BIG RAPIDS – Saginaw Valley State University turned the tables Saturday, overcoming a 13-point deficit to beat cellar-dwelling Ferris State University 78-65.
     The Bulldogs have lost 18 straight GLIAC games, dating back to Feb. 4, 1999, but had the Cardinals on the ropes in the first half with a 35-22 lead and 5:56 left in the period.
     "Our coaching staff has been on edge all week, knowing they were 0-12, but playing well enough to win in the last couple of weeks," said second-year Cardinal Coach Dean Lockwood.
     SVSU turned up the defense and held Ferris scoreless for eight minutes, including the final 5:15 of the first half to trim the lead to 37-32 at intermission.
     Sophomore forward Terrence Wright (Saginaw/Buena Vista) capped the 11-0 Cardinal run with a pair of free throws that gave them a 38-37 second-half lead.
     The game was tied seven times in the period, including 64-64 with 3:32 left, but the Cardinals held FSU to just one point the rest of the way to cruise to the win.
     "You can't panic when you're down 12 points in first half," explained Lockwood, whose squad has squandered double-digit leads in three of its losses this season. "We've had those kind of leads and lost them so our kids knew we could come back, too."
     Wright finished with a game and career-high totals of 25 points and 13 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double. He also had two assists, two steals and made 10 of 14 free throws in 40 minutes of duty.
     "This was a great game for Terrence," said Lockwood. "He got to the basket and rebounded today. He got back to his strengths. His consistency is important for our team. He's at his best when he's attacking the basket."
     Senior Rashard Carson (Toledo, OH/Rogers) had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists as the only other Cardinal to score in double figures.
     SVSU shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half and had a 50-37 rebounding edge. Ferris made 13 fewer free throws and had 16 fewer attempts on its home floor.
     Ferris, which dropped to 2-18 overall and 0-13 in the GLIAC North Division, was led by Donald Tinsley with 16 points.
     The Cardinals have won three of their last four games, including two league wins on the road, improving to 10-10 overall and have sole possession of fifth place in the North with a 4-9 mark.
     SVSU caps its five-game road trip with a pair of games in the Upper Peninsula next week, playing at Michigan Tech Thursday and at Northern Michigan Saturday.

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