DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (8-1, 5-0 GLIAC) raced past the visiting Ohio Dominican Panthers (6-4, 2-3 GLIAC), 82-59, on Thursday night inside the Matthaei for its eighth straight win.  The Warriors have won eight straight contests for the first time since 2011-12.  The 8-1 start is also the best start since that same 2011-12 squad.  WSU ends the calendar year in first place atop the GLIAC.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- It did not start well for WSU, as the visitors tallied the first five points of the game.  Marcus Moore (Lansing, Mich. / Waverly) tied the game at 5-5 with a fast break dunk at the 13:53 mark.  A 9-0 run capped by a Clark Bishop (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance) jumper gave the Green & Gold a 14-7 advantage with 10:30 left to play in the first half.  A conventional three-point play from ODU's Shemar Waugh at the five-minute mark tied the game at 22-22.  However, the Warriors would end the half on an 11-0 run to take a 33-22 lead into the locker rooms.  

- Similar to the start of the opening period, the Panthers scored the first five points of the second half to trim WSU's lead to 33-27 two and a half minuted into the stanza.  The Warriors quickly regained their double-digit lead, 39-29, on a layup from George Spencer (Detroit, Mich. / Belleville) with 16:48 remaining.  Spencer continued his career night with another bucket at the 12:13 mark to give the home side a 46-35 lead.    ODU pulled within nine, 48-39, with 11:37 left to play but that would be as close as the Panthers would come the rest of the night.  A triple from Spencer put WSU up 57-39 at the 7:36 mark and a highlight reel sequence from Chuck Key (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) pretty much ended any threat of a comeback.  The junior forward followed a missed jumper with a tip-dunk and swatted a Ohio Dominican shot attempt on the very next play.  David Greer emptied the benches with just over two minutes left but the offense continued to score points.  Oge Onwudiwe (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance) knocked down three treys over the final 1:20 as the Warriors cruised to an 82--59 victory.

WHO TO GUARD?
- It seems that a different Warriors steps up offensively every night for Coach Greer's team.  Four Warriors scored in double-figures on Thursday, led by a career-high 18 points from Spencer.  Spencer also pulled down a career-best eight rebounds. Ronald Booth (Detroit, Mich. / Consortium) finished with 16 points, while Michael Lewis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) contributed 14 and Key added 12.

BATTLE IN THE PAINT
- Despite being undersized most nights, the Warriors continue to find success down low.  Wayne State out-scored Ohio Dominican 32-14 in the paint on Thursday.

DEFENSE WINNING GAMES
- WSU has held its opponents to 60 or fewer points on five occasions this season.

UP NEXT
- The Warriors will return to action in 2017 on Jan. 5 at Walsh with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.  Fans can listen to Kevin Brechmacher call the action on WDTK - The Patriot (1400 AM / 101.5 FM) beginning around 7:15 p.m.