BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – In a back and forth struggle, the Ohio Dominican men's basketball team suffered its third straight loss, falling 74-64 to GLIAC North Division foe Ferris State Thursday evening at Jim Wink Arena.

The loss drops ODU's record to 3-4 (0-3 GLIAC) on the season while the Bulldogs improved to 3-3 (2-1).

The Bulldogs started off hot, going on a 9-0 run in the first four minutes of the game, forcing the Panthers to call an early timeout. After the timeout, sophomore Bobby Stauffer (Lexington, Ky.) made a free throw and ODU responded with eight straight points after that to reach within three of the Bulldogs, 11-9.

At the 10:20 mark, junior Jesse Ward (North Pole, Alaska) hit a three-point jump shot, which cut the deficit to one, 15-14.

The Panthers gained their first tie of the game, 21-21 with six minutes left on the first-half clock, after freshman Trent Weaver's (Columbus, Ohio) layup from an assist by Stauffer.

With the Bulldogs up by one, and time due to expire, junior Don Kellum (Chicago, Ill.) came through in the clutch, banking in a layup as the buzzer sounded to end the first half. ODU went into the locker room with a 29-28 lead.

The Panthers held the lead for much of the second half, but a late 17-7 run in the second half pushed the Bulldog lead to 66-54. The final five minutes saw the teams trade baskets and Ferris State cruised to the victory.

Senior Morgan Jones (Oberlin, Ohio) led ODU with 18 points, hitting 6-of-13 from the field. Stauffer recorded his second double-double of the season, recording 13 points and 11 rebounds. Senior John Trew (Barberton, Ohio) finished the game with 10 points and five rebounds.

Ohio Dominican continues their Michigan campaign, heading south to Allendale to take on Grand Valley this Saturday in the Fieldhouse Arena at 1 p.m. Live audio is available on http://www.pressboxproductions.net/.

Contact: Sarah Twiggs
twiggss@ohiodominican.edu