Wayne State Men's Basketball Weekly Release

2010-11 RECORDS:
Wayne State 17-5, 12-3 GLIAC
Ferris State 18-5, 14-2 GLIAC
Grand Valley 17-6, 12-4 GLIAC

SERIES:
WSU trails Ferris State 35-37
WSU trails Grand Valley 26-44

LAST MEETINGS:
WSU won 85-78 at FSU on Feb 27, 2010
GVSU won 47-44 at home vs. WS on March 2, 2010

RADIO: WDTK (1400 AM)

ONLINE AUDIO:  wdtkam.com

LIVE STATS:   livestats.prestosports.com/waynestate

* GAMES 23-24 STORYLINES

After concluding its three-game homestand with a 23-point win over Wisconsin-Parkside, the Warriors struggled offensively in a 69-63 setback at Northwood. The loss drops WSU to fourth in the GLIAC with two weeks remaining. The top four teams will host a GLIAC quarterfinal game on Wed., March 2.

* ALL-TIME SERIES

Wayne State trails 35-37 in the all-time series vs. the Bulldogs including a 14-20 mark in Big Rapids.

WSU has a 10-23 record in Allendale, but has won two of the last five contests at GVSU.

* WEEK 12 RECAP

Wayne State went 1-1 last week and has a 17-5 mark heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

WSU extended its home court winning streak to 13 games with a non-conference triumph over the Rangers on Feb. 7.

The Warriors led wire-to-wire and had a 13-2 run over a 5:30 span midway through the first half, then later went on a 19-9 run to take a 20-point lead just before intermission.

WSU shot 62 percent (36-of-58) for the game, and held a 37-23 rebounding edge. Wayne State also scored 21 second-chance points.

Bryan Smothers recorded a game-high 25 points. Mike Hollingsworth and Jerry Oden each tallied 15 points, with Ike Udanoh grabbing a game-best eight rebounds.

The Warriors struggled from the field, shooting just 30 percent (19-of-63), and were held to only 25 points in the first half of Saturday's loss at Northwood.

After scoring the first bucket of the game on a field goal by Oden, the host Timberwolves tallied the next eight points. WSU battled back to knot the game at eight on a jumper by Ian Larkin.

After pulling within three with just under two minutes left before intermission, Northwood closed out the first half on an 8-3 run for a 33-25 halftime advantage.

Following a slow start to the second half, the Warriors were within four (39-35) after a triple by Smothers. NU responded with a 12-2 run opening a 14-point lead.

The Warriors trailed by 10 (64-54) with 1:09 left, but Smothers made three triples cutting the deficit to three with 25 seconds left.

After Northwood's Cameron Joyce split a pair from the foul line, WSU missed its final two three-point attempts.

Smothers and Hollingsworth each had 18 points for Wayne State. WSU grabbed 23 offensive rebounds and led 43-38 in rebounding for the game.

* 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 144-126 record. He is the fifth-longest tenured coach at WSU.

Bill Sall is in his ninth season with the Bulldogs and has a 140-126 record.

Grand Valley's Ric Wesley has compiled a 170-45 mark in his seventh year with the Lakers.

* SCOUTING FERRIS STATE

The Bulldogs have won 10 straight since a loss at Eastern Michigan on Jan. 4.

Justin Keenan leads FSU in scoring (21.9 points per game), while Darien Gay is second at 14.5 ppg.

Keenan is shooting a team-best 56 percent (161-of-290) from the field, and has made nearly three times as many free throws as any teammate has attempted. He also averages 10.2 rebounds per contest.

Matt DeHart has made a team-high 58 triples, with Gay adding another 54 three-pointers.

Dontae Molden leads the squad in both assists (94) and steals (27), while Lou Williams has a team-best 48 blocked shots.

WSU-FSU SERIES NOTES

• WSU trails 35-37 in the all-time series

• The Warriors are 14-20 in Big Rapids

• Wayne State ended its three-game losing streak at Wink Arena with last year's win

* SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY

The Lakers are 11-0 at home this year heading into Thursday's contest against Findlay.

GVSU is 2-3 in its last five games, none of which have been played at the GVSU Fieldhouse.

Justin Ringler (14.8 points per game) and James Thomas (10.5 ppg) are the top two scorers.

Ringler, who leads the team with 135 rebounds, is one of four regulars shooting over 50 percent for the Lakers.

Thomas has made a team-best 41 triples, while Alvin Storrs leads the squad with 38 steals.

Ringler has dished out a team-high 60 assists with Asauhn Tatum blocking a team-best 48 shots.

WSU-GVSU SERIES NOTES

• WSU trails 26-44 in the all-time series

• Wayne State is 10-23 at the GVSU Fieldhouse

• The Warriors are 2-3 in their last five games in Allendale