First-Place Ferris State Swats Away Wayne State For 10th-Straight Men's Basketball Victory

Big Rapids, Mich. - The momentum continued for the Ferris State University men's basketball squad on Saturday (Jan. 21) as the Bulldogs swatted away the visiting Wayne State Warriors for a 102-81 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) triumph inside FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs won their 10th consecutive game this season by topping the century mark for the fourth time since late December to improve to 15-3 overall. FSU also held onto first place in the GLIAC standings with a 9-2 league record.

Ferris State posted a school-record 20 blocked shots in the victory, including a school all-time best 10 from sophomore center Zach Hankins. The 20 is also potentially an all-time GLIAC record although no official single-game team records are available.

The Bulldogs, who led the nation coming into the game with nearly seven blocks per game, tallied 10 swats in the opening half while opening up a decisive 50-29 halftime edge. FSU sizzled in the opening half from the field, shooting 65.5% from the floor on 19-of-29 shooting.

The lead grew to as many as 31 points with 11:16 remaining in the game before the Bulldogs utilized a younger lineup late in the game.

Overall, Ferris State shot 60% from the floor, including sinking 11-of-16 (68.8%) three's. Ferris State also went 21-of-28 (75%) from the free throw line.

Senior guard Quentin Ruff connected on six-of-seven three-point tries and finished with a game-high 23 points for the Bulldogs. Meanwhile, FSU also received 16 points and seven assists from junior guard Peter Firlik.

Bulldog sophomore forward Markese Mayfield added 16 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes while junior guard Drew Cushingberry totaled 14 points and five assists. Hankins chipped in 10 points, 10 blocks and five boards in 26 minutes.

Wayne State was limited to only 37% shooting with the Warriors going four-of-14 (28.6%) from downtown and 17-of-25 (68%) at the free throw line.

WSU was paced by Marcus Moore, who finished with 22 points. Guard Ronald Booth added 15 points with both Jalen Adams and Chuck Key totaling 10 points each.

Ferris State was outrebounded 45-32 for teh game, including 25-5 on the offensive glass, which led to a 25-6 edge for Wayne State in second chance scoring.

However, the Bulldogs pushed the tempo and outscored the Warriors 36-6 on the break while receiving 34 points from the bench compared to 25 for Wayne State.

The Bulldogs did have 16 turnovers to only 14 for WSU, but the Bulldogs also came away with eight steals in addition to the 20 blocks. WSU finished with two blocks and a single steal.

Offensively, the Bulldogs also distributed the ball well with 25 assists to 10 for the Warriors. Ferris State was slightly outscored 44-32 in the paint thanks to the Warriors' efforts on the offensive glass.

The Bulldogs have won each of their last 10 games while scoring at least 80 points in each victory. 

With the loss, Wayne State fell to 9-6 overall and 6-5 in the GLIAC.

Ferris State will play its next three games on the road as the Bulldogs first travel to Michigan's Upper Peninsula this coming week. FSU squares off against Northern Michigan on Thursday (Jan. 26) night at 8 p.m. (ET) in Marquette before facing Michigan Tech on Saturday (Jan. 28) afternoon in Houghton. The Bulldogs then return to West Michigan to battle rival Grand Valley State on Monday, Jan. 30, in Allendale.