BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The non-league men's basketball game between Albion College and Ferris State University turned out to be a tale of two halves.
Albion shot 46 percent from the field to build a 16-point halftime lead, but it connected on 25 percent of its shots in the second half and walked off the court with a 54-52 loss to the Division II rival. Ferris State shot 15 percent in the first half and 47 percent in the second half.
Travell Oakes hit a layup and a pair of free throws and Robert Ryan knocked down a 3-point basket to spark a 9-0 run as Albion built a 20-13 lead midway through the first half.
Ferris State missed its final 13 shots of the first half, and Albion took advantage with an 11-1 run over the final 8 ½ minutes to take a 34-18 lead to the locker room at halftime. Briton senior guard Zach Hurth scored all 10 of his points in the first half, the first time he's scored in double figures since collecting 13 in Albion's win over Olivet College on Feb. 15, 2014.
Ferris State erased the halftime margin by scoring the first 17 points of the second half. The Bulldogs took a 35-34 lead on Josh Fleming's layup with 12 ½ minutes to play.
The lead changed eight times from there. Corey Wheeler made a 3-point basket as Albion built a 46-40 lead with 8 ½ minutes to play and Robert Ryan knocked down a jumper as the Britons led 52-49 with a minute remaining.
Albion failed to score in the final minute, missing a 3-point shot and the front end of a 1-and-1 from the free throw line.
Jibreel Jackson's only basket of the night – a 3-point shot with two seconds left- lifted Ferris State to the victory.
Oakes achieved his second career double-double by matching his career-high 16 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
James Chappell and Jared Stolicker scored in double figures for Ferris State with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Albion, 2-2 overall, returns home for a Dec. 6 non-league game against Elmhurst College. Tip off is set for 6 p.m.