on Thursday, Dec. 3, at Big Rapids High School. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (ET).

FSU then hosts Ashland on Saturday, Dec. 5, also at BRHS beginning at 5 p.m. (ET).