DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (2-3, 1-0 GLIAC) began league play on Thursday night against Grand Valley State (3-4, 0-1 GLIAC) and the Warriors were able to edge the Lakers, 76-73, in a physical contest. All five WSU starters finished with at least 10 points as Wayne State led 40-31 at halftime and held on for a three-point victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Warriors scored the game's first five points and eventually led 15-4 after a triple from
Latin Davis, Jr. (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Milan) at the 15:46 mark. Despite Wayne State not scoring for nearly four minutes, two
Karim Murray (Detroit, Mich. / Western International) free throws extended the home lead to 17-6 with 12:51 to play before halftime. Back-to-back jumpers from
Chuck Key (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) pushed the deficit to 21-13 at the 10:18 mark. Key followed with a three-point play to give the Green & Gold a 24-15 advantage. A steal and a fast break layup by
Marcus Moore (Lansing, Mich. / Waverly) made it 30-18 before the visiting Lakers began to chip away at the 12-point margin. Drake Baar brought GVSU within six with a bucket at the four-minute mark. WSU regained control and finished the half strong, leading by nine.
- A layup by Moore at the 17:52 mark of the second half gave the Warriors a 46-35 lead but GVSU would trim the deficit to five, 46-41, and force head coach
David Greer to take a timeout. Four WSU free throws at the 16:12 mark after a Laker foul and technical pushed the home advantage to 50-41. As the Warriors' offense went cold, Hunter Hale connected from 15 feet to cut the WSU lead to three, 50-47. Hale followed with a three-point play at the 13:07 mark to bring the Lakers within two, 52-50. After GVSU tied the game at 52-52 they went on to take a 55-52 lead with just over 11 minutes left to play. The visitors led 58-56 at the nine-minute mark but
George Spencer (Detroit, Mich. / Belleville) connected from deep to give WSU a 59-58 lead it would not relinquish. The margin grew to 64-59 after a Key turnaround jumper. The Lakers pulled within two, 69-67, at the 2:33 mark but the Warriors had the answer each and every time it needed one. A late trey from Hale would cut the deficit to three with one second left to play but WSU was able to inbound the ball and secure the victory.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
- Key finished with 18 points to lead all five starters in double figures.
Ronald Booth (Detroit, Mich. / Consortium) tallied 17 points, while Moore added 14. Davis, Jr. collected 12 points and Spencer contributed 10.
LEADING THE LAKERS
- Hale led all scorers with 22 points, while Myles Miller finished with 12.
UP NEXT
- Wayne State will make its first-ever trip to Purdue Northwest on Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. clash.
