DETROIT – The Wayne State University men's basketball team (11-7 overall, 8-4 GLIAC) started strong and led wire-to-wire in defeating visiting Ashland University (11-7 overall, 6-5 GLIAC) 79-71 Thursday evening at the Matthaei.
 
The Warriors improved to 5-1 at home in league play by opening up a 10-point advantage (14-4) in the first six minutes of the contest.  Junior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) tallied WSU's first eight points on a dunk and two triples.
 
The Eagles never were closer than nine the rest of the half.  In fact, WSU led by as many as 21 on a couple of occasions (35-14 and 38-17).
 
The Warriors shot 58 percent (15-of-26) from the floor in the first half while limiting the Eagles to 33 percent (8-of-24)  to earn a 42-23 lead at intermission.  Three WSU players scored in double figures in the opening 20 minutes led by sophomore forward Bryan Coleman's (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) 14 points off the bench.  Coleman was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
 
AU scored the first nine points of the second half before a dunk by senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) started a 9-0 Warrior run.
 
WSU maintained its 17-plus point lead until a three-pointer by Ashland's David Harris with just under nine minutes remaining cut the Wayne State lead to 16 (63-47).
 
Udanoh made a pair of free throws three minutes later to regain the 19-point advantage (69-50), but the Eagles responded with eight consecutive points.
 
The Warriors led by 10-13 points the rest of the way until a triple in the waning seconds by Will Evans.
 
Coleman led five Warriors in double figures with 17 points, while Larkin and senior guard Stacey Waters (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) each added 16 points.  Both Udanoh and junior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) contributed 11 points.
 
AU's Evan Yates had game-high totals of 20 points and nine rebounds but was limited to 25 minutes before fouling out.
 
Coleman led WSU with eight boards.  Wayne State had just eight turnovers to 13 miscues for Ashland.
 
Wayne State will conclude the modest two-game homestand with a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday vs. Lake Erie.