Posted: Mar 12, 2018
PREVIEW: Top-Seeded Bulldogs Face Findlay In NCAA Midwest Regional Championship Game Tuesday
The top-seeded Ferris State University men's basketball squad will square off against third-seeded Findlay in the 2018 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship Game on Tuesday (March 13) night inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena. The contest is a rematch of last year's regional semifinal won by the Oilers 68-63 in Louisville. The Bulldogs beat Ohio Dominican 75-57 in round one Saturday before topping Lake Superior State in the fourth matchup this year in the semifinal round 94-71 on Sunday night.
Media Coverage
Tuesday's game will be carried live by flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network with online coverage at FerrisStateBulldogs.com. All games from the Midwest Regional will also be televised by Ferris TV with a free live video webcast. For a complete listing of links, including internet statistics, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.
National Leaders
The Bulldogs own a nation-leading 34-1 overall record and have won a school-record 22-straight games to date. FSU also became the first GLIAC North team ever to win 19 conference games this year during the regular-season. Ferris State is also presently unbeaten (21-0) at home this year and has won 27-straight games inside Jim Wink Arena dating back to last season.
GLIAC Champions
Ferris State captured a second consecutive GLIAC Regular Season Championship this season. The Bulldogs have been outright champions each of the past two seasons. Last weekend, FSU became the first team ever to win four-straight GLIAC Tournament Championships, winning the league postseason crown on its home floor for the second year in a row.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the NCAA Regional are $15 per session for adults and $10 for students. Fans can purchase tickets in person thru the FSU Athletics Ticket Office or online at StarTickets.com. Visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com for additional information.
Outstanding Campaign
The Bulldogs are off to their best start in school history at 34-1 overall and are currently riding a school-record 22-game winning streak, which is FSU's third streak of 15 in a row or more in the past four seasons. This year, Ferris State also has set a new school record with 34 wins to date, which topped the previous record of 28 victories set only a year ago. This year's 19-1 league record was the best conference mark in school history.
Four-Straight Titles
Ferris State captured its fourth-straight GLIAC Tournament Championship by beating Lake Superior State 69-61 in the league title game at home on March 4 inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena. It marked the Bulldogs' fifth league postseason crown in school history and second captured on FSU's home floor in Big Rapids.
Top Two Team Nationally
Ferris State remained #2 in the most recent National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll. Meanwhile, FSU also was #2 in the Division II Sports Information Directors (D2SIDA) National Rankings. This year represents the first time the Bulldogs have been featured among the nation's top five teams since the end of the 1988-89 campaign when FSU reached the #1 spot in the nation near the end of the regular-season.
State's #1 Team
Ferris State is presently ranked #1 in MLive.com's Small College State Power Rankings. FSU was first in the initial poll compiled by the statewide source and remained at the top of the list in the most recent rankings of the top 15 programs in the state.
League Champions
This year marks the second-straight season FSU has won the league's GLIAC regular season crown. It is the fourth year in a row in which FSU has claimed a league crown as the Bulldogs have now won four-straight GLIAC Tournament Championships. This year also represents the second straight time in the nearly 90-year history of Ferris State Basketball in which the Bulldogs have won both the GLIAC's regular season and tournament titles in the same campaign with the first time coming just last season.
What's At Stake
The Midwest Regional champion will advance to the NCAA Division Elite Eight set for March 20-24 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Tournament Fact
The single-elimination 64 team national tournament field includes eight regions of eight teams apiece. FSU is hosting a D2 regional in men's basketball for the first time ever this week.
All-Region Honorees
Ferris State junior center Zach Hankins was tabbed Monday as the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) Midwest Region Player of the Year. In addition, senior guard Drew Cushingberry (Romeo) earned a spot on the all-region second team as voted on by the region's sports information directors. The two were among only a total of 10 honorees with five named to the first team and five to the second team this season.
