David Greer Interview
Bryan Edwards Interview
Bryan Smothers Interview
Larry Edwards Interview

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (11-12 overall, 9-10 GLIAC) rebounded from Saturday's triple overtime setback to the defending national champions, by rallying from an early 10-0 deficit to defeat visiting Ashland University (12-12 overall, 8-11 GLIAC) 74-63 Thursday evening at the Matthaei.

The Eagles built an 11-point advantage, 16-5, in the opening 4:30 by connecting on six of its first 10 shots from the floor.  Senior Larry Edwards (Benton Harbor, Mich.) ended the scoring drought with the first of his career-high five triples at the 17:08 mark.

AU led again by 11 (16-5) following a jumper from the paint by Cole Moore with just over 15:30 remaining.  Neither team would score for the next two minutes, until Edwards drained another three-pointer which started a 10-2 run over the next 2:05.  Edwards finished the spurt with his third triple of the half.  Junior Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) and freshman Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) each had buckets during the run.

Four consecutive points by AU's Justin Garris put the visitors in front by seven, 22-15, with nine minutes left before intermission.

A Smothers jumper at the 8:40 mark started a 10-0 Warrior run which continued with four straight points by senior Bryan Edwards (Ypsilanti, Mich./Lincoln) and ended with hoops by senior Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding) and junior Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower).

After a layup Moore cut the WSU lead to one (25-24), WSU answered with an 8-2 spurt.  Each team made a basket on its ensuing possession, but then both teams failed to score in the final 75 seconds.

After AU's hot shooting to start the game, the Eagles made just three of their final 21 shots from the floor in the opening half to finish at 29 percent (9-of-31) for the first 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, the Warriors shot 56 percent (14-of-25) and outscored the guests 35-18 over the final 17:10.

WSU junior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) was held scoreless in the first half but scored six of Wayne State's first 12 points after intermission.

The Warriors had an 11-point advantage twice (41-30, 45-34) in the first four minutes of the second half before the Eagles rallied to within five (45-40, 47-42) on two occasions.  A jumper by Smothers and another Edwards' triple pushed the lead to 10 (52-42).

The Eagles scored four straight but WSU answered with an 8-0 run for its largest lead up to that point at 60-46.

After the teams traded layups, Edwards' fifth triple of the contest gave the Warriors their largest lead (18) at 68-50 with five minutes left.

WSU led by 17 with under two minutes left before Ashland scored the final six points.

Both teams shot well from the floor in the second half with AU holding a 52 percent (13-of-25) to 50 percent (15-of-30) advantage.  Despite giving up 14 offensive rebounds to the Eagles, WSU was only outscored 8-to-6 in second chance points.

Larry Edwards and Smothers each scored a team-high 15 points for Wayne State with Bryan Edwards and Wright adding 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Moore had a double-double for AU with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Wayne State will have its Senior Day this Saturday prior to the 3 pm tip-off against Tiffin in the home finale.