Ferris State Men's Basketball Opens New Year With Big GLIAC Victory

Game Highlights

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball team returned to action after nearly a three-week layoff from game competition on Saturday (Jan. 2) and rang in the New Year with an exciting 72-69 triumph over Findlay at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs, who had not played since Dec. 13, pulled out the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) triumph with several timely plays down the stretch while improving to 9-2 overall and 3-2 in league play.

The win came in the first game back off the holiday break for the Bulldogs, who will wrap up their GLIAC weekend homestand against Wayne State on Sunday (Jan. 3) starting at 3 p.m. (ET) in Big Rapids.

In Saturday's win over Findlay, the Bulldogs battled back from a six-point deficit less than two minutes into the game and earned the win in dramatic fashion against the Oilers. Neither team led by more than seven points on the day and the game featured nine lead chances along with being tied six different times.

Senior center Jared Stolicker had a strong start to the second half for the Bulldogs, who trailed 37-35 at the break. He finished with a team-high 14 points and 13 rebounds in a double-double performance while adding three assists and a pair of blocked shots.

Along with Stolicker, FSU received 13 points from senior forward James Chappell along with 10 points by sophomore guard Noah King off the bench. Redshirt freshman center Zach Hankins contributed eight points and seven rebounds in the balanced effort with three other FSU players totaling seven points in the win.

Ferris State shot 50% for the day and hit six-of-14 (42.9%) three's go to with 12-of-18 (66.7%) free throws, including several critical ones in the closing stretch.

Findlay was led by guard Martyce Kimbrough, who tallied a game-high 18 points on seven-of-15 shooting. Teammate John Staley added 16 points inside with Alex White netting 10 points a squad-best seven rebounds off the bench.

FSU turned the ball over 19 times to only 10 for the Oilers, but Ferris State also owned a 40-33 rebounding edge against UF. However, Findlay grabbed 13 offensive caroms to 12 for the Bulldogs, leading to a 17-11 margin in second chance production.

The Bulldogs overall finished with 18 assists, seven blocked shots and six steals to Findlay's 19 assists, 11 steals and two swats. The Oilers were limited to 43.1% shooting and made four-of-15 (26.7%) three's and all three of their free throw tries.

The win came in the first GLIAC home contest this year for the Bulldogs inside Wink Arena. FSU improved to 3-2 in the GLIAC with the victory.

Meanwhile, Findlay dropped to 5-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play with the Oilers' three-game winning streak coming to a halt.

Sunday's contest between Ferris State and Wayne State tips off at 3 p.m. (ET) inside Wink Arena. Tickets will be sold at the door starting one hour prior to tipoff of the women's game. The contest will also be carried live on Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.