All-GLIAC Honorees
FSU junior center Zach Hankins (Charlevoix) was chosen as the GLIAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year in voting by the league's member head coaches for the second-straight year after becoming the first-ever sophomore to receive the distinction in league history last season. He was also named to both the All-GLIAC First Team and the GLIAC All-Defensive Team. FSU head coach Andy Bronkema received GLIAC Coach of the Year honors for the second year in a row while senior guard Drew Cushingberry (Romeo) earned All-GLIAC First Team recognition for the second time. Senor wing Noah King (Detroit/Jesuit) garnered first team honors for the first time in his career with senior wing Peter Firlik (Grand Rapids/Catholic Central) named to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team.
The Head Coach
Andy Bronkema - (Cornerstone), 5th season, 119-41 (.744). Bronkema took over the Bulldog program five years ago following six years as an assistant coach, including the previous three as the program's top assistant. A collegiate standout at NAIA Division II Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich., Bronkema was voted All-Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) three times and twice garnered NAIA Honorable Mention All-America laurels. He was a multi-sport prep standout at McBain (Mich.) High School. In the last four years, Bronkema has led FSU to four-straight GLIAC Tourney Championships and berths in the NCAA Tournament.
The Coaching Staff
A familiar face is serving as Ferris State men's basketball head coach Andy Bronkema's top assistant coach again this year as Jim Lake returned to the staff. Lake is in his fifth campaign as the full-time assistant, but previously served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Bulldogs in two different stints over the last decade, from 2003-06 and again from 2011-13. He also was an AAU coach for Grand Rapids Storm and prep head coach. In addition, FSU's Andy Bronkema also has two other familiar faces serving as assistants on his fifth staff in Bill Killian and Dave Schlump. A FSU professor, Killian has been involved with the program for the last 14 years in his second stint and his association with Ferris basketball dates back to the late 1980's. Schlump returned to the FSU staff after serving most recently as head coach at Muskegon CC, but previously was an assistant under former coach Bill Sall. Newcomer Al Hamilton joined the staff this year and had coached on both the prep and AAU levels.
First NCAA Games In State
This year's home action in the NCAA Tournament will not only represents the first time in which the Bulldogs have played a national tournament game at home, but it also is the first time in which Ferris State has competed in the D2 Tournament in the state of Michigan. In FSU's previous 12 trips to the tournament, the Bulldogs have traveled to Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, but had never played inside the state during tourney play prior to this weekend.
NCAA Series History
Tuesday's matchup will represent the third time the Bulldogs and Oilers have met in the NCAA Tournament, including the second time in the regional final. Findlay beat FSU in 2005 in the Sweet Sixteen on the Oilers' home floor at Croy Gymnasium 13 years ago. Last season, the Oilers ended FSU's tourney run with a victory in the regional semifinals in Louisville before finishing as the runner-up to Bellarmine.
Overall, Findlay holds a 21-10 all-time mark against the Bulldogs and has won 20 of the last 28 matchups. The series dates back to the 1962-63 camapign when FSU was victorious by a 79-66 count. UF had claimed 10-straight wins in regular-season play over the Bulldogs prior to a loss in Big Rapids in 2010. Ferris State is 2-4 all-time in postseason play against Findlay with a 2-2 mark in the GLIAC Tourney along with an 0-2 record in the NCAA Tournament. Eight of FSU's 10 series' wins have come at home or on neutral floors as the Bulldogs have won only twice in Findlay, including a memorable 62-61 GLIAC Quarterfinal win in 2016 on the road.
NABC Team Of The Week
Ferris State was chosen for the first time as the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Team Of The Week following the overtime thriller against Ashland on Feb. 10 in Ohio. It marked the second national weekly distinction of the year for the FSU program as earlier this season head coach Andy Bronkema received HoopDirt.com National Coach of the Week accolades for the Bulldogs' play.
1,000 Point Scorers
The Bulldogs currently have three 1,000 point career scorers in their starting lineup this year. Senior forward Noah King became the latest FSU player to earn the distinction as he notched his 1,000th point and scored a team-best 20 points along with the big three-point shot to force overtime at Michigan Tech. He joined senior guard Drew Cushingberry and junior center Zach Hankins as FSU's players to notch their 1,000th point this year.
