Ferris State Basketball Beats Second Top 10 Opponent In Two Days To Stay Unbeaten

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball squad capped off a statement weekend as the Bulldogs beat preseason nationally sixth-ranked Indiana (Pa.) by a 86-82 score to finish up the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic on Saturday (Nov. 4) in Evansville, Ind.

The preseason #10 Bulldogs, who beat fifth-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas in Friday's season opener at one of the country's most prestigious D2 tournaments, rallied in the second half to knock off the Crimson Hawks and improve to 2-0 on the year.

Ferris State trailed by a single point, 47-46, at halftime but outscored IUP 39-36 en route to the win.

Indiana led by as many as 10 points late in the first half, however FSU continually found an answer and used a critical run down the stretch to pull out the victory.

Senior forward Noah King and senior guard Drew Cushingberry both tallied a team-high 16 points each for the Bulldogs with King knocking down four three-pointers in the triumph. The Bulldogs also got 14 points each from senior guard Peter Firlik and junior center Zach Hankins with 11 points off the bench from forward TyQuone Greer.

FSU shot 47.8% from the floor and hit seven-of-19 (36.8%) three's in the win. The Bulldogs also sank 15-of-19 (78.9%) free throws.

The Crimson Hawks were paced by Anthony Glover with a game-high 19 points. Malik Miller chipped in with 15 points off the bench while Dante Lombardi scored 14 points and Blake Danielak added 12 points in the losing effort.

The Bulldogs outrebounded Indiana (Pa.) 36-31 for the game as Hankins pulled down a team-high 10 points to complete a double-double showing. FSU also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds.

On the defensive end, Ferris State managed six steals, including four from Cushingberry, and came up with four blocked shots, including three by Hankins.

Cushingberry also distributed the ball well for the Bulldogs with five of FSU's eight assists in the game.

Ferris State outscored the Crimson Hawks 17-10 on the glass in second chance scoring and totaled 32 points in the paint in the win.

The Bulldogs will return home to host the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 10-11) inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena. FSU will host Quincy (Ill.) in the home opener on Friday at 5:30 p.m. (ET) before facing Missouri-St. Louis the following day on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

The two games next weekend will open a eight-game homestand for the Bulldogs.