Wayne State Men's Basketball Weekly Release

2009-10 RECORDS:
Wayne State 1-1, 0-0 GLIAC
Michigan Tech 1-4, 0-0 GLIAC
Northern Michigan 2-1, 0-0 GLIAC

SERIES:
WSU leads MTU 47-26
NMU leads WSU 33-29

LAST MEETINGS:
at Tech 69, WSU 60 on 12/20/08
WSU 65, at NMU 55 on 12/18/08

RADIO: WDTK (1400 AM)

ONLINE AUDIO: wdtkam.com

LIVE STATS:  livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate/

VIDEO:  B2 via wsuathletics.com for NMU game

* GAMES 4-5 STORYLINES

Wayne State has won two in a row since a season-opening 72-68 setback at Central State.

The Warriors open GLIAC play in the U.P. for the first time since 1999 when WSU recorded a 76-56 win at Lake Superior (11/22/99).

The two contests north of the Mackinac Bridge are the start of a four-game road trip for Wayne State.

* BELLARMINE RECAP

The Warriors rebounded from a 17-point first half deficit to record an 84-74 double overtime triumph on Saturday, Nov. 21 over top-ranked Bellarmine University.

Bryan Wright scored a career-high 29 points in a career-best 47 minutes. He made 11 of 21 from the floor (previous high was seven field goals made - three times last season).

Bryan Smothers also tallied a career-best with 26 points. He equaled a career-high with 10 free throws made. The Warriors had just 13 turnovers in 50 minutes, while recording 11 steals.

For the second game in a row, WSU shot 83.3 percent (20-of-24) from the foul line. Other than the first two games of this season, the previous best free throw percentage in a game (with at least 16 attempts) was with WSU making 18-of-21 on Dec. 1, 2007, at Tiffin.

* MARYGROVE RECAP

After a jumper by the Mustangs knotted the contest at 2-2, the Warriors went on a 14-0 run over the next 4:37 to open a 14-point advantage at 16-2. Junior center Ike Udanoh led a balanced attack with five points during the spurt.

WSU's lead remained between 12 and 19 points for the next seven minutes until a 6-0 Warrior run increased the advantage to 23 points (37-14) with eight minutes remaining in the first half.

Jerry Oden recorded his third career double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

* ALL-TIME SERIES

The Warriors lead Michigan Tech 47-26 in the all-time series which began on Dec. 16, 1927. WSU has lost the last three meetings in Houghton.

The Wildcats hold a 33-29 advantage over WSU in a series that started during the 1934-35 season. The Warriors have won three of five meetings in Marquette under David Greer.

* ON THE BENCH

David Greer, just the ninth head coach in school history, is in his ninth season at WSU with a record of 115-109.  He is the fifth-longest tenured coach in 92 seasons of WSU basketball.

MTU's Kevin Luke has a 275-164 mark in his 16th year with the Huskies.

Dean Ellis is in 24th season at Northern Michigan and has compiled a mark of 360-289.

* SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH

The Huskies are 1-4 after playing all five games on the road.

A 62-56 win over Minnesota State Moorhead followed a 70-68 setback at Minnesota-Duluth in the opener.  Since the win, MTU has dropped three straight games (75-62 at St. Cloud, 72-55 at Southern Indiana and 79-66 vs. Bellarmine).

Sophomore forward Mike Hojnacki leads the Huskies in scoring (12.8 points per game) and is second in rebounds with 28.  Freshman forward Ali Haidar has a team-best 29 rebounds.

Junior guard Tyler Molesworth is second in both scoring (12.0 ppg) and assists (12), while T.J. Brown has a team-high 16 assists.

* SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN

The Wildcats improved to 2-1 with Monday's 90-77 win over Finlandia.  NMU's other win was an 81-42 triumph over Northland College.

Sophomore guard Raymont McElroy leads NMU in both scoring (18.7 points per game) and assists (16).

Sophomore center Jared Benson has a team-high 22 rebounds including 10 on the offensive glass.

Senior guard Marc Renelique has made 12 three-pointers in 25 attempts (48 percent) and is second in scoring at 15.7 ppg.

Nine players are averaging at least 14 minutes a contest.