Ferris State Scores Big Road Win Over Rival Grand Valley State In West Michigan Showdown

Postgame Interview & Highlights 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball squad scored one of its biggest wins of the season to date as the Bulldogs pulled out a hard-fought 86-79 win over West Michigan archrival Grand Valley State on Thursday (Jan. 3) night at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale.

In the only regular-season matchup of the year between the two longtime rivals, the defending national champion Bulldogs forced 26 turnovers en route to its sixth-straight victory overall.

Ferris State shot only 36.2% from the floor, but held a 34-19 edge in points off turnovers and came down with 18 offensive rebounds in earning the win to move to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in the GLIAC this season. The Lakers fell to 9-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play with the setback.

Senior guard DeShaun Thrower tallied a game-high 23 points for the Bulldogs and totaled five assists and three steals. FSU also got 16 points along with five boards, three steals and a blocked shots from junior center Cole Walker. Junior guard D'angelo Hughes added 13 points off the bench while sophomore Jaylin McFadden scored 12 points in the triumph.

The Bulldogs led by as many as 12 points in the first half and held a 45-37 lead at the break. FSU held on to its advantage throughout the second half of play and withstood a late GVSU rally to garner the victory.

Overall, Ferris State made 25-of-69 field goals and hit 11-of-23 (47.8%) three's along with 25-of-34 (73.5%) free throws.

Meanwhile, the Lakers shot 46.3% from the field and were six-of-12 (50%) beyond the arc in addition to 23-of-27 (85.%) at the line in the setback.

Grand Valley State was paced by sophomore forward Jake Van Tubbergen, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He led four GVSU players in double-digits with Jeremiah Ferguson adding 16 points in the loss.

The Bulldogs were outrebounded 43-40 overall, but had 18 offensive caroms to only nine for GVSU, which led to a 12-6 margin in second chance production.

Ferris State will return home to Jim Wink Arena on Saturday (Jan. 5) to host the Davenport Panthers in a 3 p.m. (ET) league tilt in Big Rapids.