BANNER SEASON FOR BULLDOG MEN'S BASKETBALL

FSU Advances To NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen & Claims Second-Straight League Title

Ferris sophomore forward Michael Daniels shoots between two Indianapolis players in the Bulldogs' opening round national tournament victory in Findlay, Ohio

The Ferris State University men's basketball team capped off a banner 2004-05 season with a runner-up finish in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament held March 12-15 in Findlay, Ohio.

Ferris State reached the regional championship game for only the third time in school history this season. The Bulldogs, who concluded the year with a 24-7 overall record, fell one game shy of advancing to the NCAA-II Elite Eight for the second time ever. FSU's 24 victories this campaign represent the third-most wins in school history.

"We had a great season and I'm proud of our guys," senior guard Carlton Epps (Benton Harbor) said. "We didn't want the year to end, but we've brought the program back and it has been great to be a part of that."

FSU won its second-straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division Championship with a 13-5 league mark this season and compiled a school-best 15-1 overall home record at Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs, who were ranked 23rd in the final (March 8) National Association of Basketball Coaches/Division II Bulletin Regular-Season National Poll, also advanced to the GLIAC Tournament for the second year in a row while earning their seventh all-time NCAA-II Tournament appearance during the 2004-05 season.

Ferris defeated Indianapolis 99-79 in its regional quarterfinal game last Saturday (March 12) at the University of Findlay's Croy Gymnasium. The Bulldogs then dealt second-seeded Southern Indiana a 93-87 setback in Sunday's (March 13) semifinals before dropping a 94-73 decision against host and number one-ranked Findlay before a sellout crowd of 2,046 in Tuesday's (March 15) regional championship contest. FSU had not reached a regional championship game in 17 seasons prior to this year.

"We had an oustanding season and played our hearts out," said FSU head coach Bill Sall. "We received contributions from everyone who played throughout the season."

The 2004-05 season marked Ferris State's first appearance in the national rankings since the 1988-89 campaign. FSU was ranked as high as 19th (March 1) in the national poll heading into the regional tournament. Ferris also notched its 900th all-time win this season with a 110-104 overtime triumph over Indianapolis (Dec. 21) in the first-ever Lions Club Holiday Classic at Wink Arena.

During the 2004-05 campaign, the Bulldogs compiled school records in steals (374), free throw percentage (.765), three-point field goals made (258) and three-point field goal attempts (644).

Epps earned both Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region and GLIAC North Division First-Team accolades while junior guard Dennis Springs (Toledo, Ohio/Scott) was a second-team GLIAC North Division honoree. Both players also attained NCAA-II Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team kudos along with GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team honors.

Ferris State's 24 victories this season represented the school's most wins since finishing with a 24-6 overall record in 1988-89. It was also only the second time in the last 16 seasons in which the program has won 20 or more games. The 2004-05 season marked the first time the Bulldogs had reached the NCAA-II Tournament, made the GLIAC Tourney semifinals, posted a winning overall record and achieved 20 or more wins since the 1997-98 campaign.

The Bulldogs finished regular-season non-conference play with a 9-0 mark this year and recorded a 16-5 record versus Great Lakes Region schools during the regular season. FSU picked up victories in each of its final 10 regular-season games to win a second-straight conference championship after beginning league play with a 3-5 record.

In addition to Carlton Epps, three other Bulldog players also completed their Bulldog careers in the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen. They included guards Corey Epps (Benton Harbor) and Michael Anderson (Farmington Hills/Royal Oak Shrine) along with forward Willie Burrel (Muskegon Heights).

The Bulldogs had posted only a 21-82 (.204) mark in the four seasons prior to Sall's arrival, but has since went 49-36 (.576) and claimed back-to-back divisional titles in his three seasons at the helm. FSU won only four games (4-22) the year before Sall arrived in 2001-02 when both Corey and Carlton Epps were freshmen.

"It was a great season and we have nothing to hang our heads about," Springs said. "We're proud of the fact we've brought the program around."