Wayne State Weekly Release

2009-10 RECORDS:
Wayne State 8-6, 6-4 GLIAC
Ferris State 8-7, 6-4 GLIAC
Grand Valley 12-3, 8-2 GLIAC

SERIES:
Ferris State leads 36-34
Grand Valley leads 42-25

LAST MEETINGS:
WSU won 88-80 over FSU on 2/28/09
WSU won 63-60 over GVSU on 2/26/09

RADIO: WDTK (1400 AM)

ONLINE AUDIO: wdtkam.com

LIVE STATS: livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate/

VIDEO: B2 via wsuathletics.com

* GAMES 15-16 STORYLINES

Wayne State ended a three-game losing streak and pulled into a tie for fifth overall in the GLIAC with last Saturday's win over Lake Superior.

The Warriors are 6-1 at home this season and have won eight of nine at the Matthaei since a 72-64 setback to Lake Superior on Feb. 7, 2009. WSU is second in the GLIAC South Division, two games behind Findlay and two games in front of both Ashland and Northwood.

* SAGINAW VALLEY RECAP

Wayne State lost its first home game of the season, 56-53, to visiting Saginaw Valley.

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 Ike Udanoh but were held scoreless for the next four minutes as the Cardinals rattled off 10 consecutive points for a seven-point advantage.

The Warriors regained the lead following a turnover as Bryan Wright scored on a layup with 51 seconds left. An Avery Stephenson jumper that banked in was followed by a WSU turnover and two foul shots by Greg Foster giving the guests a three-point lead (53-50).

A Jerry Oden layup made it a two-point game but Stacey Waters' halfcourt shot went off glass and the rim but did not go in.

Bryan Smothers led WSU with 16 points, while Jerry Oden added 13. Ian Larkin had a team-best and career-high nine rebounds.

* LAKE SUPERIOR RECAP

The Warriors snapped a three-game losing streak with a 73-61 triumph over visiting Lake Superior last Saturday.

The first half was back-and-forth and featured seven lead changes and four ties. The largest lead of the opening 20 minutes was six by LSSU. WSU scored nine of the final 12 points before intermission to pull into a 30-30 deadlock.

Oden ended nearly two minutes of scoreless play to start the second half with a jumper from the paint. The guests regained the lead on a triple by Kyle Hunt on the ensuing possession.

After the teams traded buckets, Wright drained back-to-back triples giving the Warriors a nine-point lead at 47-38 with just under 14 minutes remaining. A 7-2 run by LSSU cut the visitors deficit to four (49-45), but Wayne State responded with an 8-0 run.

Wright led all scorers with 25 points, his third game this season with at least 20 points. Oden recorded his second double-double of the campaign with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

* ON THE BENCH

David Greer, just the ninth head coach in school history, is in his ninth season at WSU with a record of 120-113.  He is the fifth-longest tenured coach in 92 seasons of WSU basketball.

Ferris State's Bill Sall has a 114-115 mark in his eighth year with the Bulldogs.

Ric Wesley is in his sixth year with the Lakers and has a 143-33 record heading into Thursday's game at Northwood.

* SCOUTING FERRIS STATE

The Bulldogs have won two straight since a three-game losing skein.  FSU is 3-2 on the road in the GLIAC this season.

Justin Keenan and Darien Gay are both averaging in double figures at 18.5 points per game and 10.9, respectively.  Keenan's total is fourth in the conference.

Keenan has a team high 91 rebounds, while Gay leads in assists with 53.

Gay has made a team-best 30 three-pointers with Austin Randel second with 24.

Lou Williams averages over 1.5 blocks per contest despite playing just 16 minutes a game.

The Bulldogs are last in the GLIAC in free throw percentage (66.5), but rank first in three-point percentage defense (28.9).

* SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY

The Lakers enter Thursday's game at Northwood on an eight-game winning streak since a 13-point setback at Findlay Dec. 12.

Justin Ringler is the leading scorer at 15.5 points per game, while Toreau Brown is averaging 11.8 ppg.

Ringler also leads the squad in rebounds (120) and assists (47), while Wes Trammel has a team-best 18 triples.

Brown is an excellent free throw shooter (83.9 percent).  Alvin Storrs leads the squad in steals (25) and averages nearly 25 minutes a game despite starting just four contests.

GVSU is averaging nearly 14 assists per game over the last four contests.