WSU Quotes

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (7-6 overall, 5-4 GLIAC) lost its first home game of the season, 56-53, to visiting Saginaw Valley State (9-5 overall, 6-3 GLIAC) Thursday evening.

In a game that featured six lead changes in the second half, the Warriors had a three-point lead with 8:52 remaining following a layup by junior # Ike Udanoh# (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) but were held scoreless for the next four minutes as the Cardinals rattled off 10 consecutive points for a seven point advantage.

Avery Stephenson stated the run with a conventional three-point play, and following a missed jumper by WSU, Stephenson hit another jumper.  A missed three pointer by the Warriors was followed by an SVSU triple.

After over 90 seconds of scoreless play, Stephenson grabbed a defensive rebound and scored on a layup at the offensive end.

Junior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) ended the Cardinal run with a layup off an assist from senior Larry Edwards (Benton Harbor, Mich.).

Two free throws by Stephenson were answered by a triple from junior Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern).  SVSU's Greg Foster and Smothers each made two foul shots but after Oden blocked a shot, he scored from inside with 1:51 remaining pulling Wayne State within two at 48-46.  Foster split a pair from the charity stripe and Smothers made both of his attempts cutting the WSU deficit to one at 49-48 with 82 seconds left.

The Warriors regained the lead following a turnover by Chris Webb as senior Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding) scored on a lay-up with 51 seconds left.  A Stephenson jumper that banked in was followed by a WSU turnover and two foul shots by Foster giving the guests a three point lead (53-50).

After another Warrior turnover, Keithan Jackson made 1-of-2 from the foul line as did Oden keeping the deficit at three.  Following Stephenson making 1-of-2, Wright's jumper was off the mark but sophomore Dale Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) grabbed the rebound and fed Oden under the basket with five seconds left pulling WSU within two at 55-53.  SVSU's Dan Genther split a pair from the foul line, and sophomore Stacey Waters' (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) half-court shot hit the backboard and rim but did not go in.

Saginaw Valley started strong scoring 11 of the first 15 points in the opening four minutes.  WSU went on a 14-4 run over the next nine minutes to take an 18-15 lead on Smothers' second three-pointer in a row.

Wayne State was unable to make a field goal in the final seven minutes of the first half as the Cardinals scored eight of the final 10 points before intermission.

Smothers led WSU with 16 points, while Oden added 13.  Freshman Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) had a team-best and career-high nine rebounds.

Stephenson led all scorers with 25 points, while Webb added 12 and Foster contributed 11.  Jackson had a game-high 12 rebounds with both Stephenson and Josh Eisenga grabbing 10 boards each.

The Warriors will try to snap a season-long three-game losing streak at 3 p.m. on Saturday against Lake Superior.

Notes:

Wayne State attempted the second most three-pointers in a game this season (22).

WSU shot a season-best 86.7 percent (13-of-15) from the foul line.

SVSU tied an opponent season-high with eight three-pointers made.

The Cardinals had an opponent best 43 rebounds in the contest.

The 53 points scored by WSU is a season-low against a GLIAC opponent, while the 18 field goals made is a season low.

The 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from beyond the arc is a season low for WSU.

The 18 field goals made by SVSU is a season low for a Warrior opponent.

Larry Edwards tied a WSU season-best with six assists.