Boxscore

Louisville, Ky. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (0-1 overall) began its 2012-13 campaign with a 79-65 setback at fourth-ranked Bellarmine (1-0 overall) in the season-opener for both squads.

The GLVC officiating crew called four fouls in the first 2:32 of the contest, all on Bellarmine before whistling the Warriors for the next eight fouls over the following 10 minutes.

Junior Chene Phillips (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) scored WSU's first four points as the contest was tied at 2, 4 and six before WSU tallied seven of the next nine points for a 13-8 advantage on baskets by junior Bryan Coleman (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) and senior Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) and a triple by senior Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio).

WSU had a six-point lead (17-11), its largest of the game, at the 9:08 mark following a lay-up by junior Jamar Ragland (Detroit, Mich./Loyola).  An 8-2 run by the Knights over the next two minutes knotted the score at 19.

BU took a 27-24 lead following a pair of free throws by Max Clemons at the 4:17 mark.  Coleman sank a pair of foul shots at the 2:44 mark to tie the game at 30.  Bellarmine scored the next four points, but WSU answered with four straight of its own to re-tie the game at 34.

Junior Michael Martin (West Bloomfield, Mich.) scored two baskets down low in the final 42 seconds giving the Warriors a 38-36 lead at intermission.  The Knights were kept in the game during the opening 20 minutes as the hosts shot 19 foul shots compared to six for the Warriors.

Bellarmine scored the first four points of the second half, but a jumper by Prophet tied the contest at 40 at the 17:01 mark.  Four straight Knight points were answered by a triple from Phillips and a lay-up by Coleman putting WSU in front 45-44 at the 15:15 mark.  Coleman drained a triple after BU's George Suggs had connected on a shot from beyond the arc giving WSU a 48-47 lead with 14:01 remaining.

Six consecutive Knight points gave the hosts a 53-48 advantage and Wayne State was never able to get closer than two points (55-53) the rest of the way.

Bellarmine made more free throws (29) than WSU attempted (23).  The 16 point differential in free throws made was larger than the margin of victory.

Phillips recorded a team-high 18 points in his Warrior debut while, Coleman added 13 points.  Junior Gerald Williams-Taylor (Flint, Mich./Northern) grabbed a squad-best nine rebounds equaling a career-high.  Phillips also had a game-high five assists.

Vance Hall tallied a game-best 25 points, which included 14-of-14 from the foul line.  Chris Dowe contributed 18 points, while Jake Thelen grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

Wayne State committed 11 turnovers to 12 for Bellarmine.  The Warriors held a 14-13 lead in points off turnovers, while also leading in second-chance points (15 to 11), bench points (23 to 19), and offensive rebounds (20 to 11).

WSU shot 38 percent (24-of-64) from the floor compared to BU's 49 percent (23-of-47).  Both squads made four three pointers.

Wayne State will play its home opener Monday at 7 p.m. vs. Lewis University at the Matthaei.