Box Score

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Big Rapids, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (11-12 overall, 9-11) fell 75-72 at Ferris State University (8-15 overall, 7-12 GLIAC) Thursday evening.  The loss was WSU's fifth conference setback by three points or less and ninth by eight points or less.

The Warrior defeat coupled with the victory by Malone, means WSU will not qualify for the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

The contest was back-and-forth throughout with 11 lead changes and eight ties with neither team having a lead larger than seven (WSU [7] 57-50 with 10:18 left in the second half; FSU [5] - three times in the first half).

The game was tied at 38 after 20 minutes with many other first half stats being even as well.  Both teams made six free throws, FSU led 16-14 in rebounds and 4-2 in three-pointers made, with WSU holding a slim 15-14 in total field goals made.

Warrior seniors Bryan Coleman (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) and Chene Phillips (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) totaled 14 and 12 points, respectively before intermission, while FSU's Jibreel Jackson had 14 points including three triples.

After scoring the first four points of the second half on back-to-back lay-ups by Phillips and freshman guard Clark Bishop (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance), Wayne State maintained a lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half building up its largest lead of the game at 57-50 on a lay-up by senior forward Gerald Williams-Taylor (Flint, Mich./Northern) just before the mid-point.

The Bulldogs started to chip away at their deficit scoring four consecutive points before a bucket by Coleman, which was followed by a three-pointer from Josh Fleming.  WSU scored the next three points from the foul line pushing its lead to five (62-57) before Ferris responded with consecutive hoops making it a one-point game (62-61) at the 6:10 mark.

Following a lay-up by Williams-Taylor, FSU tallied the next seven points to grab a 68-64 advantage, its first lead since 37-36 in the final minute of the first half.

Four straight points by Phillips knotted the game at 68.  Wayne State would take its last lead at 70-69 on another hoop by Williams-Taylor with 3:23 remaining.

However, the Bulldogs would use some strong effort on the offensive glass recording four offensive rebounds in the final three minutes leading to four points and a 73-70 lead in the final 20 seconds.

An offensive rebound and put-back by Williams-Taylor with seven seconds left made it a one-point game but FSU's Drew Lehman made two foul shots and the Warriors had a turnover on the ensuing possession.

Coleman finished with game-high totals of 23 points and eight rebounds to lead three Warriors in double figures.  Phillips contributed 19 points, six assists and six rebounds, while Williams-Taylor added 10 points.

Lehman led Ferris State with 22 points and seven rebounds with Jackson chipping in 17 points.  Fleming and Jared Stolicker each contributed 12 points.

Wayne State will wrap-up the regular season with a pair of home games starting this Saturday with a 3 p.m. tip against Grand Valley in a game that will be televised on Comcast CN 900.

The season finale on Feb. 27 will also be Senior Night as the Warriors play GLIAC leading Lake Superior at 7:30 p.m.