Bevo Francis Watch List
A pair of Ferris State men's basketball standouts, senior guard Drew Cushingberry (Romeo) and junior center Zach Hankins (Charlevoix), have been named to the 2018 Bevo Francis Award Watch List and featured among the top players in the country. This year's watch list was announced by Small College Basketball (SCB). It marks the third consecutive year in which the Bulldogs have had at least player on the list. FSU's Jared Stolicker was on the list two years ago before Hankins also earned the distinction a year ago. The Bulldog duo were recently chosen among the top 50 small college players in the country left under consideration for the prestigious honor.
A Memorable Run
FSU has now made four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed four consecutive GLIAC Tournament Championships, reached the NCAA Midwest Region semifinals three times, claimed two league regular-season titles and also reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen twice in the past four years. The Bulldogs have also been ranked in the top 25 nationally each of the last three years and led the nation in blocked shots each of the past two campaigns in D2. Over the last four seasons, the Bulldogs have now compiled a 109-25 overall record, which represents the greatest stretch in school history.
Number One In The Nation
Ferris State led the nation in blocked shots for the second-straight year at 6.5 per game last year and is currently among the top five teams nationally again. FSU center Zach Hankins ranked first in the country in blocks with a school-record 130 on the season while ranking 5th in the nation in field goal percentage (.648) in 2016-17. Hankins also set a new GLIAC single-season record last year with 97 blocked shots in league play.
History Of Success
The Ferris State men's basketball program has a long track record of success that includes more than 1,000 all-time victories, 15 GLIAC Championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Since 2004, the Bulldogs have reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen four times and now won 10 GLIAC regular season or tourney titles.
GLIAC Tourney History
This year represented FSU's 18th overall GLIAC Tournament appearance. The Bulldogs made their 18th conference tourney appearance this year, including the 12th in the last 14 years, and won a fourth-straight league postseason crown. FSU is now 22-16 all-time in league tourney action. Prior to the last four years, FSU previously reached the GLIAC Tournament Championship game as the host institution in 2011 before dropping a 73-71 buzzer beater to Wayne State at Wink Arena. Ferris captured the 1997-98 league tourney title, which was its only previous GLIAC Tourney crown in school history before the past four years.
Fifth Midwest Berth
While Ferris State is making its 13th all-time NCAA Division II Tournament berth, it is only the fifth trip to the Midwest Regional for the Bulldogs. FSU's first three national tournament bids were to the North Central Regional Tournament before making five to the then named Great Lakes Regional Tournament.
Nation-Leading Marks
The Bulldogs have presently won a nation-leading 34 games this season against only a single defeat. The total includes a perfect 21-0 home mark to date this season. Last year, FSU's 13 road wins and 13-1 overall record on the road prior to the NCAA Tournament was the best in the nation in Division II basketball. Ferris State has currently won 27-straight home games dating back to last year.
Greatest Four-Year Stretch
Over the last four seasons, the Bulldogs have compiled a 109-25 overall record, which represented the greatest four-run year in school history. Last year marked the third time in which FSU had won 20 or more games in three-straight seasons along with the 1972-75 and 1986-89 eras, but neither of those three-year cycles produced as many wins. This year also represents the first time in which the Bulldogs have ever won 20 games or more in four consecutive seasons.
Preseason All-American
Ferris State University junior center Zach Hankins earned preseason acclaim this year as a 2017-18 Division II Preseason All-American by both Division II Bulletin and Street & Smith's. Last season, Hankins claimed consensus All-America accolades and was a first-team choice by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) as a sophomore. He was also chosen to the All-Midwest Region squad and tabbed as the regional player of the year. Hankins was the only player from a GLIAC member school selected on any of the All-America squads. Along with being the first-ever FSU men's basketball sophomore to garner All-America acclaim, Hankins also became only the seventh All-American in Ferris State men's basketball history and third in the last 43 years. He joined past standouts Justin Keenan and Drew Lehman as the only school All-Americans at the NCAA Division II level.
