BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - For the third time in the last four games, the Michigan Tech men's basketball team lost by the smallest of margins. Today, the Huskies overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to close within two points before Ferris State pulled out a 67-63 victory. FSU improved to 12-7 overall and 10-4 in GLIAC play while Tech fell to 4-15 and 3-11 in the league.

Don Fowler buried a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left to pull the Huskies within 65-63. The Bulldogs missed a 3-pointer on the next trip down the floor, but Tech couldn't get the rebound. FSU's Justin Keenan was fouled and made both shots of a 1-and-1 with :20 remaining.

Fowler had a wide open look at a three to cut the gap to one with seven ticks remaining that came up short. Even though the Bulldogs missed the ensuing free throw, there was not enough time for a Huskies' miracle.

"I'm disappointed for the kids because we played well enough to win today," said head coach Kevin Luke. "Our effort was good and our defense was pretty good as well. There was a short period of the second half that we couldn't score, and that hurt us."

Tech led by as many as seven in the first half before FSU turned it around. Keenan posted 14 points in the opening 20 minutes, and teammate Jon Yeazel added 10 more including four straight that in the final two minutes to put the hosts on top 41-35 at the half.

Ferris pushed their lead to 11 in the first five minutes of the second half before Fowler got going. The junior scored five straight points and had a nice driving assist to Nate Kindt to pull the Huskies within 50-46 at the 12:45 mark. Tech went scoreless for the next four minutes, but it was still a three-point game with seven minutes to play before FSU hit a timely 3-pointer.

Tech stayed in the game down the stretch by getting to the free throw line. Three misses in crunch time cost the Huskies a chance to take the lead when Fowler hit his big triple under a minute.

Fowler finished with 13 points. Ali Haider turned in a superb effort in the post to pace the Black and Gold with 16 points. He was 5-of-6 from the field and added four rebounds. Matt Gaedke notched 10 points, a team-high five rebounds and three assists.

Keenan recorded game highs of 26 points and seven rebounds.

Michigan Tech outshot the Bulldogs 48 percent to 40 percent and held a 32-29 rebounding edge. FSU cashed in on 20-of-24 free throw attempts and scored 16 points off 17 Tech turnovers.

Tech, after playing its last four games on the road, will return home for six of its final eight regular season contests starting Thursday (Feb. 4) vs. Tiffin.