Box Score

An 18-4 run late in the second half was enough to bring Ferris State a 79-69 win over the Hillsdale College men's basketball team Thursday night at Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena.

The loss, the Chargers' first at home this season, drops the team to 11-6 overall and 7-6 in conference play.

This game featured a hectic pace, several scoring runs by both teams, and another signature performance from Hillsdale's Kyle Cooper. But the Bulldogs were able to exercise control over the game down the stretch, using their speed, strength and athleticism to the fullest advantage, climbing out of a four-point hole to pull away with the win.

Hillsdale's Zach Miller threw in a 3-point shot to give the team a 61-57 lead with 5:49 to play in the game, and prospects looked very promising for the home team, playing in front of a student section for the first time in 54 days.

But from there, Ferris State played with the guts and determination of a first-place team. The Bulldogs scored on eight consecutive possessions, flipping the four-point deficit into a 10-point lead in a matter of four minutes. By that time, only 85 seconds remained in the contest.

During Ferris State's 18-4 run, the Bulldogs were 7-for-7 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the line as a team. Two of those field goals were of the 3-point variety.

Cooper, who was honored before the game for scoring 1,000 career points, was terrific once again, leading all scorers with 32 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the field. He drained all eight of his free throws and hit four more 3-point baskets, to go along with 11 rebounds and 2 steals while playing all 40 minutes of the contest.

Miller scored 11 with 5 assists but was the only other Charger to crack double figures. Hillsdale shot 37.9 percent from the floor in the game compared to 54.2 percent for FSU. The Bulldogs lit up the nets in the second half, making 16-of-26 shots from the floor, good for 62 percent.

UP NEXT: Hillsdale makes its final regular season appearance at Grand Valley State Saturday afternoon for a 3:00 matchup with the Lakers.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kadie Lowery