Painesville, Ohio -- The 21st-ranked Wayne State University men's basketball team (14-4 overall, 10-2 GLIAC) recorded the best field goal shooting percentage in at least a decade in a 77-47 triumph at Lake Erie College (5-13 overall, 1-10 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors never had a lead larger than one in the first 17 minutes of the contest and even trailed by nine (19-10) just past the mid-point of the first half.

Following a Storm lay-up at the 7:23 mark which gave the hosts a 21-15 lead, the WSU defense stepped up and held Lake Erie without a point the rest of the half.  Meanwhile, the Warriors rattled off 17 consecutive points to take a 32-21 lead at intermission.

WSU senior guard Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) tied a career-high with five triples, all in the first half, as he tallied 19 points in the opening 20 minutes.  The Warriors shot 55 percent (11-of-20) in the first half compared to 39 percent (9-of-23) for Lake Erie.

LEC's scoreless drought almost reached 10 minutes until a pair of free throws cut the WSU lead to 15 (38-23) at the 17:56 mark.

The Warrior lead remained between 14 and 18 for the next three minutes until sophomore Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) made a pair of foul shots and classmate Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich.) added a jumper as part of a 9-0 Wayne State run which increased the visitors lead to 24 (55-31) with just over 12 minutes left.

WSU's lead was never less than 20 the rest of the way.

Wayne State shot 75 percent (18-of-24) in the second half to finish the game at 66 percent (29-of-44).  This is the highest for one game in the last 10 years eclipsing the 62.5 percent against Ferris State on Jan. 15, 2005 (25-of-40).

Smothers tallied game-high totals of 21 points and seven assists, while four other Warriors scored in double figures.  Senior Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) had 13 points, while both Larkin and senior Jerry Oden (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech) contributed 11 points.  Hollingsworth added 10 points. 

Larkin and junior Stacey Waters (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) tied for team-high rebounding honors with five. Junior Dale Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) garnered a game-best four steals.

Lake Erie was led by Garrick Sims' 11 points.

The Storm held a 31-24 rebounding edge, but the WSU defense forced 20 turnovers which led to a 25-8 margin in points off turnovers.

Wayne State returns to Motown for a three-game home stand starting Thursday at 6:07 p.m. against Northern Michigan.  The game will be televised live throughout the state of Michigan on Comcast Channel 900.