BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team suffered a 78-66 defeat on the road to the Ferris State University Bulldogs in the team's 2013-14 season finale.

The Cardinals held an early lead up until the 14:47 mark when Ferris pulled the score even at 6-6 with a Drew Lehman jumper.

After the Bulldogs took the lead and held a 15-11 edge, layups from Michael Fugate, Garrett Hall and C.J. Turnage gave Saginaw a 17-15 lead with 8:43 remaining in the half.

FSU would take the lead once more, but two free throws from Damon Bozeman and a Turnage layup would draw things even again with the score 25-25 at the 3:56 marker.

Ferris went on an 8-0 run from there to lead 33-25 with just over two minutes left in the half and would end up leading by a count of 39-29 heading into the halftime break.

Bozeman led the offensive charge in the opening 20 minutes of play, scoring nine points while grabbing five rebounds.  Turnage added seven first half points with four boards, two assists and a pair of steals.

A three point play from Bozeman at the 16:37 marker of the second half cut the deficit to 48-37 for the Cardinals.  A Turnage layup later would keep the Ferris lead at 11 points, as the score was 54-43 with 13:25 left to play.

The comeback effort would fall short for the Cardinals, however, as Ferris State would open up a 21 point lead and finish by claiming the 12 point victory, 78-66.

Turnage was chosen as the Meijer "Player of the Game" after posting a double-double with game-highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds, adding three assists and three steals.  

Bozeman matched the game-high with 20 points, using a 10-of-11 performance at the free throw line to help his cause while grabbing eight boards.  Hall added 10 points, four rebounds and a team-high four assists.

FSU held the advantage in field goal percentage 50.8% to 42.1% while SVSU out-worked the Bulldogs on the glass, posting a 39-33 edge in rebounding.  

The loss ends the Cardinals' season with a 9-17 overall record and a 5-17 mark in the GLIAC.  SVSU will return all but one player (Fugate) from this year's roster for the 2014-15 campaign.