Post-Game Press Conference Podcasts:

Head Coach David Greer

Sophomore Guard Mike Hollingsworth

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (5-1 overall, 2-0 GLIAC) remained perfect at home with a 75-71 triumph over visiting Ashland University (3-3 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei in a game televised live on Comcast Channel 900.

The Warrior defense was superb in the first five minutes holding the Eagles off the scoreboard until a triple by Justin Garris at the 14:16 mark.  By that point, WSU had opened a 12-0 advantage, which included eight points by sophomore guard Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich.).

After Wayne State had a 15-5 lead following a three-pointer by senior guard Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern), AU went on an 11-4 run over the next three minutes to pull within three at 19-16.

WSU responded with a 5-0 spurt, until the Eagles went on a 10-2 run to knot the game at 26 with 4:37 remaining in the first half.  Neither team scored for the next two minutes until a triple by AU's Will Evans gave the visitors their first lead of the contest at 29-26.

A tip-in by freshman forward Bryan Coleman (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) at the 1:47 mark ended a scoreless drought for the Warriors of nearly four minutes.

Ashland talied the final four points of the opening half for a 33-28 intermission lead.

AU's Kale Richardson had a game-high 11 points in the opening 20 minutes which saw the guests shoot 44 percent (11-of-25) from the floor compared to 31.3 percent (10-of-32) for Wayne State.

Richard started the second half with a triple increasing the Eagle lead to eight (36-28), which would be their largest lead of the contest.

A 9-0 Warrior run over the next five minutes set up a tight second half which saw five lead changes.

Wayne State held a five-point advantage (46-41) following a conventional three-point play by senior forward Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech).

Ashland answered with a 14-4 run to take a five point lead at 55-50 with 8:11 left on a conventional three-point play by Richardson.

In a game of spurts, WSU responded with five consecutive points including a triple by Smothers to knot the game at 55 with 7:45 left.

A 6-1 Eagle run capped off by a Cole Moore lay-up put the visitors ahead 61-56 with 5:48 remaining.

A three-pointer by Hollingsworth with 4:05 left gave the Warriors the lead for good and for the first time since the 9:45 mark.

After an AU turnover, junior guard Dale Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) made two foul shots which started a stretch of eight consecutive made free throws by WSU to seal the win.  In fact, Wayne State made 23-of-24 free throws (95.8 percent) in the second half and 30-of-31 (96.8 percent) for the game.

Ashland would cut the Warriors lead to two on four occassions (65-63, 67-65, 69-67, 71-69) but each time the WSU offense would respond with a pair of points.

When Brundidge made two free throws with 23.2 seconds left, Wayne State had a four-point lead at 73-69.  Hollingsworth stripped the ball from David Harris and Smothers finished with a pair of foul shots at the 13.5 mark to cement the victory.

Hollingsworth scored a career-high and a game-best 20 points.  Smothers added 16 points, while Oden contributed 10 points.  Senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Richardson led AU with 19 points, while Moore contributed 11 points off the bench.

WSU scored 21 points off 11 Ashland turnovers and the Warriors shot 57.9 percent (11-of-19) from the field in the second half.

Wayne State visits Saginaw Valley for a 6 p.m. tip on Thursday, Dec. 9 in its lone game next week.

Comcast Note:

This game will be replayed on Comcast Channel 900 six times over the next four weeks:  Dec. 7 (9:30 pm), Dec. 8 (9:00 am), Dec. 13 (Noon), Dec. 21 (9:30 pm), Dec. 22 (9:00 am), and Dec. 27 (Noon).