SOMERS, Wis. – Despite a herculean scoring effort from senior Jordan Loyd, the UIndy men's basketball season came to a close with an 89-87 loss against Ferris State in the second round of the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Loyd poured in 35 points – 29 of which came in the second half – but the Bulldogs converted over 62 percent of their shots on an efficient 33-for-53 performance from the field. Loyd's point total is the most in UIndy's NCAA history, topping former teammate Reece Cheatham, who scored 33 in a loss against Michigan Tech two seasons ago.

With the loss, UIndy finishes its season 21-8 overall.

"We lost to a really good basketball team tonight," Head Coach Stan Gouard said. "(Ferris State) really extends your defense and puts pressure on you in transition. But I can't be prouder of our guys for the fight we put in tonight. Our guys competed on a high level tonight, and I'm really proud of the effort we showed."

Ferris State (25-9) seems right at home in DeSimone Gymnasium, the Midwest regional host-site located on Wisconsin-Parkside's campus. Entering the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs ranked 247th in the nation in 3-point shooting (.330), but in two games this weekend have shot 18 for 30 (.600), including 8-14 against UIndy Sunday.

There were nine lead changes in the first half alone, and the amount of time each side held the lead was nearly identical (UIndy leading for 7:48 of game clock, Ferris 7:45).

UIndy's defensive pressure was felt early on, as the Hounds forced four turnovers on the Bulldogs' first eight possessions.

When Ferris State held onto the ball, however, it rarely missed. The 'Dogs started 7 of 9 from the floor and only got hotter as the first half played out.

Still, it was a thrilling first 20 minutes, and a 7-0 UIndy midway through gave the Crimson and Grey a 21-18 lead. The run was sparked by a transition 3-pointer from Eric Davidson.

After a 1-for-6 start from long range, the Greyhounds sank 5 of their next 7. Part of that stretch was back-to-back threes from Jesse Kempson and Alex Etherington, giving the Hounds their biggest lead of the game, 33-29, with a little more than three minutes remaining.

But it didn't take long for the two-time defending GLIAC champs to bounce back.

A late 12-3 run to end the first period gave Ferris State its biggest lead of the half at the break, 41-36. The Bulldogs shot a white-hot 73 percent (16-22) in the first half, including 4 of 5 from long range.

The Greyhounds had their chances down the stretch of the second half in what was undoubtedly the most entertaining game of the NCAA Midwest Regional thus far.

It began when the Hounds overcame a double-digit deficit late in the second half. Down 70-59 with just under nine minutes left, UIndy used a 17-6 run to pull even at 76 apiece near the 4-minute mark. Loyd scored 10 of the 17 during that stretch.

Despite bringing the game even, the Hounds never regained the lead. Every time the Hounds tied the game or pulled within one possession the Bulldogs converted on the other end.

UIndy used every bit of the 40 minutes of clock down the stretch. After Ferris State's Drew Cushingberry missed consecutive free throws with 15 seconds on the clock, Loyd grabbed the rebound and got himself to the foul line down three, 88-85.

Loyd sank both freebies, making it 88-87, and the Hounds put Cushingberry back on the line with 2.6 remaining. He hit the first, but Ferris State committed a lane violation on the second, giving UIndy the ball down by two.

Senior Lucas Barker – who has one buzzer beater under his belt this season – split two defenders on his way up the court, but his potential game-winning shot was too strong.

"I felt like we were right there," Gouard said. "We made a couple key mistakes down the stretch, but we had a chance to win."

Regarding Barker's last-second attempt, the eighth-year head man said, "I give him that shot a thousand times. That's the same play we won on earlier in the year."

The Hounds finished the game over 50 percent from the floor (28-55), including a solid 12-for-26 effort from long range. But Ferris State was too efficient, knocking down 33 of their 53 shots on 20 total assists. The Bulldogs also finished with 38 points in the paint and outrebounded UIndy 33 to 22.

Loyd finishes his career with 1,213 points, and his 605 this year ranks seventh in program history for a single season. He also comes in fifth all-time in career free throw percentage (.839).

"It really hurts, obviously," Loyd said, following his final collegiate game. "It was a great game. I couldn't ask for a better game, and at the end we can look at it and say, 'We gave it our all.'" So there's nothing to be ashamed of."

Barker finished Sunday's game as UIndy's only other scorer in double figures, totaling 13 points to go with four assists and a pair of steals. He ends his career eighth on UIndy's all-time assist list, despite playing only two seasons in a Greyhound uniform. That's due in large part to his program-record 5.9 career assist average.

Ernest Maize recorded nine points, eight boards and three assists in 27 minutes Sunday, and Davidson added nine on a trio of 3-pointers.

UIndy's seniors Loyd, Barker, Joe Retic, Tyler Rambo and Jamel Crocker each played their final game in a Greyhound uniform.

Ferris State advances to the NCAA "Sweet 16" to face Saginaw Valley State Tuesday night for the right to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in Frisco, Texas.