Men's Basketball | 2/22/2017 8:45:00 AM
DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (15-9, 12-8 GLIAC) will look to keep its hopes alive of hosting a GLIAC Quarterfinal game with a win over Saginaw Valley State (17-10, 10-10 GLIAC) on Thursday night. WSU will also need some help from around the league to capture that home game as there is a log jam for the final six seeds.
In addition, the Warriors will honor its three seniors prior to the 7:30 p.m. contest.
STORYLINES
With a 77-68 win at Northwood on Feb. 16th, Wayne State secured its spot in the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2013. The Warriors fell at Lake Superior State on Saturday, but still have a slight chance to host a home playoff game on Feb. 28th with a win against Saginaw Valley State. In addition, the Warriors will need some help from around the league to accomplish that. WSU was picked to finish sixth in the GLIAC North Division in the preseason poll. WSU was ninth in the first NCAA Midwest Regional Ranking released on Feb. 15th.
THE SERIES
The Warriors trail 34-37 in the all-time series versus Saginaw Valley State. The Cardinals have won four straight, including this season's first matchup, 69-64, on Jan. 30th. WSU is 18-15 at home in the series, while head coach
David Greer is 12-11 against SVSU. The longest winning streak by either team is six, accomplished by WSU from 1986 until 1988.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
After advancing to the Elite Eight last season and spening two weeks as the top team in the country earlier this season, the Cardinals are going to miss the postseason in 2017. Saginaw Valley State has been playing well lately, winning four of five and enter Thursday's game at 17-10 overall and 10-10 in the GLIAC. Head coach Randy Baruth is in his fifth season leading the Cards. Senior guard Garrett Hall is scoring 17.4 points per game to lead the squad, while senior forward C.J. Turnage is posting 15.5 points per contest and a team-high 8.0 boards per night. Freshman guard Malik Garner is the top passer on the team at 3.0 assists per game. As a team, SVSU is averaging 77.0 points per game and allowing 72.0.
LAST TIME OUT VS. SAGINAW VALLEY STATE
Wayne State dropped a Jan. 30th meeting at Saginaw Valley State 69-64.
Chuck Key knocked down a jumper to give the Warriors an early 7-4 lead at the 16:20 mark. Both teams went cold as SVSU took an 11-9 lead with 12:52 remaining where the score would remain until two
Ronald Booth free throws tied the game at 11-11 at the 9:32 mark. The Cardinals led 22-19 at the final media timeout of the half. Two
Marcus Moore free throws cut the home lead to 27-23 with just under two minutes to play before SVSU collected two quick buckets and forced head coach
David Greer to use a timeout and slow the rally. For the second straight game, the Warriors went into the locker room after a buzzer-beater. Booth connected from deep in the corner as time expired to put the halftime score at 33-28 in favor of the home squad. A steal and fast break lay up from Moore trimmed the deficit to 36-33 with 16:32 left to play. A three-point play from CJ Turnage at the 13:55 mark gave SVSU a 41-36 advantage. WSU's offense slowed and the home team grabbed onto the momentum taking a 47-40 lead with 9:20 to play.
Jalen Adams hit from behind the arc and Moore backed down his defender for an easy basket, pulling the Warriors within two, 47-45, at the 8:27 mark. A pair of free throws from
Michael Lewis tied the game at 47-47 with eight minutes to play. A three-point play from Booth at the 4:35 mark trimmed the home lead to one 53-52. Booth kept WSU close, 58-56, with a layup at the 2:43 mark and the guard continued to carry the Warriors with a trey to pull the visitors within two, 61-59, with two minutes to play. SVSU's Garret Hall received the home bounce on a three-pointer from the top of the key gave the Cards a 64-59 at the 1:28 mark. In need of a stop, WSU was unable to get that stop and SVSU would control the rest of the contest and go on to win 69-64.
COACHING MILESTONE
With the win on Dec. 3rd over Hillsdale,
David Greer became the winningest coach in the 99 years of Wayne State men's basketball. He passed his predecessor Ron Hammye's mark of 212 victories, which he collected in his 13 seasons (1988-01).
WINNING STREAKS
The longest winning-streak in program history is 17 games done on two occasions in 1955-56 and 1994. Other streaks of note include 14, 12, and the nine-game winning streak for this year's team is one of four in program history and the longest since 1998-99.
NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA stats release (Feb. 19th), WSU ranks 22nd in scoring defense (67.1 PPG), 25th in fewest turnovers (287), 48th in opponent field goal percentage (.421) and 50th in turnovers per game (12.0).
ELITE DEFENSE?
Wayne State is allowing 67.1 points per game this season, which is tied for the best mark in the league and ranks 26th in program history (lowest since 2012-13 / 66.3 PPG). Opponents are shooting .421 against WSU this season, which is the best defensive performance since the 2008-09 team limited opponents to a .418 shooting percentage.
WHO WILL LEAD THE WARRIORS?
Three Warriors are averaging more than 10 points a night.
Chuck Key has taken the team lead at 14.6 points per game over
Ronald Booth's 14.5 points per contest.
Marcus Moore is contributing 12.5 points per game.
20-POINT WINS
WSU has collected six 20-point victories this season, including a 23-point win over Northwood on Jan. 26th and a 24-point win against Lake Superior State on Jan. 28th.
REBOUNDING ADVANTAGE
WSU has steadily improved its rebounding efforts all season long. The Warriors have won the rebounding advantage in 13 of the 24 games this season. The largest being a 42-23 rebounding advantage at Northern Michigan on Feb. 11. Wayne State is tied-for-fifth in the GLIAC with 37.3 rebounds per game and second in terms of offensive rebounds per game at 12.0. The Green & Gold rank fourth in rebounding margin at plus 3.8 per contest. That rebounding margin ranks 18th in program history and is the best since the 2011-12 season posted a plus 4.5 mark.
COMCAST/XFINITY
Every home men's basketball game in 2017 will be aired live throughout the state of Michigan on Comcast CN 900. The crew of Sean Baligian, Rod Beard, Joe Abramson and Tony Ortiz will call the action.
LIVE ON WDTK
Kevin Brechmacher will call every contest live on the radio on WDTK - The Patriot (1400 AM / 101.5 FM). Fans can also stream the action online newstalk1400.us. Joining Kevin for home games will be WSU alum Kendall LeSure, who played at Wayne State from 2000-04 and scored 1,068 points during his career.
