FINDLAY, Ohio -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (4-14 overall, 4-11 GLIAC) started out strong but a late first half surge by the University of Findlay (15-5 overall, 12-3 GLIAC) gave a UF a seven-point advantage (37-30) at halftime, and the second half was nearly even with Oilers holding a 39-38 scoring edge for the 76-68 victory over the Warriors.

HOW IT HAPPENED

WSU lead 10-7 5:41 into the contest on a dunk by sophomore center Tristan Wilson (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Skyline).  Findlay's Martyce Kimbrough sandwiched two triples around a Michael Lewis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) bucket to knot the game at 12.

The Warriors then went on a 9-0 run started by sophomore guard Ronald Booth (Detroit, Mich. / Consortium) who connected on a jump shot.  Sophomore forward Chuck Key (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) had a conventional three-point play and Wilson added back-to-back field goals to end the spurt.

Findlay scored nine of the next 11 points to make it a two-point game, before junior guard Clark Bishop (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance) drained a trey and sophomore center Tom Cotter (Williamston, Mich.) added a basket.

Kimbrough made three shots from beyond the arc in the final two minutes of the first half to snap a 28-28 deadlock and give the Oilers a 37-30 lead at intermission.

After a lay-up by Wilson cut the WSU deficit to five (37-32), UF answered with a 9-0 run before a jumper by Wilson made it 46-34.

Wayne State was within nine (52-43) at the 12:25 mark following a field goal by junior center Joel Ndondo (Ajax, Ont.).  Three minutes later the Warrior deficit was six (55-49) after back-to-back field goals by sophomore George Spencer (Detroit, Mich. / Belleville) and Wilson.  After Wilson made two free throws, Findlay had a 7-0 run and WSU was not closer than seven (71-64) the rest of the way.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Booth recorded a team-high 19 points, while Wilson chipped in with 16 points and a game-best five blocked shots.  Spencer contributed 12 points off the bench.

TEAM STATS RECAP

WSU led 35-8 in bench scoring and 20-4 in second-chance points, but the Warriors could not offset Findlay's three-point shooting which was 12-of-19 for 63 percent.  Both teams attempted 12 free throws with UF making 10 to Wayne State's nine.  The Warriors shot 45 percent from the floor (28-of-62) compared to the Oilers 49 percent (27-of-55).  WSU had a 36-29 edge in rebounding.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Kimbrough tallied a game-high 27 points, including 7-of-10 from behind the arc. 

UP NEXT

Wayne State will conclude the stretch of five games in 10 days with a 7:30 p.m. contest at Tiffin on Thursday, followed by a 3 p.m. game at the Matthaei on Saturday vs. Ohio Dominican.