MEN'S BASKETBALL: Bulldogs Top Wayne; Advances To Regional Semis To Face Drury

Ferris State's Kenny Brown (2) handles the basketball as he tries to turn the corner against Wayne State's Jerry Oden (22) at Knights Hall in Louisville, Ky. during the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. (Ed Hyde, FSU Photographic Services)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Thanks to a 31-point performance from Justin Keenan and a 27-point effort from Kenny Brown, Ferris State University defeated Wayne State University 90-88 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament at Knights Hall in Louisville, Ky.

It was the first NCAA tournament win for the Bulldogs in six seasons. Ferris did not look like a team that was new to the experience as it performed well in a battle of two evenly-matched teams.

Brown was a huge part of the Bulldogs' success as he exploded for a season-best 27 points as he connected on 9-of-11 shots from the floor and connected 5-of-6 from outside the 3-point arc for Ferris as his red-hot shooting helped lift the Bulldogs in the second half.

Lou Williams contributed 11 points and six rebounds as his energy again paid dividends for the Bulldogs while Darien Gay added nine points.

Senior guard Bryan Smothers led Wayne with 25 points and five assists as he turned in another strong performance. The Bulldogs did a better defensive job on Mike Hollingsworth, who scored 12.

The Bulldogs will face Drury University in the semifinals at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Knights Hall in Louisville, Ky.

Here are some Bulldog Bites as compiled by Ferris Athletics Communications Director Rob Bentley: The Bulldogs dished out 14 assists to 13 for Wayne State ....... The lead changed hands five times and the score was also tied five times ...... Ferris had eight steals with Kenny Brown netting four ........ Ferris outscored WSU 38-36 in the paint and the Bulldog reserves managed 29 points compared to only 22 for the Warriors ...... The regional tournament is being hosted by top-seeded Bellarmine University ...... With the win, FSU is now the only remaining GLIAC member school in the eight-team regional tournament field.