Big Campaign
Last year, Zach Hankins garnered GLIAC Player of the Year recognition, becoming the first-ever sophomore to win the league's top player award in men's basketball. He set a new GLIAC and school record with 130 blocked shots on the year, leading the nation in blocks and ranking fifth in field goal percentage (64.8). The Charlevoix native received All-GLIAC First Team laurels and was also named to the GLIAC All-Defensive Team while receiving league tourney team accolades in helping Ferris State capture the tournament title on its home floor in Big Rapids. Along with this year, Hankins also paced FSU in both scoring (15.0) and rebounding (10.5) during the 2016-17 campaign and led the conference in rebounding while ranking among the scoring leaders. Hankins was also named a national finalist as one of the country's top players for the Bevo Francis National Small College Basketball Player of the Year honor as a sophomore.
Wire To Wire Atop GLIAC
Ferris State was chosen as a unanimous favorite to win the 2017-18 GLIAC Men's Basketball Championship after winning the league crown a year ago and ended up going wire to wire atop the league. Additionally, the Bulldogs' Zach Hankins and Drew Cushingberry were tabbed to the Preseason All-GLIAC North Division First Team as two of the top five players in the league while Hankins was chosen as the GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year and they lived up to the billing this season
Welcome Mr. Basketball
Along with 10 returning letterwinners, the Bulldogs added a pair of NCAA Division I transfers prior to this season, including former Michigan Mr. Basketball DeShaun Thrower, who sat out a year ago after originally beginning his collegiate career on the D1 level at Stony Brook. He earned Mr. Basketball honors in Michigan 2015 at Muskegon High School. Along with playing basketball at FSU, Thrower is also a member of the Bulldogs' nationally-ranked football squad and was the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week earlier this year.
Rankings Information
Ferris State has now been ranked among the top 25 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) D2 Rankings in each of the last three years. The Bulldogs were the nation's preseason #7 team this season by the Basketball Times along with #9 team according to Street & Smith's, #10 in the NABC poll and #12 by both Division II Bulletin and the D2SIDA (Division II Sports Information Directors of America).
Bulldogs Take Spartans To The Wire
Ferris State gave one of the top teams in college basketball all it could handle for nearly 40 minutes this year during the exhibition season as FSU battled national title contender Michigan State tooth and nail in a 80-72 exhibition setback on Oct. 26 inside the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The Bulldogs took the preseason #2 team in the USA Today Division I Coaches Poll to the wire before the Spartans used a late run to pull out the win. Ferris State led by 10 points only four minutes into the game and held a 38-35 halftime lead before being outscored by MSU 45-34 in the second half. Overall, the game featured 10 lead changes and the score was tied five times in the first matchup between the two in-state opponents since 2015.
Four-Year NCAA Stretch
The current four-year NCAA Tournament stretch is now tied for the best in school history. Ferris State made four consecutive trips to the big dance from 1986-87 thru 1989-90, which included one Elite Eight.
Going Back In Time
This year marks the fifth time and fourth-straight year in which the Bulldogs have reached the NCAA-II Tournament, made the GLIAC Tournament Championship Game and achieved 20 wins or more all in the same season since the 1997-98 campaign. Along with the last four years, it also happenned in 2010-11.
Double-Digit Year
The 2017-18 season, under head coach Andy Bronkema's directon for the fifth time, marks the 16th consecutive year to date in which FSU had finished with double-digit victories.
NCAA Tournament History
This year represents the Bulldogs' 13th all-time NCAA bid. FSU's previous 12 NCAA-II National Tournament appearances include an Elite Eight showing in 1987-88. Two years ago in 2015-16, the Bulldogs reached the Sweet Sixteen before falling to GLIAC rival Saginaw Valley State 63-61 in Kenosha (Wis.) ..... Ferris State is making its fourth-straight tourney appearance this season .... Prior to the last four years, FSU most recently appeared in the national tournament in 2010-11 and reached the Sweet Sixteen and the regional final in Louisville before fallling to eventual national champion Bellarmine on the Knights' home floor ...... FSU also reached the tourney in 2005-06, which was the Bulldogs' second consecutive trip after capping off a banner 2004-05 season with a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament at Findlay, Ohio ..... Ferris now holds a 14-13 all-time mark in national tournament play at the NCAA level .... The Bulldogs made four-straight trips to the regional tournament from 1987-90 .... This year's appearance marks the fourth time the Bulldogs have advanced to the NCAA Tourney under head coach Andy Bronkema.
