Wayne State Game Notes

2008-09 RECORDS:
Wayne State 12-15, 10-12 GLIAC
Central State 19-8
SERIES: Wayne State leads 10-4

* CENTRAL STATE STORYLINES
After two exhibition game losses to Division I schools, the Wayne State Warriors begin the 2009-10 regular season at Central State (Wilberforce, Ohio) Tuesday evening.

The Marauders defeated Toledo, 56-49, in an exhibition contest in Toledo on Nov. 10.

* SEASON OPENER HISTORY

WSU is 4-4 in season openers under head coach David Greer. The Warriors have won the last two season openers (both at home vs. Marygrove). WSU's last road win in a season opener came on Nov. 15, 2005, an 85-79 triumph at #15-West Virginia State.

Jeffrey Ferguson had 23 points and seven rebounds, while setting a WSU single-game mark in field goal percentage (.917) on 11-of-12. With the game tied at 65 midway through the second half, the Warriors went on a 13-3 run to end WVSU's 26-game home court winning streak.

* ON THE BENCH

David Greer, just the ninth head coach in school history, enters his ninth season at WSU with a 113-108 record. He is the fifth-longest tenured coach as WSU begins its 92nd season of basketball.

CSU's Doug Lewis has compiled a 103-55 mark in his first seven years with the Marauders.

* ALL-TIME SERIES

Wayne State has a 10-4 lead in the all-time series which began during the 1975-76 campaign.

The Warriors posted an 80-50 triumph on Nov. 25, 2008, in Detroit. Bryan Wright led three WSU players in double figures with 19 points. Shane Lawal nearly had a triple-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocked shots.

WSU shot 55 percent (16-29) from the floor in the first half while holding CSU to 25 percent (7-28) to open a 43-20 lead at intermission.

* RETURNING WARRIORS

Eight returnees including six letterwinners will lead the 2009-10 Wayne State squad.

Among the returnees are a trio of seniors in leading scorer Bryan Wright (14.1 points per game), top returning rebounder Bryan Edwards (110) and leading assistman Larry Edwards (85).

Juniors Bryan Smothers and Jerry Oden return after playing key roles in WSU's four consecutive wins down the stretch a year ago.

Smothers shot 87.5 percent (42-48) from the foul line. Oden is the top returner in terms of rebounding average (5.7) and blocked shots (16).

* NEW FACES

The five newcomers consist of two freshmen and three Division I transfers. Rookies Deon Dismuke (Detroit Pershing) and Mike Hollingsworth (Utica) add depth to the backcourt.

Ike Udanoh (Long Island) is a 6-7 junior who should help fill the void in the middle by the graduation of Lawal.

Redshirt freshman Ian Larkin (Detroit Mercy) should be medically cleared later this month to begin playing.

Sophomore Stacey Waters (Ohio University) played in 14 games for OU a year ago.

* SCOUTING CENTRAL STATE

Gino Smith led CSU with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the visitors held the Rockets to 34.4 percent (22-64) from the floor. Cole Prophet added 16 points and five rebounds.

* THIS AND THAT

All Wayne State men's basketball games can be heard on WDTK Radio (1400 AM) with Russ McNamara calling the action.

Fans can also listen to all WSU men's basketball games online at wdtkam.com.

Every home game plus most away contests will also be available online as video webcasts through an agreement with B2 Networks.

Presto Sports will provide live stats coverage of all Warrior home basketball games (both men and women) at http://livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate/.