Box Score

Box Score (HTML)  l  Postgame Interview with Williams-Taylor and Coach Haralson (MP3) l  Coleman's Second-Half Triple  (MP3)  |  Video Highlights

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (12-13 overall, 10-12 GLIAC) concluded its 2013-14 campaign with an 82-78 triumph over GLIAC regular-season champion Lake Superior State (26-4 overall, 18-4 GLIAC) Thursday evening at the Matthaei on Senior Night.

The score was tied 12 times in the contest including eight times in the second half.

The Warriors began the match playing very well at both ends as the hosts opened up a 13-2 advantage in the first six minutes.  Senior forward Gerald Williams-Taylor (Flint, Mich./Northern) tallied eight of WSU's first 13 points with classmates Deon Dismuke (Detroit, Mich./Pershing) and Chene Phillips (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) contributing two and three points, respectively.

The visiting Lakers battled back with a 17-6 run to knot the game at 19.  LSSU continued its surge going up six (29-23) at the 2:34 mark, before Wayne State ended the first half on an 8-2 spurt concluding with a triple by senior Bryan Coleman (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup).

All eight ties after intermission occurred in the first eight minutes with the last coming at 50-50 on a jumper by Coleman.  Following a block by Michael Martin (West Bloomfield, Mich.), Coleman drained a three to put the Warriors up 53-50 at the 11:56 mark.  A couple of possessions later, senior Jamar Ragland (Detroit, Mich./Loyola) connected on a jumper for a five-point margin.

Phillips started a 7-0 run by WSU with a triple, Ragland followed with a lay-up and Phillips ended the stretch with a lay-up.

LSSU kept battling pulling within three on two occasions (66-63 and 68-65), but after the second time Wayne State went on a 6-0 run.  Freshman Clark Bishop (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) hit a pair of free throws, Williams-Taylor made both of his shots from the charity stripe and sophomore Gavin Toma (Troy, Mich./Southfield Christian) recording a steal then finishing the trip down the court with a lay-up for a nine-point lead (74-65) with 4:06 remaining.

WSU's advantage remained at least seven points until LSSU's Alex Williams made two from the foul line with 1:04 left cutting the Warrior lead to five (78-73).  After a WSU turnover in the backcourt, Derek Billing, who finished with a game-high 38 points, drained a three-pointer pulling the guests within two (78-76) with 49.2 seconds left.

Lake Superior fouled after WSU crossed mid-court with Phillips getting a roll on the second shot to split the pair.  With Wayne State holding a three-point lead, LSSU opted for a lay-up by Billing with 27.2 seconds remaining.

Billing fouled Phillips after the inbounds setting up another double bonus situation with 25.2 left.  Phillips made the first for a two-point lead (80-78).  Billing missed a lay-up with 11 seconds left, then committed his fifth foul as Ragland ripped down the rebound.

Ragland sank both free throws to complete the scoring with 9.1 seconds left.  The Lakers missed two three pointers in the final six seconds.

It was the final collegiate game for seven Wayne State seniors -- Bryan Coleman, Deon Dismuke, Mike Hollingsworth, Michael Martin, Chene Phillips, Jamar Ragland, and Gerald Williams-Taylor.

Despite not being medically cleared to play this season, Hollingsworth became just the fifth player in WSU history with at least 990 points, 300 rebounds, 145 assists, 80 steals and 60 triples.

Williams-Taylor led WSU with 25 points and eight rebounds, while Coleman added 19 points and a team-best three blocked shots.  Phillips contributed 13 points and eight assists to no turnovers, while Ragland added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.  Dismuke chipped in with six points and five assists.

Besides Billing's game-high 38 points, the only other Laker in double figures was Cameron Metz with 14 points.  Devin Daly led LSSU with eight rebounds.

Twitter  |   Facebook   |   YouTube