BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- Kevin Maloney had an open look at a three-pointer with three seconds left that could have given Michigan Tech a win. Unfortunately, the shot came up just short, and so did the Huskies in their bid to overcome a nine-point deficit with 2:20 to play. Ferris State (8-15, 6-8 GLIAC) claimed a 61-59 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball victory over Tech (12-12, 7-8 GLIAC) to earn the season series split.

Ferris State held a 54-45 advantage with 2:20 to go until Radayl Richardson stepped back on the right wing and knocked down a three-pointer. The Huskies put on a full court trap, and Richardson made a steal and dish to Sean Geary to cut the gap to 54-50 with 2:08 to go.

The Bulldog's Anthony Sydnor made one-of-two free throws at the 2:00 mark and the teams traded missed baskets. Georgio Holt then ripped a three-pointer from 22 feet out to make it a two-point contest with 1:09 left. Tech nearly forced another turnover with the trap, but Richardson was whistled for a foul. FSU made both free throws for a four-point game. A turnover led to two more foul shots by the hosts before Maloney cashed in on a triple from the right wing at :37.

Holt made a steal on the ensuing possession and Richardson cut the gap to 59-58 with two free throws with 19 ticks to play. The Huskies fouled on the inbound pass, where Sydnor put the margin back to three. Geary drew contact with :12 to go, made the first free throw, then missed the second on purpose. Tech got possession after the ball was knocked out of bounds by a Bulldog. Head coach Kevin Luke then set up the same play for Maloney that had got him open 30 seconds earlier. The junior had the 23-foot attempt on line with the hoop, but it fell just short.

"Kevin had a good look, but he shouldn't feel bad about missing that one shot," said Luke. "We had plenty of other chances to win this game -- starting with scoring more than 13 points in the first half."

Tech was fortunate to trail by only five (18-13) at halftime after the Huskies were held off the board for the first nine minutes of the game. FSU built leads of 11-0 and 14-2 in the opening stanza. Both teams struggled to make shots, however, as neither was over 25 percent from the field at the intermission.

Richardson gave the Huskies their first and only lead at the 8:06 mark with a three-pointer. It took only seven seconds for Ferris to answer as Jessie York pulled up for three. Tech was within 40-39 with 4:55 showing on the clock before the Bulldogs nailed another three-pointer 21 seconds later to start a 10-2 run.

Michigan Tech made 50 percent of its field goals in the second half to finish the game at 38 percent. Ferris shot 32 percent for the game, but was able to get the win with 18-of-21 free throws (86 percent) -- all in the second half.

Richardson, who was scoreless in the opening 20 minutes, registered 18 points, four rebounds and three assists in the contest. Geary added 10 points. Holt had a team-high eight rebounds to go with seven points. Fedrick Bowe came off the bench to record eight points and seven rebounds.

MIchigan Tech will travel to Lake Superior State on Saturday (Feb. 10). The Huskies' final regular season road game is scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.