Ferris State Edges Northern State To Tie Record- Win Title!

The Ferris State Bulldogs got all they could handle from the Wolves of Northern State but ultimately survived a late lane violation on a free throw and a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 71-69 victory in front of a standing room crowd at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Neither team had played in a national title game in hoops prior to Saturday.
  With the victory Ferris State won the first title for the school in any sport. Division II Player Of The Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Zach Hankins scored 19 points to lead the Bulldogs- only two other Ferris State (Mich.) players scored in double figures on the day. Peter Firlik scored 12- and- Markese Mayfield added 11 for the Bulldogs who went 38-1 on the season trying Winona State for the most wins ever in a DII campaign.  Mayfield and Hankins led the team with six and five rebounds respectively- while Mayfield and Drew Cushingberry each had three assists. The Bulldogs shot 47 percent as a team- while shooting 38 percent (3-8) from the 3-point line.  They shot at a 73 percent clip (16-22) from the free throw line and had 10 assists- to go along with 12 turnovers.
  The Wolves season ended at 36-4. Also having  four players  score in double figures in the loss. Carter Evans led the way with 20 points- the two-headed center of Logan Doyle and Darin Peterka each scored 14- while Ian Smith scored 12.  Peterka and Doyle each secured seven rebounds- while Peterka also tallied six assists.
 Northern State (SD) shot 49 percent from the floor in the game- they shot 25 percent (1-4) from the 3-point line.  At the free throw line the Wolves shot 67 percent (12-18) on the afternoon.  The Wolves won the rebounding battle 33-27.  They had 11 assists and turned the ball over 18 times.
   The Wolves jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the games first three minutes powered by Smith.  After a pair of 5-0 runs each team would settle into the contest. Halfway thru the opening half it would be a five point (23-18) lead for the Wolves.  The Bulldogs would battle back and tie the game at 29 at the 6:15 mark of the first half after a pair of free throws by Jaylin McFadden.  Three minutes later Ferris State would take a 33-31 lead after a layup by Noah King.  It would be 39-37 in favor of the Bulldogs heading into the locker room.
  After the Wolves scored the first bucket of the second half it would be a 6-0 run by the Bulldogs that gave them a 45-39 lead early in the second half.  With 10:23 to go in the contest a Carter Evans bucket would cut the Ferris State lead to one (55-54.)  The two teams would battle back and forth until Peterka would tie the game at 61 at the 6:06 mark.  The two teams would trade baskets, then a Peterka layup after a McFadden free throw would give the Wolves a brief 65-64  lead at the 4:27 mark. The Bulldogs would grab the lead right back on a Firkin layup with 4:07 remaining to make it 66-65.  The next four points would go the way of the Wolves as they would take a 69-66 lead with 2:55 to go after a Evans dunk.  Firlik would hit a pair of free throws to cut it to one at the 2:08 mark.  After a Northern turnover Hankins would give the Bulldogs the lead for good at the other end with a layup at the 1:31 mark.  Neither team would score in the next 1:21 until the wild ending. With 10 seconds left Mayfield who shot 80 percent from the free throw line on the season was at the free throw line for a pair. The first one looked to give the Bulldogs a two point lead but was waved off as Mayfield stepped on the line.  He calmly hit the second to make it 71-69 and the Wolves had a chance to win it.  Peterka had a chance to win it with a 3-pointer with two seconds left but it was off the mark and the Bulldogs would celebrate the first title in school history.
Final Elte Eight Results:
Tuesday's Quarterfinals:
#1 Ferris State 87 #8 Barry 84
#4 West Texas A and M 87 #5 Le Moyne 73
#2 Queens 100 #7 Cal Baptist 94
#3 Northern State 79 #6 East Stroudsburg 71
Thursday's Semifinals:
#1 Ferris State 85 #4 West Texas A and M 79
#3 Northern State 105 (#2) Queens 99 (2 OT)
Saturday's Championship Game:
#1 Ferris State 71 #3 Northern State 69