A large crowd welcomed the Ferris State men's basketball team back to campus Sunday to celebrate their national championship. The Bulldogs defeated the Northern State Wolves 71-69 in the championship round of the Division II NCAA Tournament Saturday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
"It's something straight out of a dream," said Senior forward Wing Noah King, who finished with six points and three steals in the victory. "It's something that you don't realize is going to happen until it actually happens. Words really can't describe that type of feeling."
The team arrived at Gerald R. Ford International Airport just after noon. Senior guard, and Grand Rapids native, Peter Firlik said the win wouldn't feel real until the team brought the trophy to the fans.
Junior center Zach Hankins, named DII Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, fueled the championship win with 19 points on 8-15 shooting. The crowd erupted as he exited the bus holding the trophy.
"I can remember a time when we were all talking about [winning it all]," Hankins said. "And you can see how far away it is and how much work you need to put in to get there. And so to actually do it...and just to be able to do that with your brothers, the people you've been working hard with --- best moment of my life so far."
Players led the fans in a team ritual taking inspiration from famous professional wrestler Ric Flair, and a few made short speeches.
This team never panicked in the moment, said Assistant Coach Jim Lake.
"It's been that way all year," Lake said. "Everybody was confident and very determined and I didn't see a loser in that huddle. Even if we had been on the wrong side of the score. It was a highlight for Ferris...something that will never be able to be taken away."
Junior point guard DeShaun Thrower, a Muskegon native, held on to the trophy, saying he would only let go because they're "trying to get another one next year."
"It still don't feel real," Thrower said. "We're just happy to enjoy this with our fans and the city of Big Rapids.We knew when we was coming back it was going to be something special, but we didn't know it was going to be like this."
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