DETROIT--The Wayne State University men's basketball team concluded the 2009 portion of its schedule with a 67-58 GLIAC triumph over visiting Michigan Tech (2-8 overall, 1-4 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.

The visiting Huskies scored the game's first points on their third possession of the contest as Ali Haidar hit a jumper in the paint.  After a steal by WSU senior Larry Edwards (Benton Harbor, Mich.) led to a jumper in the paint by classmate Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding).

Following a defensive rebound by junior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), junior Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) drained a triple at the 16:45 mark and the Warriors never trailed the rest of the game.

An MTU basket by Matt Gaedke made it a 5-4 game, but WSU responded with a 5-0 including a triple by Edwards.  A three-point bucket by Gaedke at the 12:22 mark cut Wayne State's lead to three at 12-9, but the Warriors answered with a 15-0 run over the next five minutes.  Balanced scoring and strong defense led to the 18-point margin.  Senior Bryan Edwards (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) had four points, Wright contributed five points, Oden added a jumper, while both Stacey Waters (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) and Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) made two foul shots.

After an Oden lay-up made it 29-11 with 5:31 left, the Warrior offense hit a dry spell only scoring five points the rest of the first half with all the points coming from the foul line (0-6 FG, 5-8 FT, 1 turnover).  The Huskies closed the half on a 13-5 run which included five field goals (in 11 attempts), including one three-pointer, and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe.

Wright led all scorers at intermission with nine points, while two Huskies - Haidar and Nate Kindt - each had a game-best five boards.  Both teams made 10 field goals in the first half, but Michigan Tech had 14 turnovers which led to 20 Warrior points.

MTU's Don Fowler hit a jumper on the opening possession of the second half to pull the visitors within eight (34-26) but Wayne State responded with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes until Huskie Matt Esters split a pair from the foul line.  Four different Warriors scored during the streak.

A lay-up by Wright preceded a conventional three-point play by Oden giving WSU a 21-point lead (48-27) at the 15:18 mark.

Michigan Tech had an 11-1 sput to cut the deficit to 11 (49-38) at the mid-point of the second half.

Wayne State's lead remained in double digits until a triple by Huskie Mike Hojnacki at the 4:33 mark pulled the guests within nine (56-47).  A Warrior turnover and a jumper by Haidar was answered by two free throws from Smothers.  Hojnacki then missed a triple and Wright hit a jumper in the paint putting the Warrior lead at 11 (60-49) with 2:41 left.

After a jumper by Haidar cut the Wayne State lead to eight (62-54) with 70 seconds remaining, Larry Edwards made 3-of-4 from the foul line and Smothers added two more free throws to seal the win.

Wright had a game-high 17 points, his eighth consecutive game in double figures.  Oden had 11 points, while both Smothers and Bryan Edwards contributed 10 points.  Don Fowler led MTU with 15 points.

The Huskies had a commanding 36-22 edge on the boards but committed 25 turnovers which led to 31 Wayne State points.  Oden and Haidar tied for game-high rebounding honors with seven each.

Wayne State is 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the GLIAC heading into 2010.  WSU's best starts under coach David Greer were 7-3 beginnings in 2001-02 and 2007-08.

The Warriors conclude their three-game home stand with a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday, Jan. 2 against GLIAC rival Northwood.