Big Rapids, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (14-12 overall, 12-10 GLIAC) extended its winning streak to four games with an 85-78 triumph at Ferris State University (15-12 overall, 13-9 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs scored five points in the first 40 seconds of the game on a triple and fastbreak jumper both by Josh Young.  WSU bounced back with a fastbreak layup by senior Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding) and a tip-in 20 seconds later by junior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech).

FSU would lead by six, 15-9, at the 15:34 mark after Jon Yeazel split a pair from the foul line.  A three-pointer by junior Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) and a layup by Oden cut the Warrior deficit to one (15-14).

Wayne State took its first lead at 19-17 on a triple by Wright at the 12:20 mark.  The game was tied three times in a span of 70 seconds with freshman Mike Hollingsworth's (Utica, Mich.) three-pointer tying the game at 24.  Ferris scored the next four points but a bucket by Oden and a triple by Wright put the Warriors ahead 29-28 at the 7:32 mark.

A Hollingsworth layup gave WSU a three-point lead, 33-30, at the 6:28 mark.  The score was tied three more times in the first half, with Yeazel's triple with 22 seconds left snapping a 42-42 draw.

The Warriors shot 53.1 percent (17-of-32) in the first half and had 10 assists to seven turnovers.  Wright had 13 and Oden 11 in the opening 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs were even hotter shooting 61.3 percent (19-of-31) with 10 assists to nine turnovers.  Young had nine points as did Austin Randel on three triples.

Ferris scored four of the first five points of the second half for a six point lead at 49-43 following a Young fastbreak layup.

A basket by Oden and a triple by senior Larry Edwards (Benton Harbor, Mich.) cut the margin to one, 49-48.  After a Yeazel bucket, Smothers scored five consecutive points on a layup and three-pointer, with Wright adding a pair of foul shots during the 7-0 Warrior run.

Following an FSU hoop, Smothers missed a triple, tracked down his own rebound and then drained a three-pointer.  Each team only scored one point over the next 2:45 until a triple by Randel started a 7-0 Bulldog spurt.

Trailing by one at the mid-point of the second half, Wright gathered in an offensive rebound and sank a three-pointer.  Freshman Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) scored on a dunk at the 8:54 mark for a three-point lead at 64-61.

Young's layup cut the WSU lead to one, but junior Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) had an offensive rebound and put back which keyed a 7-0 Warrior run that included another triple from Edwards and two free throws by Oden.

Wayne State's lead remained between six and 10 the rest of the way as the Warriors made six-of-eight from the foul line in the final 1:45.

This marks the second consecutive year that WSU ended the regular-season on a four-game winning streak.  The Warriors finished tied-for-sixth overall in the GLIAC but will be the No. 7 seed after losing the second tiebreaker (record vs. Findlay) to Lake Superior.

Oden led three Warriors in double figures with 22 points, his fourth 20+-point game of the season.  Wright added 19 points, a career-high nine rebounds and five assists, while Smothers contributed 17 points, five rebounds and three steals.  WSU made 10-of-21 from beyond the arc and finished with 16 assists to 12 turnovers.

Five FSU players scored in double digits led by Darien Gay's 18 off the bench.  GLIAC all-league performer Justin Keenan was held to 4-of-10 shooting and 11 points with four turnovers in 37 minutes.

Wayne State will play at Grand Valley in GLIAC quarterfinal game on Tuesday.  Start time is still to be determined.