FERRIS STATE ADVANCES TO GLIAC TOURNEY SEMIFINALS

Bulldogs To Face Wayne State This Friday In Findlay, Ohio

The contest, which will be played at the University of Findlay's Croy Gymnasium, is set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. (EST) following the first semifinal game between the host Oilers and Michigan Tech beginning at 5:30 p.m. (EST).

Live coverage of Ferris State's contest will be provided by local radio station WBRN (1460 AM) with Rob Bentley providing the play by play coverage. The contest is also tentatively slated to be accessible via the internet by clicking on the Bulldog Athletics Webcast icon at www.ferris.edu/sports.

The Bulldogs, who are ranked 19th in the latest (March 1) National Association of Basketball Coaches/Division II Bulletin National Poll, advanced to the semifinals by virtue of their 103-98 quarterfinal round win over Northern Michigan Tuesday (March 1) at FSU's Jim Wink Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. Ferris is presently 22-5 overall this campaign and has won 11 consecutive contests to date. The Bulldogs also claimed their second-straight GLIAC North Division Regular-Season Championship this season.

Ferris State heads into the semifinal round as the tournament's number two seed while WSU is seeded third overall in the field. The winner of Friday's contest will move into the tournament championship game Saturday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m. (EST) in Findlay.

FSU is midst its seventh all-time league tournament appearance, including its second-straight berth. The Bulldogs last reached the semifinals in 1997-98 en route to winning their only conference tournament title.

Wayne State enters Friday's meeting with an 18-10 overall record following Tuesday's (March 1) 75-70 victory over Gannon in the tournament quarterfinals at Detroit, Mich. WSU concluded the regular season tied for second place (11-6) in the GLIAC South Division and previously defeated FSU 76-69 during the regular-season (Jan. 15) in Detroit.

The Bulldogs maintain a 33-31 edge heading into Friday's 65th series' encounter. The Warriors, who are coached by fourth-year head coach David Greer, are led in scoring by senior guard Morris Hall (17.7 ppg) and have won six of their last eight dates to date this campaign.

Saturday's eventual tournament champion receives the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament slated for March 12-15 at a site to be determined. Eight teams, including six at-large squads, will participate in the regional with the official announcement set to be released late Sunday (March 6) evening.

Tickets for the league tournament may be purchased at the door one hour prior to the start of both Friday's and Saturday's sessions. Ticket prices are $8 for general admission seats and $4 for students. More information can be obtained by calling the UF Athletics Ticket Office at (419) 434-4651.