Jan. 12, 2009

Box Score

Big Rapids, Mich. - Monday's GLIAC contest in Big Rapids was a tale of time in the end Ferris State's final 17 minutes proved superior as the Bulldogs came away with a 74-67 victory over Grand Valley State. The Lakers, 9-4 overall and 4-4 in GLIAC action, will host Ashland Thursday, Jan. 15 at 8 p.m.

Freshman guard Wes Trammell started the Lakers off with a three-pointer just 22 seconds into the game. GVSU continued to build its lead and when sophomore guard Justin Ringler scored in the paint at the 14:16 mark the Lakers held a 15-6 lead. Seven straight points by the Bulldogs cut the Laker advantage down to two (15-13) with 11:59 left in the first half. Sophomore center Anthony Ianni scored on a layup at the 9:46 mark to give GVSU a 22-17 lead, followed by a pair of free throws from sophomore forward Toreau Brown. The Lakers and Bulldogs traded buckets for the next seven minutes, but senior Pete Trammell hit a free throw and a layup, followed by a three-pointer by freshman guard Alvin Storrs to give GVSU a 37-26 lead. Ferris State scored with two ticks left on the clock to close the Laker lead to nine (37-28) at the half.

Grand Valley State opened the second with a 7-0 run to build a 44-28 lead. Brown scored in the paint, followed by a Pete Trammell layup. Brown then hit a free throw and hit a jumper in the paint with 16:52 left to give the Lakers a 16 point lead. The Bulldogs began the comeback with an Austin Randel three-pointer and when Justin Keenan hit a pair of free throws with 7:13 left Ferris State had outscored GVSU 24-9 and held a 54-53 lead. Pete Trammell answered quickly with a three-pointer to pull the Lakers back in front 56-54.

The Bulldogs pushed ahead with five straight points, but a Ringler three-point play tied the game, 61-61, with 3:18 remaining. Ringler attempted to keep GVSU close with seven straight points, but in the end it was too much Justin Keenan and too many free throws for the Bulldogs as FSU closed the game with a 13-6 run. Keenan scored 19 second half points as the Ferris State was 17-25 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes.

Brown and Ringler led the way with 15 points apiece, while Pete Trammel added 12 and Storrs 11. Ringler pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, but GVSU was outrebounded 42-32 on the night. Ferris State hit 24-of-36 from the charity stripe, while GVSU was 15-for-22.