Ferris State University split two away games before host­ing back-to-back divi­sion oppo­nents as it looks to extend its home win­ning streak and com­pete in its conference.

The Bulldogs (12−9) sit in the mid­dle of the pack when it comes to con­fer­ence rank­ings after win­ning one and los­ing one away from home.

Ferris has won only three of 10 away games this year, but is still in con­tention for home-court advan­tage in the first round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament.

This is due to an impres­sive home win­ning streak that was extended to eight games fol­low­ing the defeat of divi­sion rival Grand Valley State University.

Following the Grand Valley win, the Bulldogs would then travel to the Upper Peninsula to play Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan, hop­ing to make a run in the North, which is still pos­si­ble for Ferris at this point in the season.

Against the Michigan Tech Huskies, Ferris fell behind early as the score­board read 11–2 after the first five min­utes of play.

“We couldn’t make shots that we usu­ally do,” Ferris sopho­more for­ward Trent Messer said. “They got off to an early lead and we had trou­ble putting together enough plays to take control.”

The Bulldogs would never claim the lead as they strug­gled to con­tain the Huskies’ star for­ward and con­fer­ence lead­ing scorer, Ali Haidar, who scored 27 points and grabbed 17 rebounds.

Ferris would have a chance to rebound after the tough loss as it headed to Northern Michigan University to play a Wildcats team that won only four games this sea­son and sat at the bot­tom of the GLIAC North.

The Bulldogs would come out with the energy that was absent against Michigan Tech, as they racked up an early lead, scor­ing 11 points before Northern could sink one shot.

Even though the Wildcats would hang around on the score­board, Ferris even­tu­ally took the con­test after a score of 69–63.

Ferris now hosts back-to-back GLIAC North oppo­nents in Northwood and Lake Superior State, as it shoots for home-court advan­tage in the post season.

Getting a home game in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament will take a lot from the Bulldogs this late in the sea­son, but the team has the will to win as they look to close out the sea­son strong.

“We know we can beat any team in this league,” Ferris senior for­ward Daniel Sutherlin said. “If we keep focused and do what we need to do to win, then it will put us in a good posi­tion for a first round home game.”

Sutherlin is one of only two seniors, the other being shoot­ing guard Kenny Brown, who hope to lead the Bulldogs to another set of home wins and extend the home win­ning streak to 10.

Ferris State hosts the Northwood University Timberwolves Thursday, Feb. 14 at the Jim Wink Arena. Tip-off will be at 6 p.m.