Bryan Wright and David Greer Post-Game Interview
Jerry Oden Post-Game Interview

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University basketball squad (8-7 overall, 6-5 GLIAC) led nearly the entire game but was unable to score in the final 5:50 as the visiting Ferris State Bulldogs (9-7 overall, 7-4 GLIAC) rallied for a 54-52 win at the Matthaei.

The Warriors led 2-0 on a layup by junior Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) and 4-2 following a jumper by junior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), and the contest was not tied again for the next 35 minutes.

After an FSU bucket made it 5-4 at the 16:11 mark, WSU went on a 7-0 run with Udanoh, senior Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding) and freshman Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich.) getting on the scoresheet.

Wayne State's lead remained between six and 12 for the next 7:30 until a triple by Bulldog Darien Gay cut the Warrior lead to seven (23-16).  A jumper and a triple by Wright were sandwiched around a free throw by FSU's Josh Young which preceded a layup by Udanoh at the 4:40 mark giving WSU the largest lead of the game (13) at 30-17.

The Warriors did not score in the final 4:30 of the first half as FSU scored the final six points before intermission.

WSU had 15 offensive rebounds in the opening 20 minutes but could only muster four second chance points.  Both teams shot 28.6 percent from the floor (WSU 12-of-42; FSU 8-of-28).  Wright led all scorers at halftime with 13 points including three triples which moved him into 14th place on WSU's all-time three pointer list with 80.

The Bulldogs pulled within five on a layup , but Wright answered with his fourth three-pointer giving the hosts an eight-point advantage.

Two minutes later a steal by Wright led to a fast-break layup by Udanoh and a nine-point lead at 37-28.

Following an FSU bucket at the 13:53 mark which made it 43-35, the Warriors had a 4-0 for their largest lead of the second half (12) at 47-35.  Six straight Bulldog points, including the last four by Young made it a six-point game.

A jumper by junior Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) preceded a 7-0 Bulldog run which made it a one-point game at 49-48 with 7:13 left.

WSU was able to regain a four-point lead following a triple by Hollingsworth with 5:53 remaining.

In its next five possessions, the Warriors had one turnover and went 0-for-5 from the floor, as FSU scored four consecutive points from the charity stripe including three by Justin Keenan to knot the game at 52 with 2:17 left.

After WSU's fifth consecutive miss from the floor, Gay hit a jumper coming off a couple of screens with 16 seconds left giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.

FSU played strong defense after a Warrior timeout and senior Larry Edwards (Benton Harbor, Mich.) triple try rattled off iron but did not go in.

Ferris State shot 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from the floor in the second half to outscore the Warriors 31-22.  Meanwhile, Wayne State shot 30.8 percent (8-of-26).

Keenan led all players with 19 points and 12 rebounds.  Wright had 18 for WSU, with Udanoh contributing 10 points.

The crowd of 941 was the largest at the Matthaei since 977 watched Wayne State upend Ferris State 89-78 on Feb. 15, 2007.