Quick Start Leads #13 Bulldogs To Big Victory As 'Dawgs Stay Atop GLIAC North

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The 13th-ranked Ferris State University men's basketball squad bolted out to a big early lead and cruised past Wisconsin-Parkside 93-78 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division showdown on Thursday (Jan. 23) night at Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs built a 30-point lead in the first half and never trailed in the contest while moving to 19-3 overall and 8-2 in the GLIAC. The Rangers had entered the outing only a game behind FSU and Michigan Tech in the divisional standings.

Junior guard Walt Kelser had a big performance in the win with a game-high 29 points on 10-of-12 shooting along with a seven-of-nine effort beyond the three-point line. He added three boards, two assists and two steals in the victory.

Freshman guard Jeremiah Washington also reached double-figure scoring with 12 points for the Bulldogs while both junior forward Dorian Aluyi and senior point guard D'angelo Hughes totaled nine points apiece.

Ferris State shot 58.5% from the floor for the night and converted 14-of-31 (45.2%) three-point tries with a three-of-four (75%) showing at the free throw line.

Defensively, FSU limited the defending GLIAC North Champion Rangers to 46.7% shooting with UWP sinking 11-of-22 (50%) three's and 11-of-15 (73.3%) free throws.

FSU outrebounded Parkside 32-29 for the night and posted a 15-10 margin in second chance scoring thanks to 10 offensive boards. FSU also totaled 24 points off of 17 Parkside turnovers and held a 40-26 edge inside the paint.

Overall, the Bulldogs came up with 12 steals and six blocked shots to go with 21 assists. Junior forward Michael Peterson had a team-high three steals with junior Logan Ryan registering a game-high three blocked shots. Hughes notched a team-best six assists with senior center Cole Walker dishing out four assists.

Parkside had five players reach double-figure scoring with Brandon Hau recording a team-high 14 points on the night as the Rangers fell to 10-8 overall and 6-4 in the GLIAC.

Following Thursday night's action, the Bulldogs now hold a one-game lead over Michigan Tech atop the GLIAC North Division after the Huskies' overtime setback at Grand Valley State.

Ferris State hosts Purdue Northwest in conference action on Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon starting at 1 p.m. (ET) inside Wink Arena.