FERRIS STATE ANNOUNCES 2003-04 MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Contest At Central Michigan Highlights Slate; Schedule Includes Nine Home Games

“Our schedule will certainly be one of the nation’s most difficult schedules this season,” said second-year head coach Bill Sall, who holds a 16-23 (.410) career coaching mark at Ferris State to date after previously serving as FSU’s interim head coach for a portion of the 1995-96 campaign. “Not only will we play an NCAA Division I school in Central Michigan, but we’ll also face three or four top 25 teams at our level early in the season.”

Ferris State opens its 76th season of varsity competition Saturday, Nov. 15, versus Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)-member Lewis (Ill.) in Romeoville, Ill. FSU will then visit Central Michigan Monday, Nov. 17, for a 7 p.m. (EST) outing in CMU’s Rose Arena at Mount Pleasant, Mich. The contest represents the first meeting between the two schools since the Chippewas recorded a 79-53 home victory during the 1990-91 campaign.

The Bulldogs will continue their season-opening six game road swing by taking part in the Cornerstone Raymond James Classic (Nov. 21-22) in Grand Rapids, Mich. FSU will face St. Xavier (Ill.) in Friday’s (Nov. 21) first round at 6 p.m. (EST) while host Cornerstone battles Michigan-Dearborn at 8 p.m. (EST) in the second game. The Cornerstone Raymond James Classic’s consolation and championship games will be held Saturday (Nov. 22) at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (EST), respectively.

Ferris opens conference action with back-to-back road evening contests versus Findlay (Dec. 4) and Ashland (Dec. 6). FSU then begins the nine-game home portion of its schedule as the Bulldogs entertain Lake Superior State Thursday, Dec. 11, at Big Rapids (Mich.) High School in an 8 p.m. (EDT) tilt. The contest, which represents Ferris’ only first-semester home game, was moved from FSU’s Jim Wink Arena due to conflicts with the school’s annual winter graduation ceremonies.

The Bulldogs will have a short holiday break as the squad is slated to take part in both the Sprint PCS/Southern Indiana Challenge (Dec. 19-20) and Gannon University’s annual Porreco Cup Tournament (Dec. 29-30). Ferris will battle Indianapolis (Dec. 19) and Southern Indiana (Dec. 20) in the Sprint PCS/USI Challenge at 6:15 p.m. (EST) and 8:30 p.m. (EST), respectively. FSU is scheduled to face Cheyney (Pa.) in the Porreco Cup’s opening game Monday, Dec. 29, at 6 p.m. (EST) while host Gannon squares off against Glenville State (W.Va.) at 8 p.m. (EST). The tournament’s consolation and championship games are set for Tuesday (Dec. 30). Ferris will then play its final non-league encounter at Sall’s alma mater, Calvin (Jan. 3).

The Bulldogs’ initial home contest at Jim Wink Arena is against league rival Grand Valley State (Jan. 10). The remaining home schedule includes contests against Wayne State (Jan. 17), Gannon (Jan. 22), Mercyhurst (Jan. 24), Northwood (Jan. 29), Saginaw Valley State (Feb. 12), Northern Michigan (Feb. 26) and the regular-season finale versus defending league champion Michigan Tech (Feb. 28).

Following its two conference-opening away games, Ferris takes to the road for GLIAC matchups versus Saginaw Valley State (Dec. 13), Hillsdale (Jan. 15) and Michigan Tech (Feb. 5). FSU will also visit Northern Michigan (Feb. 8), Lake Superior State (Feb. 14), Grand Valley State (Feb. 16) and Northwood (Feb. 21).

“Our goal is to do as well as we can in the GLIAC and this schedule should prepare us,” Sall said. “It’s not an easy road to go since we’ll be on the road so much early in the season, but hopefully it will help us mentally and make us a better team in the long run.”

Ferris, which returns four starters and seven letterwinners from a year ago, posted an 11-15 overall record and a fourth-place 7-11 GLIAC finish during the 2002-03 campaign. The Bulldogs' overall record and league finish were their best since compiling a 21-12 mark and a fourth-place 10-8 league ledger during the 1997-98 season.