Ferris State men’s basketball is heading to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2018, where they will face the Minnesota State Mavericks at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
The Bulldogs hold the No. 5 seed, while the Mavericks have the No. 1 seed in the Elite Eight. The last time Ferris reached the Elite Eight was in 2018 when they went on to win the national championship.
With everyone available, the team is healthy and Ferris seems to be playing their best basketball of the season at the right time. Junior forward Reece Hazelton is happy to be in the Elite Eight and knows more work will be done.
“This is what we work for,” Hazelton said. “Just to be able to get to this spot and still have more goals for the season, obviously want to keep winning and see what happens. [There’s] just a lot of the hard work is starting to pay off and hopefully continues to pay off for us.”
In the past two games, the Bulldogs have overcome being down at halftime to advance in the tournament. Ferris’ most recent second-half comeback came against interconference foe Lake Superior State, as Ferris was down by five at halftime. Once again, the strong second half pushed the Bulldogs through to the next round.
Senior forward Vejas Grazulis expresses the team’s mentality in these games where they have to fight back being down at halftime.
“We don’t give up,” Grazulis said. “That’s kind of been the defining feature for us this season is we get down a lot at halftime and we’re never out of it you know we can go on a run just like that, so quick we’re never out of it.”
That mentality serves the Bulldogs well as they have been able to fight back in key games this season, especially as of late as they have been trailing at halftime in their last 5-of-6 games dating back to the GLIAC tournament.
Head coach Andy Bronkema delivered Ferris State its first national championship in 2018. For the Bulldog bench boss, it’s a good feeling to be back in the Elite Eight.
“It’s a great feeling. We just got to hold on to the feeling because you don’t know when you’re going to feel it again,” Bronkema said. “We’ve been working the same ever since 2018, so we’re back in the Elite Eight, feels great. [These] guys deserve it and if you look back at these games.”
Bronkema described this team as one “that won’t give up.”
This team has a chance to bring another championship back to this school, and they can advance to the final four and one step closer by defeating Minnesota State.
A Bulldog victory over Minnesota State will keep Ferris dancing into the Final Four. By the time of publication, Ferris men’s basketball will have played Minnesota State in the Elite Eight matchup. For results go to ferrisstatebulldogs.com.