Late Run Spurs Ferris State To 64-61 Win Over Lewis Men’s Basketball

Bulldogs use 9-2 run over final four minutes to secure victory.

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Lewis University men’s basketball team was unable to win the battle of the boards against Ferris State on Saturday (Nov. 20) afternoon, as the Bulldogs out-rebounded the Flyers, 39-20 – including 17 offensive caroms, on their way to the 64-61 non-conference win at the Jim Wink Arena.
  
Ferris State’s Justin Keenan, the Division II Bulletin National Preseason Player of the Year, led the Bulldogs with a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds. Keenan scored six of those points, in a 9-2 run, over the final four minutes to help the Bulldogs to the win.
  
“It was a great game,” Lewis head men’s basketball coach Scott Trost said. “(Ferris State) is as good as any team in this region. We had a chance, but they made one more play than we did.”
  
Lewis junior forward Jeron Lee (Chicago, Ill./Marshall/Southeastern C.C.) topped the Flyers with 18 points, while senior guard Dennis Thomas, Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) added 14 points in the loss.
  
After trailing by seven at halftime, Lewis fought back and eventually built a 59-55 lead with 4:19 remaining in the second half, following a jumper by sophomore guard David Bryant (Batavia, Ill./Batavia).
  
Ferris State, however, would not go away quietly as they scored seven of the next nine points, to take a 62-61 lead with 30 seconds remaining with possession of the ball.
  
The Flyers played a stifling defense that forced Kenny Brown (5 points) to take a desperation three-pointer as the shotclock expired.
  
FSU’s Lou Williams, however, was there to haul in the errant shot, giving the Bulldogs another shot. Lewis eventually fouled Darien Gay setting up a 1-and-1 situation with 15 seconds remaining.
  
Gay missed the front end of the bonus, but Williams was there once again to haul in the offensive board. Williams got the ball to Keenan, who was fouled and knocked down both of his free throws to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 64-61 with 11 seconds remaining.
  
Following a Lewis timeout, Ferris State did not budge as the Flyers were unable to launch a game-tying three-pointer as the clock expired.
 
 “I’m proud of our kids from bouncing back from Thursday night’s loss against Wayne State, especially against a team like Ferris State,” Trost said. “It’s tough to win on the road, but I thought our kids fought and competed today.”

   Lewis returns to action on Tuesday (Nov. 23) night, as the Flyers welcome Benedictine to Neil Carey Arena for a 7:30 p.m. (CST) tip-off.