DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (9-6 overall, 6-3 GLIAC) moved into a second-place tie in the GLIAC South Division by upending visiting Findlay (12-4 overall, 6-3 GLIAC) 76-73 Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.

Neither team made a field goal in the first 6:30 of the contest as Findlay went 0-9 from the floor with two turnovers, while WSU was 0-for-5 with four miscues.

Warrior sophomore forward Bryan Coleman (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) ended the drought by hitting a jumper putting the hosts ahead 6-0.  WSU's first four points came from the free throw line courtesy senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower). 

After a dunk by Udanoh made it 8-0, the Oilers responded with eight consecutive points for the only tie of the contest (WSU never trailed in the game).

Wayne State junior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) scored all eight Warrior points in an 8-1 run, as he sandwiched a lay-up around two triples, to put the Warriors in front 18-9.

WSU closed out the first half outscoring Findlay 11-7 in the final four minutes for a 31-19 lead at the break.  UF shot 25 percent (5-of-20) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while Wayne State made 44 percent (10-of-23) of its field goal tries.  The Warriors had a 12-2 edge in points off turnovers as the Oilers had nine miscues to seven for WSU in the first half.  Udanoh tallied 10 points and five rebounds in 16 minutes before intermission.

Udanoh started the second half scoring with a jumper but Findlay responded with the next six points, the last four coming by Jack Smith.  After a Udanoh free throw, a dunk by Smith cut the WSU lead to seven (34-27).  Udanoh answered with four straight points points increasing the lead to 11 (38-27).

Wayne State's lead was down to seven (41-34) near the midway point of the second half following a conventional three-point play by UF's Greg Kahlig.

Larkin scored down low, but Findlay's Aaron Robinson drained a three-pointer and Jake Heagen scored on a dunk making it a four-point game (43-39) with 9:40 remaining.

A minute later, WSU freshman guard Paul TenHarmsel (Caledonia, Mich.) hit a triple pushing the lead back to seven (48-41).  Following a jumper by Robinson, senior guard Stacey Waters (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) hit a jumper and Udanoh scored on a lay-up increasing the advantage to nine (52-43) at the 6:27 mark.

Wayne State's lead remained between eight and 12 points for nearly the next four minutes until sophomore guard Deon Dismuke (Detroit, Mich./Pershing) made both shots in a double bonus situation with 2:30 remaining pushing the Warrior lead to 13 (60-47).

Findlay scored 26 points in the final 150 seconds as Kyle Caiola made 4-of-5 field goal attempts including all three three-point shots along with two free throws for 13 points.  Sean Samsel tallied 11 points during the late rally on 3-of-3 from beyond the arc along with a lay-up.

Wayne State recorded 16 points in the final 2:30 with 10 coming from the foul line.  Coleman made all four free throws, while Udanoh was 3-of-4 down the stretch.  WSU was 3-of-4 from the field and had two turnovers.

Udanoh, who finished with game-high totals of 25 points and 12 rebounds, would attempt the second-most free throws in school history (20), making the fourth most (17).  His 20 free throw attempts are the most since Will Paige made 18-of-20 at Grand Valley on Feb. 13, 1993, in a game in which Wayne State tied the NCAA record for free throws made in a contest with 64 (in 79 attempts).  The Tartars won that game 105-82 against the Lakers.

Larkin nearly had a double-double with 16 points and nine boards, while both Coleman and Waters chipped in with 10 points.  Caiola led UF with 21 points.

Wayne State will play twice on the road next week visiting Tiffin on Thursday (Jan. 19) for an 8 p.m. tip and then traveling to Columbus to face Ohio Dominican on Saturday in a 3 p.m. start.