Nov. 17, 2011

Photo Gallery

Detroit, Mich. - The Wayne State University men's basketball team (0-1) dropped its 2011-12 home opener, 92-80, to No. 1-ranked Bellarmine University (2-0) on Thursday night.

It was WSU's first setback in a home opener since a 100-95 loss against St. Mary's College on Nov. 21, 1990.

Junior guard Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich. / Utica) scored 24 of his game-high 28 points in the first half. Hollingsworth was 10-of-16 from the field and made his first six three-pointers. In his Warrior debut, junior Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio / Sandusky (Central State)) tallied 16 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Junior Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance (Detroit Mercy)) added nine points, three rebounds and three assists, while senior Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich. / Warren Woods Tower (Long Island)) chipped in eight points and four rebounds.

Entering the second half with a 50-42 cushion, the Warriors immediately pushed their lead back to 10 following a steal and dunk from Udanoh. From there, Bellarmine's precision shooting became the difference maker as the visitors outscored Wayne State, 50-28, the rest of the contest. The Knights shot 63.0 percent (17-of-27) from the field and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from the three-point line final 20 minutes.

In the first half it was the Warriors who had the hot hand. Behind a barrage of triples, the hosts built a commanding 31-13 lead at the 10:38 mark of the first half, but the Knights slowly chipped away at the deficit.

First, a 13-7 run over the next 4:54 made the score 38-26. Back-to-back Bellarmine buckets followed, cutting the Warriors lead to seven (45-38) 2:23 before halftime.

After trading baskets, a Hollingsworth step back three-pointer pushed the Warriors lead back to double-digits (50-40) with 1:25 to go, but BU scored the last points of the half on a jumper from Braydon Hobbs. 

WSU shot 64.3 percent (18-of-28) from the field including 90.9 percent (10-of-11) from behind-the-arc in the first 20 minutes. The Warriors ended the game shooting 57.7 percent (30-of-52) from the floor and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from three-point land.

Wayne State welcomes Marygrove College to the Matthaei this Monday at 7 p.m.