The Purdue Northwest men's basketball team ended the 2022-23 season falling to second-seeded Ferris State in the First Round of the GLIAC Tournament on Wednesday night, 79-69.
The Basics
- Records: Purdue Northwest (12-17, 5-13), Ferris State (23-7)
- Location: Big Rapids, Mich.
- Attendance: 1,346
Inside The Numbers
- Graduate Alou Dillon (Milwaukee, Wis./Wauwatosa West) led the Pride scoring 21 points and added three blocks.
- Senior Mikell Cooper (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) added 17 points and snatched seven rebounds.
- Junior Kalil Whitehead (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) chipped in 12 points off the bench and recorded six boards.
- As a team, the Pride finished the game shooting 24-of-63 (38.1%) from the field and went 11-of-34 (32.4%) from the three-point line.
- Solomon Oraegbu led Ferris State scoring a game-high 29 points.
- As a team, the Bulldogs ended the contest going 25-of-60 (41.7%) from the floor and shot 10-of-30 (20.8%) from behind the arc.
The Breakdown
- The Pride started the game fast taking a 25-9 lead in the first ten minutes of the game.
- Purdue Northwest finished the first half strong and took a 43-28 advantage heading into halftime.
- The Pride continued their efforts in the beginning of the second half and held a 51-36 lead in the first six minutes.
- Ferris State did not quit thought and chipped away at their deficit to tie the game up at 51-51 with ten minutes left.
- Both teams battled for the rest of the game but saw the Bulldogs finish on the top in the end, 79-69.
- Purdue Northwest edged Ferris State in bench points, 27-19.
- The Bulldogs held a slight advantage in rebounds, 40-38.
Game Quote from Head Coach Boomer Roberts:
"Our guys were prepared and confident and it showed. We played great in the first half and beginning of the second half. We had a good team on their heels on the road. The game changed with all the free throws Ferris shot in the second half, and we had some great looks that didn't drop. Credit to them for sticking big shots when needed, but it wasn't for a lack of effort on our side. Alou played really well, especially early, and Kell finished a great senior season with 17, 7, and 7, fitting for a guy who was fantastic down the stretch."
"We thought we had a run in the conference tourney, so we're disappointed in the outcome. But I'm not disappointed in the way they showed love and joy every day, because that's what family is about and that's what lasts.
"Kell will go down as of the best players in program history, and Joan's legacy as a teammate will change our program moving forward. I love those two seniors and am very thankful to be their coach.
End of Season Notes
- Most wins as Purdue Northwest Head Coach for Boomer Roberts. (12)
- Mikell Cooper (Milwaukee, Wis./Bradley Tech) finished with career-best and team-high 17.5 ppg and ended fifth in the GLIAC.
- Cooper finished sixth in the conferece in FT pct. .813.
- Alou Dillon (Milwaukee, Wis./Wauwatosa West) led the team with 31 blocks (2nd in GLIAC) , led the team in 3pt FG pct. .411, and in rebounds per game with 5.2.
- Best 3pt pct under Boomer Roberts (.381)
- Best FT pct under Boomer Roberts (.732)
