#12 Oilers Fall 85-81 at Ferris State
The 12th-ranked Oilers men's basketball team fell 85-81 to Ferris State University on Thursday, Jan. 2 in Big Rapids, Mich. The loss gives the Oilers a 7-2 record on the season with a 3-2 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The Oilers jumped out to a 12-point lead at 35-23 through the first 15 minutes of the game, but the Bulldogs went on a 16-4 run to close the half and enter the break with the score tied at 39-39.
In the second half neither team could gain control of the game as the score was tied at 74-74 until senior forward Greg Kahlig drained a three pointer to give Findlay a 77-74 advantage with 1:33 to play. Ferris State's Drew Lehman then scored five straight points to put the Bulldogs up by two at 79-77 with only 21 seconds remaining in the game.
After a miss by the Oilers, Ferris State's Raymoan McAfee went to the line and made both of his free throws, which was followed by a pair of free throws by Kahlig. Jibreel Jackson of Ferris State then made two more free throws before sophomore guard Alphonso Baity scored to make the score 83-81 in favor of the Bulldogs with three seconds to play.
Down by two, the Oilers sent Lehman to the line where he made both free throws to seal Findlay's fate.
Kahlig led the way with 21 points while sophomore guard Dylan Kaufman registered 15 points, four rebounds and three steals.
Baity recorded 13 points and six rebounds while junior forward Jake Heagen stuffed the stat sheet with ten points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Matt Poches led Ferris State with 19 points while Lehman chipped in 16.
The Oilers will be back in action again on Saturday when they face Grand Valley State University at 1 p.m. in Allendale, Mich.