Alumni Success
Several former Bulldog standouts have had an opportunity to compete at the professional level in the past decade on the hardwood. Among others, former standout point guard Dennis Springs spent time overseas before playing professionally in the International Basketball League (IBL) with the Holland Blast. In addition, former forward Terrance Shaw ranked among the IBL's top scoring leaders for several seasons while playing with several different teams. Meanwhile, All-America forward Justin Keenan, who earned Division II National Player of the Year honors in 2010-11, is now in his seventh season as a standout professional overseas and playing in one of Mexico's top professional leagues while another former Bulldog, guard Kenny Brown, received several NBA tryouts prior to and following the 2014 NBA Draft after wrapping up his FSU career and has played overseas in several countries. Former Bulldog forward Jerrell Sanders played his first professional hoops season overseas in Germany with the BG Bonn Meckenheim club in one of the country's top leagues and was drafted in 2015 by the NBA Developmental League's Grand Rapids Drive before playing in Australia. FSU's leading scorer in 2014-15, guard Drew Lehman, played in Iceland while other more recent alums in Matt Stoll (Spain), Josh Fleming (Slovakia) and Jared Stolicker (Ukraine) have also played professionally outside the United States.
Scouting The Foe
Ferris State will square off against a former conference member in Findlay in the regional final on Tuesday night. The Oilers are in their first season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) after previously competing in the GLIAC. Findlay has compiled a 28-4 overall record to date this year under head coach Charlie Ernst and went 19-1 in league action. The Oilers beat Drury (Mo.) in round one before rallying for a thrilling one-point victory over second-seeded Bellarmine (Ky.) in Sunday's regional semifinals.
The Fifth Season
FSU is in its fifth season under head coach Andy Bronkema and won the GLIAC Tourney Championship and reaching the NCAA-II Tournament for the fourth-straight year this season. The Bulldogs' recent stretch of success began in 2014-15 when FSU compiled a 23-9 overall record followed by a 24-10 mark in 2015-16. The Bulldogs' recent stretch has included such highlights as four-straight league tourney titles and NCAA Tournament appearances along with several other accomplishments including a top 20 national ranking, three 15-game regular season win streaks, exhibition wins over NCAA Division I Bowling Green and Detroit along with signature wins such as the team's first-ever road victory at former conference rival Findlay.
Coach Of Year Accolades
Ferris State men's basketball head coach Andy Bronkema added to his list of prestigious awards following a historic record-breaking season for the Bulldogs a year ago as he was chosen as the 2017 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) State Men's College Coach of the Year. Along with receiving the BCAM honor, he was also chosen as a recipient of Ferris State's College of Education and Human Services Distinguished Alumni Award. Last year, Bronkema was also picked as both the recipient of the GLIAC Coach of the Year honor along with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Midwest Region Coach of the Year award. He earned GLIAC Coach of the Year honors this season for the second year in a row.
GLIAC All-Tournament Team
Ferris State junior center Zach Hankins earned Most Valuable Player honors in the GLIAC Tournament after leading the Bulldogs to three-straight home wins en route to this year's fourth-straight league tournament title. He was joined on the GLIAC All-Tournament Team by teammates Noah King and Drew Cushingberry. Both Cushingberry and Hankins garnered all-tourney honors for the second year in a row.
FSU Quick Note
The high-powered Ferris State offense is currently averaging nearly 87 points per game this season and the Bulldogs were number one in the GLIAC. This season, the Bulldogs are led in scoring by All-America center Zach Hankins with 15.1 points per game. Senior guard Drew Cushingberry is second on the team with 13.6 points per game while senior forward Noah King is third at 12.4 points per game. Hankins also paced the GLIAC with 9.5 rebounds per game and was first in field goal % at 65.8% overall.
Interesting Twist
FSU's exhibition win this year over Grand Rapids Community College came in a game with an an interesting twist as it pitted FSU head coach Andy Bronkema against his brother, Luke, who is the head coach at Grand Rapids CC. This year, Luke led the Raiders to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Tournament for the second-straight year after a sixth-place finish nationally a year ago.
