BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Unfazed by a capacity crowd filling a raucous Jim Wink Arena, the amazing 2017-18 season pieced together by Findlay came to an end in the Sweet 16 round at the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional title game against Ferris State on Tuesday, 80-65.
It was a clash of nationally-ranked titans, two historically successful programs well respected amongst each other for their own successes in the Midwest Region.
In the end though, it was the top-seeded Bulldogs prevailing on their home court to advance to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The Oilers (28-5 overall) made the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season, a still remarkable feat in Findlay’s first year with Great Midwest Athletic Conference membership.
A decisive 12-2 run that snapped a 59-59 tie with 6:21 remaining really turned the tide in Ferris State’s direction. FSU’s DeShaun Thrower ignited that stretch off the bench with eight of those points, including a pair of treys and a tough layup after he knifed into the lane.
Thrower’s three to finish the run restored a double-digit advantage for Ferris State at 71-61 with 3:14 left in the game, a sizeable advantage that was just too much for Findlay to overcome.
But just moments ago, at the 8:48 mark, the Oilers had taken their first lead of the game as Great Midwest Player of the Year Taren Sullivan attracted a double team in the post and fed a cutting Alex White for an easy lay-in.
The White bucket in the paint marked a full comeback for Findlay from a 15-point first-half deficit.
Sunday’s hero at the charity stripe, Elijah Kahlig, then capitalized on a three-point play that temporarily had the Oilers out in front again. After the Ferris State run, the closest UF could get was nine points and Ferris State made six free throws in the final 1:18.
Ferris State had 22 free throw attempts to Findlay’s five and the Bulldogs held a +14 edge on the glass, outrebounding the Oilers 49-35.
Findlay’s postseason run included the Great Midwest regular-season championship, a first-round quarterfinal regional win over No. 6 Drury and an upset win in the second round against No. 2 seed Bellarmine.
Tuesday’s final represented an end to the storied careers of the senior starters Sullivan, Martyce Kimbrough, Austin Gardner and Kahlig.
Sullivan led Findlay with 16 points while White scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half. They were joined in double figures by Kahlig, who had 10.
Sullivan and Kimbrough each were selected to the Midwest Region All-Tournament Team.
Ferris State was paced by a game-high 21 from Drew Cushingberry on 6-of-8 shooting. All-region honoree Zach Hankins added a 12 point, 12-rebound double-double while Thrower scored 20 in just 19 minutes.