Ferris State Notches Sixth-Straight 20-win Season By Holding Off Purdue Northwest

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 13th-ranked Ferris State University men's basketball squad held onto first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and notched its sixth consecutive 20-win season as the Bulldogs topped visiting Purdue Northwest 82-77 in a tightly-contested outing on Saturday (Jan. 25) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs trailed by 12 points in the first half and the Pride held the advantage for more than 23 minutes overall, but FSU proved to be too much in the end. The win enabled FSU to move to a nation-leading 20-3 overall along with 9-2 in the GLIAC.

Junior forward Dorian Aluyi sparked the FSU comeback and finished with a double-double, scoring 24 points and grabbing 14 rebounds while adding five assists and two steals.

Along with Aluyi, Bulldog senior guard Greg Williams totaled 16 points off the bench with both freshman wing Deng Reng and senior guard D'angelo Hughes posting nine points each. Hughes added a game-high eight assists and four steals in the triumph.

The Bulldogs shot 45.3% from the floor and overcame a three-of-24 (12.5%) effort from three-point range. They also finished 11-of-18 (61.1%) at the free throw stripe.

Ferris State controlled the glass with a 47-34 rebounding margin thanks in part to 20 offensive caroms, which held FSU own a 16-6 advantage in second chance production.

However, Purdue Northwest outscored the Bulldogs on the break 26-14 for the afternoon. The Pride finished 49.2% from the floor and went nine-of-22 (40.9%) from the three-point arc, including a six-of-12 (50%) first half figure. They went four-of-seven (57.1%) at the charity line.

Five Purdue Northwest players reached double-digits in scoring with the frontcourt tandem of Jyrus Freels and Jordan Doss both netting a team-high 16 points apiece.

The Bulldogs managed to outscore the Pride 56-36 inside the paint and 15-7 on points off turnovers after totaling only eight miscues and forcing 13 Purdue Northwest turnovers. FSU netted 11 steals defensively and four blocked shots with 24 assists in the win.

Along with holding onto first place in the GLIAC North Division, the Bulldogs also moved back into a first-place tie with Grand Valley State atop the league's overall standings after GVSU's home setback to Northern Michigan.

Purdue Northwest fell to 7-12 overall and 2-9 in the GLIAC with the loss.

Ferris State will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 30, as FSU visits Ashland for a 7:30 p.m. (ET) league tilt in Ashland, Ohio.