Wayne State Weekly Release

2009-10 RECORDS:
Wayne State 12-12, 10-10 GLIAC
Grand Valley 19-6, 15-5 GLIAC
Ferris State 14-11, 12-8 GLIAC

SERIES:
Grand Valley leads 43-25
Ferris State leads 37-34

LAST MEETINGS:
GVSU won 57-48 at WS on Jan. 23
FSU won 54-52 at WSU on Jan. 21

RADIO: WDTK (1400 AM)

ONLINE AUDIO: wdtkam.com

LIVE STATS: livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate/

VIDEO: B2 via wsuathletics.com (FSU game)

* GAMES 25-26 STORYLINES

Wayne State, after winning two home games last week, has reduced its magic number to one for a playoff spot (Ashland loss or Wayne State win).

The Warriors are 4-5 on the road in GLIAC play this season.

* ASHLAND RECAP

WSU rallied from a slow start to defeat Ashland, 74-63, on Feb. 18.

The Eagles built an 11-point advantage, 16-5, in the opening 4:30 by connecting on six of their first 10 shots from the floor. A 10-0 Warrior run put the hosts back into the contest.

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.

Jerry Oden 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 Larry Edwards' triple pushed the lead to 10 (52-42).

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.

Larry Edwards and Smothers each scored a team-high 15 points for Wayne State.

* TIFFIN RECAP

WSU had four players in double figures in Saturday's 91-74 victory over visiting Tiffin.

The Dragons scored the first six points of the contest before Bryan Wright made his first of three three-pointers. Consecutive layups by Oden and Smothers put the Warriors in front 7-6.

TU would lead by three, 14-11, and for the last time (16-15). A 9-0 WSU run gave the hosts a 24-16 lead. The Dragons went over seven minutes without a field goal and WSU had a 39-29 lead at intermission.

Edwards drained another three-pointer pushing the lead to 17 with 16:51 left. The Wayne State lead remained at least 12 until the 10:11 mark. The Warrior lead was trimmed to nine (74-65) with 5:24 remaining
Wright led four Warriors in double figures with 19 points. Smothers and Oden each had 17.

* ON THE BENCH

David Greer, just the ninth head coach in school history, is in his ninth season at WSU with a record of 125-120.  He is the fifth-longest tenured coach in 92 seasons of WSU basketball.

Grand Valley's Ric Wesley has compiled a 150-36 mark in his sixth year with the Lakers.

Ferris State's Bill Sall has a 120-119 record in his eighth season with the Bulldogs.

* SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY

The Lakers are 8-1 at home in league play and won both road games last week.

Justin Ringler (14.2 points per game) and Toreau Brown (10.8 ppg) are tthe only two players averaging in double figures.

Wes Trammell has made a team-high 20 triples, while Ringler has made 109 free throws.

Ringler also leads GVSU in rebounds (178) and assists (71).

Mike Przydzial has a team-high 18 blocked shots, while Alvin Storrs leads with 51 steals.

Ringler had 20 points in the Feb. 18 win at Lake Superior, while Breland Hogan had a team-high 17 points in last Saturday's victory at Saginaw Valley.

* SCOUTING FERRIS STATE

The Bulldogs enter Thursday's home game with Northwood having lost four of their last six.

Justin Keenan (20.3 ppg) and Austin Randel (11.0) are the top two scorers for FSU.  Keenan leads the squad in field goal percentage (56.2), free throws made (191), rebounds (170) and is tied for the team lead in steals (33) with Jon Yeazel.

Dontae Molden (87) and Darien Gay (86) are 1-2 in assists, while Lou Williams has 39 blocked shots.

Randel has made a team-high 47 triples, with Gay making 44 three-pointers.