Bevo Francis Honoree
FSU center Zach Hankins was chosen as a finalist for the 2017 Bevo Francis Award as one of the top small college players in the country. Named for the famed Rio Grande College legend who became one of the most popular players in the world, the Clarence "Bevo" Franics Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within small college basketball. Hankins was among only 100 players competing in affiliations of NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA Division I, NAIA Division II, USCAA and the NCCAA who were selected as part of the initial watch list for the Bevo Francis Award a year ago before becoming a semifinalist for the prestigious distinction. He later received Ferris State's Bulldog Of The Year Award as the school's top student-athlete for the 2016-17 season.
Buzzer-Beaters
FSU recently posted back-to-back wins featuring dramatic shots. Senior guard Peter Firlik nailed a long three-pointer at the regulation buzzer on an in-bounds pass up the floor in FSU's eventual 97-91 OT win at Ashland. Meanwhile, senior forward Noah King hit a triple with four-tenths of a second left in regulation to force OT in an 89-84 win at Michigan Tech.
Last Season
Ferris State posted a school all-time best 28-5 overall record in 2016-17 and reached the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Bulldogs also claimed a third-straight GLIAC Tournament Championship and reached the Division II Midwest Regional Semifinals for the second-straight year. FSU returned 10 of its 11 letterwinners from last season with the lone loss being the team's second-leading scorer in guard Quentin Ruff. The Bulldogs also added a pair of NCAA Division I transfers in guard DeShaun Thrower (Stony Brook) and forward TyQuone Greer (Hofstra).
Looking Back To 2015-16
Two years ago, the Bulldogs won the GLIAC Tournament Championship for the second consecutive year and reached the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen under head coach Andy Bronkema's direction. The Bulldog men's basketball squad closed a memorable 2015-16 campaign with a 24-10 overall record. FSU reached the NCAA D2 Tournament for the second year in a row and claimed a second-straight GLIAC Tournament Championship while finishing with its first back-to-back 20-win campaigns since the late 1980's.
No NCAA Opening Rematch
This year the Bulldogs got a new opponent for NCAA postseason play for the third-straight year after drawing Ohio Dominican in this year's tourney opener. In each of FSU's previous two NCAA trips prior to the last two years, the Bulldogs drew a rematch in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against a league foe they had just played. In FSU's 2010-11 trip to the NCAA Tourney, the Bulldogs drew Wayne State on the heels of a 73-71 loss at home to the Warriors in the GLIAC Tourney Championship Game at FSU's Jim Wink Arena. However, Ferris State won the first round game in Louisville en route to a regional championship game appearance. Three years ago in 2014-15, Lake Superior State avenged a GLIAC Championship Game setback to the Bulldogs by ending FSU's season in the NCAA Tournament in Louisville.
Against The GLVC
Ferris State owns a current 6-6 all-time mark against Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opponents in national tournament play heading into this year's regional tournament and had never faced a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) squad prior to beating Ohio Dominican on Saturday. FSU beat two GLVC foes in the 2004-05 tournament with wins over Indianapolis and Southern Indiana and posted a victory over Drury in its trip to the Big Dance in 2010-11. In 2015-16, FSU topped GLVC members Bellarmine and Indianapolis in its first two regional games before beating Truman State last year.
Taking On The GLIAC
The Bulldogs are presently 2-4 all-time against GLIAC member schools in NCAA Tournament play after Sunday's win. Last year, the Bulldogs suffered a regional semifinal setback to then league foe Findlay. Two years ago, the Bulldogs dropped a 63-61 decision in the title game to Saginaw Valley State in Kenosha, Wis. Three years ago, FSU fell to Lake Superior State in the first round in Louisville, which came on the heels of a 2011 win over Wayne State in 2011 also in Louisville. FSU also fell to host Findlay in the 2004-05 NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Final at UF's Croy Gymnasium.
Against The Field
Ferris State held a 4-1 mark against the NCAA-II Midwest Regional Tournament field this season during regular-season play. The Bulldogs posted an early season home win over Findlay over the Thanksgiving weekend. FSU also beat Hillsdale in non-league action at Wink Arena. Finally, the Bulldogs hold a 2-1 record versus Lake Superior State with the lone loss of the year coming in Sault Ste. Marie in December.