Houghton, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (3-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) won its third consecutive game with a come-from-behind 61-58 victory Thursday night at Michigan Tech (1-5 overall, 0-1 GLIAC).

After Huskie Tyler Molesworth drained a triple 2:46 into the contest for the first points, WSU answered with back-to-back three-pointers in a span of 23 seconds by junior Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) and senior Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding) for a 6-5 Warrior advantage.

A 15-4 MTU run over the next 7:30 gave the hosts a 20-10 lead at the 8:58 mark following a lay-up by Mike Hojnacki.  Four straight WSU points on two free throws by senior Bryan Edwards (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) and a lay-up by freshman Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich.) pulled Wayne State within six.

Wayne State was able to make it a five-point contest (22-17) at the 6:17 mark following a triple by freshman Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance).

Four straight Huskie points were part of a 9-2 MTU run giving the hosts its biggest lead of the game at 12 points (31-19) at the 2:46 mark.

The Warriors had a 6-4 scoring advantage over the final 2:30 of the first half to pull within 10 (35-25) at intermission.

MTU shot 61 percent (14-of-23) in the opening 20 minutes compared to 32 percent (7-of-22) for WSU.

Wayne State started the second half on a 7-0 run with all seven points being scored by Smothers.

After Smothers exited with his fourth foul, Michigan Tech's lead remained between five and seven until a lay-up by junior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) at the 12:02 mark pulled the Warriors within three at 43-40.

A 5-2 WSU run highlighted by sophomore Dale Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) scoring all five points including a three-pointer to knot the game at 45 with 9:18 remaining.

A Hojnacki lay-up gave the hosts a 47-45 lead, but WSU responded with a 6-0 run for a 51-47 advantage, and the Warriors would never trail again.  Oden had back-to-back buckets from the paint and Wright followed with a jumper that he banked in just before the shot clock expired.

WSU's lead remained between one and four until another Hojnacki lay-up tied the game at 57 with 88 seconds left.

A tip-in by Edwards put WSU in front for good at 59-57 with 66 seconds remaining.  MTU's Matt Esters split a pair from the foul line then three Huskie fouls in 11 seconds put Edwards on the line were he sank both ends of a one-and-one for a 61-58 advantage with 29 seconds left.

As Michigan Tech was working for a possible game-tying triple try, Edwards stole the ball from Ali Haidar to seal the road win.

Another key for WSU was improved field goal percentage in the final 20 minutes as the Warriors held a 68 percent (15-of-22) to 41 percent (9-of-22) edge.

Oden and Hojnacki tied for game-high scoring honors with 16 points.  Wright and Smothers each contributed 12 points for the Warriors while Edwards added nine points and a game-best eight rebounds.

Wayne State continues its weekend tour of the U.P. with a 1 p.m. tip-off on Saturday at Northern Michigan.

Notes:

Each team scored nine points in the first half and six in the second half off turnovers.

MTU held a 26-24 advantage in points in the paint.  The Huskies held a 12-6 advantage in the first half, but WSU won the second half 18-14.

The Warriors shot 79 percent (11-of-14) from the foul line including 4-of-4 in the second half, while MTU shot 43 percent (6-of-13) including 4-of-8 in the second half.