DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball squad (1-1 overall) recorded a 68-66 home court victory over visiting Lewis University (0-3 overall) Wednesday evening at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in E.J. Haralson's head coaching debut.  Haralson took the interim head coach title earlier in the day following the retirement of 20-year head coach David Greer.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Sophomore Ray Williams, Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / Edison Public School Academy) scored the first four points of the game, before the Flyers responded with six consecutive points.

The game was tied three times (7-7, 9-9 and 11-11) in the first 11 minutes of the game.  After LU took a 12-11 lead, the Warriors answered with seven points, including three by sophomore Mike Robinson (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Ann Arbor Huron).

A Robinson dunk with just over 4:30 left before intermission extended WSU's lead to 21-18.  The contest was tied three more times (the last being 25-25) prior to Lewis ending the opening half on a 5-3 run to lead 30-28 at the break.

Second Half
The teams traded buckets in the early part of the second half with the contest being tied three times in the first three minutes after halftime.

A 7-0 spurt by the Flyers put the visitors in front 41-34.  Wayne State pulled within one at 45-44, after a 10-4 run.

A triple by Beau Frericks gave Lewis a 53-46 edge just past the mid-point of the second half.

A lay-up by junior Avery Lewis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) and a triple by senior Brailen Neely (Detroit, Mich. / Western International) made it a two-point game before Connor Niego scored for the Flyers.  LU's Billy Durkin connected from long-range to regain the seven point margin for Lewis at 58-51 with just over 7:30 remaining.

Wayne State tallied the next 11 points for a 62-58 lead.  Williams, Jr. had a conventional three-point play followed by eight consecutive points from Neely on a lay-up and back-to-back three pointers.

Four straight points by Lewis tied the game at 62-62, before WSU's Lewis put the Warriors in front 66-62 with back-to-back buckets.

Dre Bell made a three pointer to cut the WSU advantage to one at 66-65 with 99 seconds left, and Vlado Zrnic split a pair from the charity stripe to even the game again at 66-66 with 53 seconds remaining.

Avery Lewis blocked a Lewis University shot with 10 seconds left and Neely grabbed the rebound and went coast-to-coast for the winning basket.  A long three-pointer by Lewis University's Dre Bell was off the mark.
 

Here is the game-winner from Brailen Neely with Kevin Brechmacher on the call! #WarriorStrong pic.twitter.com/vj83VOUqqO

— WSU Athletics (@waynestwarriors) November 18, 2021

TEAM STATS
Both teams shot 43 percent from the field with Wayne State making 26-of-61 compared to LU's 24-of-56.  The Flyers were 6-of-23 (26 percent) from three-point range, while WSU 5-of-21 (24 percent).  The Warriors shot 61 percent (11-of-18) from the charity stripe, while Lewis was 12-of-17 (71 percent).  Wayne State had a 41-35 edge in rebounding with the teams combining for 38 turnovers (20 by Lewis, 18 by WSU).

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Neely finished with game-high totals of 22 points and nine assists, while Robinson chipped in with 13 points off the bench.  Williams, Jr. had a game-best eight rebounds.

LEADING THE FLYERS
Niego had team-high totals of 17 points and seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Hillsdale College for a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday at the Wayne State Fieldhouse.