BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Ali Haidar tallied 25 points, and Michigan Tech held GLIAC Player of the Year Justin Keenan to nine points, yet the Huskies fell at Ferris State 73-64 today at Wink Arena. The Bulldogs (22-6) received 30 points from their bench players to win the GLIAC Tournament Semifinal game. Tech fell just a couple of plays short of reaching the GLIAC Championship game for the first time since 2004.

The game was a physical battle from the start, with arguably the top two post players in the league going toe-to-toe. Haidar scored eight points in the first 10 minutes while Keenan picked up two fouls. He sat the final 10 minutes of the frame and finished the half scoreless.

FSU was still able to head into halftime with a lead as it closed the final three minutes on a 13-5 run.

Tech, as it has done many times all season, erased its deficit quickly to start the second half. Austin Armga's three-point play with 13:40 remaining made it a 44-40 advantage in favor of the Huskies.

Keenan finally scored his first points of the game at the 12:46 mark, and it was the spark the hosts needed. The Bulldogs went on to grab a seven point margin down the stretch.

Haidar kept Tech in the game with two pairs of free throws. The second trip to the line came after Keenan's fifth foul and made the score 65-62 with 2:26 to play.

Tech got a defensive stop to have a chance to pull within one or tie, but the offense went cold. A turnover preceded three straight field goal misses to allow the hosts to close out their win.

"We did a nice job on Keenan and (Darien) Gay today, but their role players stepped up and made shots," said head coach Kevin Luke. "I'm proud of our kids' effort. We played hard and had a chance to beat a very good team on their floor."

Haidar's 25 points came on 8-of-17 field goal shooting and 9-of-11 free throws. No other Husky reached double figures in points. Mike Hojnacki totaled nine points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Reetz had nine points, Alex Culy and Don Fowler scored eight points apiece.

Fowler, playing in his final game in a Husky uniform, also pulled down eight rebounds.

"I'm sad we're losing the seniors," said Luke of Fowler and guard Tyler Molesworth. "But the future's bright and the sky's the limit for us next year."

Keenan finished with nine points and four rebounds, but Kenny Brown (13 points) and Daniel Sutherlin (12) came off the bench and carried FSU to the GLIAC Tournament Championship game.

Tech held a 37-31 rebounding advantage, but 18 turnovers proved too many to overcome. The Bulldogs turned those 18 errors into 25 points.

Michigan Tech completed its 2010-11 season with an 18-11 record-nine wins better than its 2009-10 campaign (9-18). The Huskies will return their top four scorers and four starters for next year.