The Basics 

Score: No. 12 Saginaw Valley 88, Ferris State 79
Records: SVSU (22-5, 18-3 GLIAC) | FSU (19-8, 13-8 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

University Center, Mich. -  The 12th-ranked SVSU men's basketball team hosted Ferris State University on Saturday night in a GLIAC North Division matchup. After trailing the entire game until getting their first lead with 7:22 left to play, the Cardinals never relinquished the edge and increased the lead to as many as 12 points three different times in coming back for an 88-79 win over the Bulldogs.

The victory seals at least a share of the 2015-16 GLIAC regular season championship, the fourth in program history and first since the 1984-85 season. 

Ferris took the lead in the first half, pulling ahead by 16 points (24-8) at the 12:05 minute mark after a layup from Drew Cushingberry.

The Cardinals responded by scoring nine unanswered points, cutting the lead to seven (24-17) with 9:53 left in the opening half. Mike Wells trimmed that lead further to 26-20 with a three-point shot at the 8:26 mark.

After the Bulldogs extended their lead to 11, Wells cut it back down to seven after hitting another triple and three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt with 4:26 showing on the clock.

Jared Stolicker took the lead to 13 points (43-30) for the visitors with a bucket at the 1:40 marker and a Devin Dixon layup late in the half made the score 43-32 in Ferris's advantage and that's where it remained heading into the halftime break.

In the second half, Ferris drove the lead up to 17 points (51-34) at the 18:20 mark.

Garrett Hall would cut the deficit to seven points (55-48) after hitting with a pair of three-pointers and a layup, all within one minute before the 15:00 minute mark. Caleb Davis cut the lead to its lowest point, 61-57, since the first half with a three-pointer at the 9:51 marker. 

The Cardinals took their first lead of the game at 65-64 with 7:22 left in the game after scoring eight consecutive points, capped by a C.J. Turnage layup. He then increased the advantage to 68-64 after making good on a three-point play.

After the Bulldogs came back to tie it up 68-68 with 5:47 to play, Saginaw Valley drove the lead up to seven points (75-68) with layups from Davis and Turnage and three-pointer from Damon Bozeman with 4:31 left on the clock.

SV scored eight unanswered points with two free throws each from Bozeman, Davis and Turnage, and another layup from Turnage to secure their largest lead of 12, 81-73 with 1:49 left in the game. The Cardinals extended the lead to 12 points twice more after free throws from Bozeman and Hall and the 1:20 and 1:04 marks, respectively.

Josh Fleming posted two baskets in the final minute, cutting the lead to eight with 29 seconds left. Bozeman notched three free throws before Drew Cushingberry made a layup with 13 seconds left, ending the game with the Cardinals ahead by nine points at 88-79.

Inside the Boxscore 

• Turnage posted a game-high 28 points, shooting 11-of-19 from the floor. He had 18 of those points in the second half and grabbed seven rebounds. C.J. added two assists, one steal and a block.
• Hall posted 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.
• Bozeman contributed 13 points, four rebounds and two steals. 
• Wells netted 11 points, two rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals.
• Davis had a team-high nine boards to go along with his seven points.
• Saginaw Valley shot 42.9% (27-of-63) in the contest while Ferris was 49.2% from the floor (32-of-65).
• The Cardinals had 37 points from the bench compared to the Bulldogs' 22.
• Ferris had the edge in points in the paint, winning that matchup 50-40.
• SVSU forced 15 turnovers and committed just 10.
• Saginaw Valley had a big second half, outscoring the visitors by a 56-36 count in the final 20 minutes of action.
• Jared Stolicker led Ferris with 16 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Turnage earned Meijer "Player of the Game" honors after his 28-point, seven rebound performance for the Cardinals. He added two assists, a steal and a block in the contest as well. 

From junior forward C.J. Turnage...

Up Next for SVSU

The Cardinals host Hillsdale College in the last game of the regular season on Thursday, February 25th in an 8:00 p.m. matchup. The Chargers are 15-9 overall and 11-9 in the conference and are coming of 77-70 victory at home against Grand Valley State. SVSU has secured the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming GLIAC Tournament as well.

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