#3 Ferris State Rolls Past Saginaw Valley State For 11th-Straight Victory This Year

#3 Ferris State Rolls Past Saginaw Valley State For 11th-Straight Victory This Year

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally third-ranked Ferris State University men's basketball team won its 11th consecutive game as the Bulldogs sprinted past the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 107-83 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play on Saturday (Feb. 3) afternoon at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs picked up their nation-leading 23rd victory to move to 23-1 on the season and hold onto a two-game lead atop the GLIAC standings with a 13-1 conference record.

Ferris State senior point guard Drew Cushingberry picked up a double-double on 10 points and 11 assists for the day, but it was junior forward Markese Mayfield who paced FSU. He finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and five steals while junior center Zach Hankins poured in 24 points to go with nine rebounds, six blocks and a steal.

In the first half, Ferris State fired on all cylinders. The Bulldogs went 6-of-12 from beyond the arc and had 18 assists on 22 baskets. The Bulldogs led 1:58 into the contest and never looked back in building a lead as many as 25 points in the contest.

Off the bench, Ferris State outscored the Cardinals in the opening half 18-2 and held a 16-4 margin in second chance points. FSU shot 52.4% in the opening half, including 50% from three-point range. The Cardinals shot 51.5%, but hit just twice on seven three-point attempts in the opening frame.

The Bulldogs used their depth in the second half as they outscored the Cardinals' bench 32-5 in the game. Ferris State also finished as 24-8 leaders in second chance points.

Overall, Ferris State finished shooting 52.2% from the floor while Saginaw Valley State shot 42.9% overall. The Bulldogs made nine three's and went 26-of-36 (72.2%) at the charity stripe overall.

The Cardinals were led by guard Mike Wells Jr. and his 27 points. Four Cardinal starters finished with 13 or more points, though no one else had more than seven for the game for SVSU.

Off the bench, Ferris State got 10 points out of sophomore forward Jaylin McFadden and eight by junior guard DeShaun Thrower along with junior forward Tyquone Greer.

Ferris State finished with 28 assists in the game to Saginaw Valley State's 15 while narrowly winning the rebounding battle 41-39 over the Cardinals. FSU also outscored SVSU 20-6 in points off turnovers as the Bulldogs totaled only six for the contest compared to 15 on the Cardinals' side.

With the win, the Bulldogs capped a season sweep of the Cardinals and also improved to 14-0 at home inside Wink Arena this season.

The league's first-place Bulldogs hit the road to begin a four-game conference road stretch on Thursday (Feb. 8) night against the Tiffin Dragons in Ohio. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. (ET).