Romeoville, Ill. – The Wayne State University men's basketball team (8-3 overall) suffered its second consecutive non-conference road setback falling 52-41 at Lewis University (8-2 overall) Saturday afternoon.
 
After a Flyer free throw, senior guard Stacey Waters (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) drained a three.  Following another LU foul shot, senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) had a steal and dunk giving the Warriors a 5-2 advantage.  A tip-in by junior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) increased the lead to 7-2.
 
Udanoh's tip-in at the 15:28 mark would be the last points for WSU until a jumper by senior guard Dale Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day), just as the shot clock was about to expire, ended an 11-0 run by Lewis that lasted nearly 7:30.  Wayne State was 0-for-9 from the floor and had two turnovers during the drought.
 
Trailing 19-12 with 4:48 left in the first half following a pair of Julian Lewis free throws, the Warriors responded with seven straight points concluding on a baseline triple by Brundidge to knot the game at 19. 
 
LU's Ryan Jackson made a lay-up with 2:59 remaining in the first half giving the hosts a 21-19 lead.  It would be Lewis' only made field goal in the final 5:50 of the opening 20 minutes.
 
A Brundidge steal and fast-break lay-up tied the game at 21, and following three missed shots by the Flyers on the ensuing possession, Larkin's jumper with 70 seconds left put WSU ahead 23-21.  A non-charge call by the officials in the waning seconds allowed for LU's Marty Strus to make two free throws with 4.4 seconds left tying the game at 23.
 
Lewis made 8-of-13 from the charity stripe in the first half, while WSU was 1-of-2.  Wayne State forwards attempted 10 field goals in the first half compared to five for Lewis' big men.
 
A jumper by junior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) at the 19:23 mark tied the game at 25 and 20 seconds later Udanoh split a pair from the foul line.  A jumper by Lewis was answered with a triple by Waters with 17:14 remaining giving the Warriors a 29-27 lead.
Lewis went on an 11-0 run as Wayne State was unable to score for the next 10:24 of the contest until a Brundidge jumper from just inside the three-point line went in just before the shot clock expired.  The Warriors were 0-for-9 from the floor and had five turnovers while being held scoreless.
 
A 6-1 WSU run made it a seven-point game (46-39) with 2:21 left.  The Warriors had an apparent turnover but the officials instead ruled a timeout by Lewis.  The Flyers made all six of their double-bonus free throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Despite the fact Lewis did not make a field goal in the final 4:40 of the game, both teams finished with 16 made field goals.  Turnovers were also even at 14, and WSU made four triples compared to one for the hosts.  Points off turnovers was even at 10, and the Warriors held a 13-12 edge in second chance points.  However, the Flyers were the beneficiaries of this holiday season as the officials granted Lewis 26 free throw attempts to eight for Wayne State.
 
Prophet was the lone Warrior in double figures with 11 points, while Brundidge added nine points and five rebounds.  Larkin contributed eight points and seven boards, with Udanoh tallying eight rebounds, three blocks, three steals and three assists.
 
Julian Lewis led Lewis University with a game-high 14 points, including 6-of-11 from the foul line as he attempted more free throws than the entire WSU team.
 
The Warriors will play game three of their four-game road trip Thursday at Hillsdale as all 14 remaining contests are against GLIAC rivals.