DETROIT -- After two overtime setbacks last week, the Wayne State University men's basketball program (3-10 overall, 3-6 GLIAC) dropped another close game to Northwood (7-10 overall, 4-5 GLIAC) on Thursday night, 73-70.  The contest featured seven ties and 10 lead changes.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started the first half slowly but five straight points from Xavier Cochran (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) gave WSU a 5-2 lead at the 16:48 mark.  An old-fashioned three-point play by Darian Owens-White (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Rover Rouge) kept WSU close at 13-12 with 12:04 left before halftime.  An offensive rebound and put back by Timothy Huguley (Detroit, Mich. / Old Redford Academy) gave WSU a 16-15 lead at the 11:14 mark.  Javon Henderson (Detroit, Mich. / University Prep) added another three-point play to give the Warriors a 19-16 lead with 9:32 to play.  Zach Allread and NU responded with a three-point play of their own, to stake the Timberwolves to a 21-19 lead.  A fast break bucket from Latin Davis, Jr. (Ypsilanti, Mich. / Milan) pushed WSU ahead 24-23 at the 6:15 mark.  NU continued to seize the momentum an led 33-26 with 2:27 remaining, powered by a 10-2 visitors' run.  Henderson finished after a nice feed from Karim Murray (Detroit, Mich. / Western International) to bring WSU within three, 35-32, at the one-minute mark and another bucket from Henderson capped a 6-0 run from the Green & Gold on the following possession.  At halftime, WSU trailed 35-34.

A reverse layup by Murray gave the home team a 36-35 lead to open the second half.  Wayne State spent quite a bit of time at the charity stripe early in the period and Owens-White connected on one-of-two free throws to give WSU its largest lead of the night, 41-37, with 17:08 on the clock.  A steal and a fast break layup by Murray ended an 11-4 rally to start the half by WSU.  The Warriors led 47-41 at the 14:47 mark but NU would tie the game at 47-47 with a 6-0 run.  Another pair of second chance points from Huguley gave the Warriors a 51-49 advantage with 10:50 left to play.  Owens-White connected from behind the arc for the first time, giving WSU a 54-52 lead at the 9:43 mark, as the back-and-forth affair continued.  The T-Wolves created some breathing room after a three-point play from Ja'Kavien Lewis with 7:28 remaining, extending the visitors lead to 61-56.  Six straight points from Davis trimmed the deficit to 67-64 at the 3:14 mark.  A trey from Owens-White cut the margin to two, 69-67, with 2:33 left in regulation.  NU held onto a 71-67 lead with one minute and counting.  The Green & Gold answered with a three-point play by Owens-White to bring WSU within 71-70 at the 39-second mark.  Trailing by three, WSU had two opportunities to tie the game but were unable to do so.  However, Wayne State had the ball underneath the basket with two seconds remaining and a deep three-point attempt from Owens-White found only iron.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Owens-White finished with a game-high 23 points, while posting six rebounds and four assists.  Henderson collected 14 points and Davis chipped in 12. 

LEADING THE TIMBERWOLVES
All five Timberwolves starters finished in double figures led by 18 points from Lewis.  Alec Marty scored 14, while Allread and Trey McBride both posted 12 points and Jelinek contributed 10.  Lewis dished out eight assists.

TEAM STATS
The Warriors shot 42 percent (25-of-60) compared to NU's 51 percent (30-of-59).  The T-Wolves used 50 points in the paint to supplement their offense but the Wayne State bench outscored Northwood's 20-7.

UP NEXT
Wayne State concludes the weekend by hosting Saginaw Valley State on Saturday afternoon.  Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.