FERRIS' WILLIE THOMAS CLAIMS LEAGUE'S WEEKLY AWARD

Senior Guard Earns GLIAC North Division Player of the Week Accolades

Ferris' Willie Thomas has been named this week's GLIAC North Division Player of the Week for his performance last weekend

Thomas averaged 28 points, 6.5 rebounds, five assists and three steals in the two outings as Ferris improved to 3-5 overall and 3-1 in the GLIAC. The 6-4 Thomas tallied a game-high 27 points, nine boards and five assists in FSU's 88-65 home win over Lake Superior State last Thursday (Dec. 11) at Big Rapids (Mich.) High School. He then scored a game-high 29 points, dished out five assists and recorded five steals in Ferris' 88-76 road win Saturday (Dec. 13) at Saginaw Valley State.

The 2003-04 team co-captain sank 12 three-pointers in the two contests and matched a personal career-best with seven treys at SVSU. He currently has 102 career three-point field goals to date and is two away from tying Marcus Wallace's (104; 2000-02) ninth-place career total. Thomas represents Ferris' first league weekly award winner since former Bulldog player Adam Anderson (1998-03) earned the distinction Feb. 19, 2001.

Thomas, who was an honorable mention All-Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference selection while at Muskegon (Mich.) Community College in 2001-02, registered the program's third-best single-season made three-point field goal total with 79 treys last season. He presently ranks ninth (.382; 102-267) among Ferris' career three-point field goal percentage leaders to date.

Thomas ranks as the leading scorer (18.9 ppg) this campaign for Ferris, which has won its last three outings to date. The Bulldogs' current 3-1 league start this campaign marks only the third time in the last 15 seasons and the first time since 1996-97 the Bulldogs have won three of their initial four GLIAC outings of the year.

Ferris State will take part in the Sprint PCS/Southern Indiana Challenge this Friday and Saturday (Dec. 19-20) in USI's Physical Activities Center at Evansville, Ind. FSU will square off against Indianapolis in Friday’s 6:15 p.m. (EST) non-league encounter and then face host and nationally top-ranked USI Saturday with the non-conference tipoff set for 8:30 p.m. (EST).