Jan. 22, 2010
Columbus, Ohio – Ian Larkin's three-point basket, just inside the half-court line as time expired, propelled the 25th-ranked Wayne State men's basketball team (13-3, 9-1 GLIAC) to a
69-66 win over host Ohio Dominican on Saturday afternoon.
With 1.4 seconds left, following a turnover from the Panthers,
Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich./Utica) inbounded the ball to Larkin on the far side of the court for the game-winning basket.
“I knew we didn't have much time, so I tried to get open,” Larkin said. “Mike threw me the ball and thankfully I caught it and made the shot. It was my first ever game-winner and it feels real good.”
Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) scored 14 points,
Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) had a game-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds, and Hollingsworth tallied 16 points for the Warriors.
WSU found itself down by as many as nine in the second half, but rallied in the final 4:42, outscoring ODU, 16-6.
Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), who finished with eight points and eight rebounds before fouling out, tied the game at 60 with 1:39 remaining.
After trading buckets, John Trew drilled a triple with 38 seconds left, putting the Panthers on top, 65-62.
On the ensuing possession, Hollingsworth turned it over, but WSU got a stop on the defensive end, setting up a Smothers trip to the free-throw line. Though he would miss the front end of a one-and-one,
Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) grabbed the rebound and was fouled on his way back up.
Udanoh made both, putting Wayne State down 65-64 with 15 seconds left.
Jake Mochoskay made it a two-point ballgame, hitting 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Back down the court, Smothers' three-point attempt fell short, but Udanoh was there for the put back, knotting the score at 66 with 2.9 seconds to go. In the game, the Warriors finished with 20 second chance points.
Receiving the ensuing inbound pass at half-court, the Panthers' Kip Kelley touched the out-of-bounds line with his foot, setting up Larkin's shot.
Aaron Gibbs had a team-high 18 points and seven rebounds for ODU (4-11, 1-8 GLIAC).
Wayne State travels to Ashland on Thursday to face the Eagles at 5:30 p.m.
