Ferris State Basketball Erupts For Impressive High-Scoring Regional Home Win

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview - Coach Bronkema 
Postgame Interview - Ben Davidson 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball program put on a show Sunday (Nov. 14) as the Bulldogs rolled over the Drury (Mo.) Panthers by a 124-77 score in regional action at Jim Wink Arena, capping a perfect season-opening weekend.

The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 overall by sinking 19 three's in the 47-point victory, which came over a Drury team picked to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) West Division and a program that traditionally has ranked among the Midwest Region's best in D2 basketball.

FSU's 124 points was only two shy of the all-time school scoring record of 126 set against Hillsdale in 1988, but it did mark the most points ever scored inside the current Jim Wink Arena. The 19 made's three's are the most in school history.

Senior guard Walt Kelser led the blistering Bulldog attack with a career-high 40 points on 15-of-19 shooting, which included an eight-of-11 effort from three-point range in only 24 minutes of action.

Along with Kelser, Bulldog guard Ben Davidson hit 11-of-14 shots and finished with 26 points while graduate transfer Lee Higgins totaled 18 points on six-of-nine shooting from the floor and a four-of-five effort from the three-point line. The Bulldogs also got 13 points from senior Dorian Aluyi.

Ferris State jumped in front early and built a commanding first-half lead while shooting 60.5% from the floor over the initial 20 minutes in taking a 63-45 halftime edge. FSU continued to shoot well in the second half, finishing at 60.3% from the floor for the afternoon, and extended the lead to as many as 53 points down the stretch.

Along with shooting 60% from the floor, the Bulldogs also finished shooting 51.4% from three-point range and were 11-of-15 (73.3%) at the free throw line.

All 12 Bulldog players in uniform played and scored in the contest and helped FSU generate a 48-33 rebounding edge in addition to combining for 34 assists, 12 steals and eight blocked shots in a complete performance.

The Bulldogs held Drury to 35.5% shooting overall with the Panthers going seven-of-23 (30.4%) from long range and 26-of-38 (68.4%) at the free throw line. DU had 13 turnovers compared to only 10 for the Bulldogs.

Ferris State will be back in action on Wednesday (Nov. 17) night for another big regional matchup as FSU visits nationally seventh-ranked Hillsdale for a 7 p.m. (ET) road contest.