No three-peat

Ferris falls out of conference tournament after loss in quarterfinal

The GLIAC North’s two-time regular season champions, Ferris State, faced this season’s South Division leader Findlay in the quarterfinal round of the GLIAC Tournament.

Findlay, the third seed in the tournament, caused sixth-seeded Ferris to capitulate after a 62-55 defeat in favor of the Oilers March 6.

Findlay swung the tempo to its side after sealing Ferris’ final lead of the game, 45-44, by scoring three unanswered baskets with nine minutes remaining in the second half.

Ferris struggled to convert in the second half. The Bulldogs shot 1-15 from behind the arc, and 7-31 from the field in the half.

On the other hand, the Oilers made 3-6 from three-point territory and were able to make 52-percent of their shots from the field in the second.

Ferris’ sophomore power forward Trent Messer grabbed 10 boards to help the Bulldogs out rebound the Findlay Oilers by six, 43-37. Ferris had a 23-10 advantage in offensive rebounds, but only scored one second chance point more than the Oilers (11-10).

The Bulldogs completed the season with a 14-13 overall record, while winning 10 of 11 league games in Jim Wink Arena. Ferris head coach Bill Sall had his 12th consecutive 10 or more win season while coaching the program.

Findlay went on to become the 2012-13 GLIAC Tournament Champions.

Ferris seniors Kenny Brown, guard, and Daniel Sutherlin, forward, were acknowledged by the GLIAC for this season’s work.

Brown was named to the All-GLIAC First Team for a second-consecutive season after being among the league’s leading scorers for a second year.

He led Ferris with 15.8 points per game this year, 10th among league leaders, in his second season leading the Bulldogs roster in scoring.

Brown was also among league leaders in free throw percentage (87). He made 49 three-pointers this year.

Brown is ranked third in career free throw percentage (.838) and fourth in three-point shots made, with 168, at Ferris. He ranks 21st on Ferris’ all-time scorers list, with 1162 points.

Sutherlin was a GLIAC All-Defensive team standout for Ferris this year. He attained the accolade by snatching an average of 5.9 rebounds this season. Before becoming injured, Sutherlin was among league leaders in rebounds per game. He completed his senior season by scoring 10.8 points per game.

Each Ferris senior played a significant role in attaining back-to-back GLIAC North Division Championship titles, which spanned the 2010-12 seasons.

In 2010, Brown and Sutherlin played alongside former Ferris forward Justin Keenan, as they reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, also known as the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional Final, where they lost to eventual national champion Bellarmine (Ky.).

Brown was a key reserve in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2010. He led Ferris with 27 points against Wayne State in the opening round and contributed with 22 scored in Ferris’ NCAA Division II Regional Semifinal, which led to the sweet sixteen appearance.

Sutherlin was also a key asset on the Bulldogs bench in the 2010 NCAA Tournament. He scored 13 points and secured seven rebounds against Drury (Mo.) in the regional semifinal round.

While Ferris may immediately lament the loss of this year’s seniors, the Bulldogs have a center piece left that will help defend the basket. Redshirt freshman center Jared Stolicker finished third among the league’s top-blockers with 41 blocks this year.