BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Brandon Ball's 19-foot jumpshot with less than a second remaining lifted Michigan Tech to a hard-fought, 65-63 victory at Ferris State this afternoon. Ball's shot ended a see-saw affair, and helped the Huskies improve to 12-10 overall and 7-7 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The game was a physical battle throughout, with the teams combining for 47 fouls. Tech reached the bonus with 12:48 remaining in the second half.

Ferris held its largest lead of the game at 49-45 with 8:48 to play. Two free throws from Tim Strom and a Kris Alpers layup knotted the game less than two minutes later. The lead changed hands several times down the stretch before the score was tied again with 27 seconds to play.

Sean Geary drove strong to the hoop on the ensuing possession and drew a foul. He calmly sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to put the Black and Gold on top, 63-61. FSU wasted no time in tying the score as Darien Gay scored two of his 17 points on a pull-up jumper in the paint.

The game winning play found Ball taking the inbound passwith six seconds left. He dribbled all the way up the right sideline and crossed over to the left 3-point arc. The defense fell back, leaving the junior wide open to drain his first and only points of the game with a foot on the line.

"It was a big win on the road," said head coach Kevin Luke. "I thought our defense was pretty good, and Sean Geary really put the team on his back with an outstanding game."

Geary finished with a career-high 17 points to go with four assists, three rebounds and zero turnovers. Strom added 16 points. Fedrick Bowe registered a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

FSU finished at 46 percent from the field compared to a 39 percent mark for Tech . The Huskies cashed in on 24-of-33 free throws to make the difference in the game.

Michigan Tech will return home for its final four games of the 2007-08 regular season. The Huskies will host Saginaw Valley State on Thursday (Feb. 14) at 7:30 p.m.

Notes: Tech held a 31-29 halftime lead and a 36-30 advantage in the final rebounding tally ... Geary's previous career high was 16 points.