Ferris State Earns GLIAC's Top Seed Despite Setback In Regular-Season Finale

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball squad could not withstand a stellar second-half individual performance as FSU suffered a 93-87 setback to visiting Northern Michigan in the regular-season finale on Saturday (Feb. 26) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

Despite the setback, the Bulldogs claimed the GLIAC Regular-Season Championship and number one seed for the conference tournament and will host Davenport in quarterfinal-round play on Wednesday (March 2) night at 7:30 p.m. (ET) inside Wink Arena following the FSU women's basketball first-round home game.

Northern Michigan's Max Bjorklund tallied 46 points and hit nine-of-11 three's along with 16-of-21 field goals in lifting NMU to a come from behind win over the Bulldogs. He scored 40 of his 46 points in the second half.

The Bulldogs took a 45-30 halftime lead and led by as many as 18 points in the game before Bjorklund fueled the Wildcats' comeback with a historic performance on the road.

Overall, his play helped Northern Michigan finish with a 50.8% shooting figure, which included a 14-of-30 (46.7%) effort from three-point range. The Wildcats were also 15-of-22 (68.2%) at the free throw line.

Offensively, the Bulldogs played well in the contest, turning the ball over only six times while connecting on 44.3% of their field goals. FSU also went 11-of-28 (39.3%) from the three-point line and 14-of-17 (82.4%) at the free throw stripe.

Senior guard Walt Kelser led FSU with a team-high 19 points in his final regular-season home game and was joined in double-figures by fellow senior big man Logan Ryan with 16 points. The duo was honored prior to the game on Senior Day along with seniors Lee Higgins and Dorian Aluyi.

Along with Kelser and Ryan, freshman guard Ethan Erickson tallied 11 points for the Bulldogs with Higgins adding nine points in addition to eight each by both Aluyi and Ben Davidson.

The Wildcats got 17 points from Justin Brookens and 12 points along with 12 rebounds in a double-double effort from John Kerr in addition to the 46 from Bjorklund.

Ferris State was slightly outrebounded 38-36 for the day, but also forced 10 turnovers and outscored NMU 19-15 on the offensive glass in a game that featured 11 lead changes.

The Bulldogs finished the regular-season with a 21-7 overall record and a first-place tying 16-4 GLIAC mark while NMU improved to 16-11 overall and 12-8 in the GLIAC.

With a win in Wednesday's quarterfinal round, the Bulldogs would also play host to the semifinals and finals on Saturday and Sunday, March 5-6, with a victory over Davenport.

Stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com for additional postseason information as it becomes available.