Wayne State University Men's Basketball Week 7 Notes

2010-11 RECORDS:
Wayne State 9-2, 5-0 GLIAC
Findlay 12-0, 5-0 GLIAC

SERIES:
Findlay leads 21-13

LAST MEETINGS:
UF won 101-99 (3OT) at WSU on Feb. 13, 2010
UF won 88-65 at home on Jan. 7, 2010

RADIO: WDTK (1400 AM)

ONLINE AUDIO: wdtkam.com

VIDEO: Warriors All-Access via wsuathletics.com

LIVE STATS: livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate

* GAME 12 STORYLINES

Wayne State enters 2011 with a 9-2 overall mark, and a 5-0 conference ledger. WSU's start is the best since the 1998-99 squad began 16-2.

The Warriors will look to snap a 12-game losing skein against Findlay this Saturday at the Matthaei.

* ALL-TIME SERIES

Wayne State has a 10-6 mark at home vs. the Oilers but trails 21-13 in the all-time series. Findlay has won the last five meetings at the Matthaei, including twice in overtime.

* WEEK 6 RECAP

Wayne State finished second in Gannon's Porreco Cup with an 82-63 win over East Stroudsburg in semifinal action before falling to the host Golden Knights, 61-52, in the championship game.

In the semifinal triumph over ESU, the Warriors trailed for the first two minutes but a lay-up by Mike Hollingsworth put WSU ahead for good at 6-5, which was part of a 10-0 run for Wayne State.

WSU's lead remained between five and seven minutes until a triple by Bryan Smothers at the 9:26 mark gave the Warriors a 10-point advantage.

Bryan Coleman scored 10 points off the bench in the opening 20 minutes helping WSU to a 43-33 halftime lead.

Coleman, Gerald Williams-Taylor and Ike Udanoh all scored eight second-half points and WSU's lead was never less than 12.

Coleman and Udanoh tied for game-high scoring honors with 18 points apiece, while Jerry Oden and Udanoh each grabbed nine rebounds.

There were nine lead changes in the championship game, including five in the first half. The largest lead of the opening 20 minutes was seven by WSU at 7-0 and 9-2 as Gannon was held off the scoreboard for nearly five minutes to start the contest.

A late jumper just before intermission gave the Golden Knights a one-point advantage (25-24) at intermission.

An 11-2 Gannon run early in the second half turned a two-point WSU advantage into a seven point deficit. After falling behind by 10 points (42-32), WSU went on a 9-0 run which started with a triple from Coleman and a conventional three-point play by Udanoh.

Wayne State pulled within three at 55-52 with 21 seconds left on a triple by Smothers, but the Golden Knights made their next four foul shots to seal the win.

Smothers tallied game-high totals in points (14) and assists (6), while Coleman contributed 11 points and eight rebounds in his first collegiate start. Ian Larkin added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Both Coleman and Udanoh were named to the Porreco Cup All-Tournament team.

* ON THE BENCH

David Greer, just the ninth head coach in 93 years of WSU basketball, is in his 10th season at WSU with a 136-123 record. He is the fifth-longest tenured coach at WSU.

Ron Niekamp is in his 26th season at Findlay and has compiled a 586-181 mark.

* SCOUTING FINDLAY

The Oilers are ranked No. 1 in the nation in the NABC poll released on Jan. 4.

Findlay is 12-0 this season including Wednesday's 72-58 come-from-behind win at home against Ashland.
UF has four players averaging in double figures in Nathan Hyde (15.0), Kyle Caiola (13.3), Greg Kahlig (12.5) and Aaron Robinson (11.6).

Tyler Sparks leads the squad in field goal shooting at 58.5 percent (24-of-41). Seven of the eight regulars are shooting at least 45 percent from the floor.

Hyde has made a team-best 23 three pointers, while Caiola is shooting 45 percent (13-of-29) from beyond the arc. Robinson has a team-high 57 rebounds and leads a quintet of players averaging over four rebounds per contest.

Hyde and Caiola are 1-2 in both assists and steals.

Hyde has 21 steals, while Caiola has 18 thefts. Caiola leads with 31 assists, with Hyde contributing 27 helpers.

In Wednesday's triumph over Ashland, five Oilers scored in double figures led by Caiola with 17. He made 9-of-10 from the foul line as UF converted all 16 of its free throws in the final three minutes.

Kahlig recorded 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

WSU-UF SERIES NOTES

• WSU trails 21-13 in the all-time series

• Wayne State is 10-6 at home vs. the Oilers

• Findlay has won the last 12 meetings

• Two of WSU's five straight losses at home have been in OT