Ferris State Notches Another 20-Win Season By Beating Saginaw Valley State In Regular-Season Home Finale

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's basketball squad notched its eighth 20-win season since 2015 as the Bulldogs posted win number 20 on Saturday (Feb. 11) with a 80-75 win over visiting Saginaw Valley State in the regular-season home finale at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

Ferris State captured the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) home win while remaining only a half-game out of first place in the league standings with the triumph. FSU is now 20-6 overall and 11-4 in conference action this year.

The Bulldogs jumped in front and led by as many as nine points late in the first half before taking a 41-34 halftime edge. The Cardinals, though, came back in the second half and tightened the score down the stretch before FSU preserved the victory at the line, sinking 17-of-21 (81%) free throws.

Sophomore Solomon Oraegbu tallied 19 points in leading the Bulldogs with junior Ben Davidson adding 16 points and Dolapo Olayinka notching 14 points overall. The Bulldogs also got nine points off the bench from Vejas Grazulis along with eight points by Reece Hazelton.

Overall, the Bulldogs shot 45.8% from the floor and made nine-of-22 (40.9%) three's in the decision. The Cardinals finished at 43.8% shooting and went seven-of-26 (26.9%) from deep along with 12-of-14 (85.7%) at the line.

Ferris State out rebounded SVSU 37-35 for the day and came away with nine offensive boards and a 13-6 advantage in second chance scoring. The Bulldogs also outscored SVSU 20-13 on the break and got 28 points off the bench to only 18 for Saginaw Valley State.

However, the Cardinals forced 13 FSU turnovers and held a 19-14 margin in points off turnovers, finishing with 12 of their own.

Ferris State tallied 21 assists on the day with seven from Amari Lee and five by Ethan Erickson. FSU also had eight steals and a block.

Meanwhile, Saginaw Valley State was led by Freddie McIntosh with 22 points. Tre Garrett added 13 points, Jiovanni Miles scored 12 points and Chansey Willis, Jr., finished with 10 points. SVSU feel to 11-13 overall and 6-8 in the GLIAC with the loss.

This year marks the Bulldogs' eighth 20-win season in the last nine seasons with the lone exception coming in the 2020-21 COVID-shortened campaign.

Ferris State will play its final three regular-season outings on the road, starting next Saturday, Feb. 18, when FSU visits Lake Superior State for a 3 p.m. (ET) conference test in Sault Ste. Marie.