Big Second Half Defensive Effort Lifts Ferris State Over SVSU At Wink Arena

Big Rapids, Mich. - A strong defensive performance in the second half and an inspired effort lifted the Ferris State University men's basketball squad to a 78-72 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) home win over Saginaw Valley State on Thursday (Feb. 15) evening inside Jim Wink Arena.

The Bulldogs gave up only 30 points to the Cardinals in the final 20 minutes of play and erased an early 11-point deficit in the final period to garner the win, notching their 18th victory of the season.

With the win, Ferris State is now 18-6 on the year and 8-5 in league play. The victory also avenged an earlier setback to the Cardinals on the road only a couple weeks ago.

In Thursday's game, the Cardinals built a 42-38 halftime lead and stretched the margin to as many as 11 points only two minutes into the second half. However, the Bulldogs quickly erased the margin and tied the game up at 51-51 before SVSU responded with seven consecutive points.

However, the Bulldogs again answered and scored seven-straight of their own and the two teams went back and forth before FSU finally took control down the stretch.

Senior Ben Davidson scored a squad-best 20 points for the Bulldogs, who played without two key players from their regular playing rotation. Junior Jimmy Scholler got the start and produced a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs while Deng Reng and Ethan Erickson tallied nine points each. Erickson hit two big three's down the stretch for help the FSU cause and senior Vejas Grazulis scored a big late basket to keep Ferris State in front.

The Bulldogs shot 45.5% for the night and made nine-of-21 (42.9%) three's in addition to nine-of-12 (75%) free throws.

Defensively, Ferris State held SVSU to only 34.4% shooting in the second half with the Cardinals finishing at 42.2% for the night. Saginaw Valley State made eight-of-20 (40%) three's and 10-of-14 (71.4%) free throws.

The Bulldogs had a strong performance on the glass, out rebounding the Cardinals by a 43-34 count. FSU pulled down 16 offensive boards and owned a 19-6 margin in second chance scoring for the game.

In the win, Ferris State also outscored SVSU 20-5 on the break and 36-24 inside the paint. The Cardinals finished with 10 turnovers and FSU had 12 overall to go with nine steals and seven blocked shots in addition to 26 assists.

Saginaw Valley State got a game-high 23 points from Toodles Seal along with 17 by Tre Garrett and 10 from Freddie McIntosh along with Ethan Hill.

The Cardinals fell to 13-10 overall and 6-8 in the GLIAC with the setback.

Ferris State will host Wayne State on Saturday (Feb. 17) in a 3 p.m. (ET) league tilt at Wink Arena. The Bulldogs will honor the school's 2003-04 GLIAC Championship team during the legacy game.