D2 National Champ Ferris State Closes Out Exhibition Slate With Setback Against Duke Blue Devils

FSU Postgame Quotes
Duke Postgame Quotes
Official Game Boxscore
FSU Postgame Press Conference 
Duke Postgame Press Conference
Game Highlights 

Durham, N.C. - The defending NCAA Division II National Champion Ferris State University men's basketball squad had a special opportunity to play inside one of college basketball's most historic venues against one of the nation's top programs on Saturday (Oct. 27) as FSU fell to the Duke Blue Devils by a 132-48 score at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham.

The preseason fourth-ranked Division I Blue Devils bolted in front early and controlled play behind a stellar freshman class en route to the exhibition win. It marked the first time ever in which FSU had faced an ACC opponent.

"We enjoyed our experience here and it was first class all the way thru," said FSU head coach and reigning D2 National Coach of the Year Andy Bronkema. "We had a decision to make as to whether or not we were going to play our style and try to impose our will for whatever time we could or if we were going to game plan the best we could.

"We didn't think game planning was going to serve us well for our season and tried to play our style of basketball, but it was hard to do against them as physical and as good as they are," he added.

The Duke trio of rookies RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam Reddish combined for 75 points. Barrett had a game-high 32 points with Williams and Reddish netting 23 and 20 points, respectively.

"Ferris State kept with their style and that's the style that won their two exhibition games," said Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "They're going to play their style and that's the style their kids are accustomed to and they play it well.

"This Ferris State team is smart and that's why they've won," he added. "I watched their national championship game and it was so exciting. We were not good in transition defense in our last game and today we were really good. We played very, very hard and the fast-paced tempo is good for us."

Ferris State was limited to 16.7% shooting in the first half before shooting at a 34.2% clip in the second frame.

Senior post Taylor Adway tallied a team-high 12 points for the Bulldogs, who had an opportunity to use 16 different players in the game. FSU also got seven points from freshman Carl Bow along with five from junior guard D'angelo Hughes.

The Bulldogs managed to convert on six-of-29 (20.7%) three's and went four-of-eight (50%) at the line where the Blue Devils had a significant edge. They made 33-of-48 (68.8%) tries in the win.

Overall, Duke shot 59.5% for the game and hit 11-of-22 (50%) from downtown. The Blue Devils owned a 61-35 edge on the glass, but FSU did pull down 16 offensive rebounds. FSU fininshed with 10 assists, six steals and a blocked shot in comparison to Duke's 26 assists, 14 thefts and nine blocks.

The Bulldogs will tipoff the regular-season on Nov. 3-4 when FSU gets an early start by taking part in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic for the second-straight year in St. Joseph, Mo. The Bulldogs face 2016-17 national runner-up Fairmont State (W.Va.) on Nov. 3 and 2016-17 national champion Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 4.