Ferris State Falls In GLIAC Quarterfinal Heartbreaker To Northern Michigan

Postgame Highlights/Interview

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 10th ranked Ferris State University men's basketball team fell 70-69 to the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Tuesday (March 3) in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Quarterfinals.

Ferris State senior guard Greg Williams hit a three-ball with four seconds remaining to cut NMU's lead to 70-69, and junior wing Mike Peterson made a steal on the inbound pass, but Ferris State could not manage to take advantage of the turnover.

The Wildcats shot 42 percent for the game while the Bulldogs shot 41 percent. Ferris State went 11-16 from the free throw line while Northern Michigan finished 23-29. 

The Bulldogs held a narrow 35-34 edge in rebounding. Both team-leaders finished with nine boards in the contest.

Ferris State junior guard Walt Kelser led all scorers with 32 points, while junior forward Logan Ryan had nine rebounds to lead the Bulldogs as well as two blocks. Williams also added 18 points and shot 75 percent from beyond the arc for the contest.

The Wildcats shot 47.8 percent in the second half and made 13 free throws after shooting 37 percent in the first half with 10 free throws to outscore the Bulldogs 39-33 in the final half.

NMU forward Ben Wolf scored 20 of his 22 points in the game in the second half to lead the Wildcats, while Sam Taylor added 21 and four steals. 

Ferris State's bench had a 25-10 advantage in the game in points off the bench, but the Wildcats had an 11-2 points off of turnovers edge.

The Bulldogs, who were ranked second in the last NCAA Regional Rankings in the Midwest Region, now await the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday (March 8). 

The top eight teams in each region earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament, with conference champions in each earning an automatic bid.