Ferris State Holds Onto #1 Spot In MLive State Hoops Power Rankings This Week

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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball squad remained #1 today in the MLive.com Michigan Small College Basketball Power Rankings announced by the media source.

The Bulldogs, under fifth-year head coach Andy Bronkema, were tabbed first in the inaugural state power rankings compiled by veteran sports reporter Pete Wallner of MLive last week and held onto the postion this week. Presently, FSU is 19-1 overall to date this year and in first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) at 9-1 in GLIAC play.

Ferris State, which is fifth in the nation in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll this week, is ranked right in front of NAIA Division II's top-ranked team in Cornerstone University. Meanwhile, former GLIAC counterpart Hillsdale is third with Adrian fourth and Madonna fifth this week.

The statewide power rankings include small college basketball programs outside of the NCAA Division I level. For years, West Michigan in particular has featured some of the top competitive small college programs in the country.

Behind the top five sits Lake Superior State (#6), Grand Valley State (#7), Olivet (#8), Spring Arbor (#9) and Hope (#10). The final five includes Aquinas (#11), Northern Michigan (#12), Wayne State (#13), Davenport (#14) and Michigan-Dearborn (#15).

Presently, the Bulldogs are a consensus top five team in the country as FSU is also #4 in the nation in the Division II Sports Information Directors (D2SIDA) National Rankings. Ferris State has made three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths to date and is also the three-time defending GLIAC Tournament Champion.

The 19-1 Bulldogs, who are off to their best start in school history, will square off against West Michigan archrival Grand Valley State on Saturday (Jan. 20) night with tipoff set for 8 p.m. (ET) in Allendale. FSU is coming off a 92-78 league road win at Purdue Northwest on Thursday night.