Post-Game Podcasts:

Head Coach David Greer

Senior Guard Bryan Smothers

Junior Guard Dale Brundidge

Senior Forward Jerry Oden

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (4-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) won its GLIAC opener with a 60-52 home court victory over Lake Erie College (2-3 overall, 0-1 GLIAC) Thursday night at the Matthaei.

It was a see-saw first half with four lead changes and six tied scores.

After a lay-up by WSU senior forward Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) knotted the score at eight, the visiting Storm scored the next five points before a conventional three-point play by Warrior senior guard Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) cut the deficit to two.  Sophomore guard Mike Hollingsworth (Utica) scored on a lay-up from Smothers to tie the game at 13.

The game would be tied at 15, 17, 19 and 21 before Wayne State went on an 11-4 run over the final six minutes of the first half to take a 32-25 advantage into intermission.  WSU shot 46 percent (11-of-24) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes and forced LEC into nine turnovers.  The Warriors would have had a much higher shooting percentage except an 0-for-7 from beyond the arc dropped the field goal percentage below 50 percent.

Oden led all scorers with 10 points at halftime.

Lake Erie scored the first bucket of the second half but WSU responded with a Hollingsworth lay-up and a hoop by senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) for a nine-point lead at 36-27.

The Storm would pull within five (39-34) following an Eric Worthey lay-up at the 14:19 mark, but four straight points from Hollingsworth regained the nine-point advantage (43-34).

A triple by the Storm's Brandon Smith cut the Warrior lead to six (43-37), but that would be as close as the visitors would get.

Wayne State held an 18-8 advantage in points in the paint during the second half including shooting 50 percent (12-of-24) from the floor.  Meanwhile, Lake Erie was held to 36 percent (11-of-31) shooting in the final 20 minutes.

Smothers had a game-high 14 points to go along with a game-best three assists.  Oden contributed 13 points, while Hollingsworth chipped in with 12 points.  Udanoh led WSU with seven rebounds.

Ethan Bradshaw scored 11 points but was 3-of-14 from the floor.  Worthey tallied 10 points off the bench, with Smith grabbing a team-best seven rebounds.

WSU remains at home for a 1 p.m. tip-off on Saturday against Ashland.