Erickson's Record-Breaking Day Leads #17 Ferris State To Huge Home Win To Close Out 2023

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 17th-ranked Ferris State University men's basketball team closed out 2023 with a big day, dominating visiting Kuyper College 111-44 in its final non-conference game of the season on Saturday (Dec. 30) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena.

Bulldog junior guard Ethan Erickson set a new school record in the victory, knocking down 11 three-point field goals en route to a game-high and career-best 36 points as FSU improved to 11-2 overall this year.

Ferris State, which was coming off a decisive win over Fanshawe (Ontario) on Saturday in Big Rapids, bolted in front early and took a 56-20 halftime lead. FSU then outscored the Cougars 55-24 in the second half to garner the win.

Despite holding three players with starting experience this season out of the lineup, the Bulldogs still played 11 in the game and all 11 saw at least 10 minutes of action. Six reached double-figure scoring and all 11 had at least one assist as FSU finished with 35 on the afternoon.

Along with Erickson's 36 points on 11-of-23 shooting from long range, Ferris State also got 14 points from senior guard Jack Ammerman and 13 by senior guard Ben Davidson. Redshirt freshman Jorden Brooks added 11 points with seniors Amari Lee and Vejas Grazulis notching 10 points each.

The Bulldogs forced 34 turnovers in the win and came up with 25 steals, including five apiece from Jimmy Scholler and Owen Hardy. That led to a 53-7 advantage in points off turnovers for the game. FSU also blocked 11 shots on the defensive end with four from senior Dolapo Olayinka and three each from Grazulis and sophomore Nate Claerbaut.

Overall, Ferris State shot 48.1% for the game and made 17-of-43 (39.5%) three's as a team, coming up only two shy of the school record of 19 in a game. The Bulldogs also won the rebounding battle 46-40 and pulled down 18 offensive caroms. Hardy and Scholler led FSU on the glass with seven rebounds each. Scholler also added a team-high tying eight assists along with Ammerman with Lee contributing seven in the triumph.

Meanwhile, Kuyper was held to 28.1% shooting and the Cougars finished nine-of-25 (36.0%) from the three-point line along with three-of-four (75%) at the free throw stripe.

Along with the decided edge in turnover margin, the Bulldogs also outscored Kuyper 38-12 in the paint along with 23-13 on the offensive glass and 46-7 in fast break scoring. The FSU bench totaled 67 points to only 16 for Kuyper's reserves. The Cougars were led by Elisha Searcy with 14 points, but he was the lone Kuyper player to reach double-digits.

Erickson's 11 three's broke the school record of nine previously set by Leon Larthridge in 1991 against Quincy and matched by national champion alum Cole Walker versus Wayne State in 2018-19.

The Bulldogs will resume Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play at home versus Lake Superior State on Saturday, Jan. 6, with tipoff set for 3 p.m. (ET) inside Wink Arena.