Ferris State Battles Back Late In Five-Point Road Setback At Lewis

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally-ranked Ferris State University men's basketball squad got off to a slow start and could not finish off a comeback as FSU dropped a 90-85 regional road decision to the Lewis University Flyers on Monday (Dec. 20) afternoon in Romeoville, Ill.

The host Flyers captured their fourth-straight win by jumping out to an early lead, building a 26-point edge at one stage before the Bulldogs rallied. Ferris State cut the margin all the way down to four points in the closing minutes, but could get no closer in falling to 9-2 overall this year.

The setback came in FSU's final outing prior to the holiday break.

Redshirt sophomore guard Ben Davidson led the Bulldogs with 25 points in the game while both Reese McDonald and Vejas Grazulis added 12 points off the bench. FSU also got 11 points from senior guard Walt Kelser, who did not score in the first half after recording four fouls.

Lewis converted 21-of-35 (60%) free throws in the win and made 55.6% of its field goals in addition to going nine-of-17 (52.9%) at the free throw line.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were 19-of-23 (82.6%) from the charity stripe and finished eight-of-22 (36.4%) from long range while shooting 46.8% overall from the floor.

FSU was slightly out rebounded 35-31 and finished with only nine turnovers compared to 14 for the hosts. The Bulldogs, though, were also whistled for 28 fouls.

The loss snapped a five-game win streak this year for the Bulldogs.

Ferris State will host Alma College in its return from the holiday break on Jan.1 with tipoff set for 3 p.m. (ET) inside Jim Wink Arena. The Bulldogs' previously scheduled matchup versus Algoma University (Canada) on Dec. 29 has been cancelled due to the opponents' COVID restrictions within its league.