Boxscore

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball squad (5-1 overall, 4-0 GLIAC) moved into a tie for first place in the GLIAC overall standings with an 82-61 triumph over visiting Lake Erie College (3-3 overall, 0-3 GLIAC) Sunday afternoon at the Matthaei.  It was the fifth straight victory for the 35th-ranked Warriors.

Junior guard Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich.) started the scoring with a dunk on the game's opening possession off an assist from junior forward Gerald Williams-Taylor (Flint, Mich./Northern).  Rich Austin for LEC countered with five consecutive points before a jumper by Williams-Taylor ended the run.  Senior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) followed with a lay-up off a dish from Hollingsworth to give the WSU the lead for good as part of an 18-0 run as the Storm was held scoreless for 7:35 until Tom Parker made a pair from the foul line for the visitors.

Senior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) had an offensive rebound and bucket prior to LEC's Jamil Dudley scoring from the paint at the 9:33 mark, the first made field goal for the Storm in over nine minutes.

Wayne State's margin was cut to 11 moments later as Dudley connected on a three-pointer, but the Warriors responded with four consecutive points by Hollingsworth.

After Lake Erie pulled within 12 (27-15) on a triple by Riley Thomas, WSU answered with a 13-5 run to increase the lead to 20 (40-20) with just under three minutes remaining in the first half.

Wayne State shot 67 percent (18-of-27) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes including 17-of-20 from inside the arc.  Meanwhile, Lake Erie shot 50 percent (9-of-18) but has 12 turnovers leading to 21 points for the Warriors who led 46-28 at intermission.  WSU also had a 30-6 edge in points in the paint during the first half.

The Warriors lead remained between 16 and 22 points for the first 10 minutes of the second half, before a 7-0 Storm run keyed by four points from Steve Walczak and three from Garrick Sims made it a 14-point contest (62-48) with just under 10 minutes left.

Six straight points by Hollingsworth over the next 65 seconds pushed the lead back to 20 (68-48) at the 7:48 mark.

WSU's lead was never fewer than 14 points the rest of the game.

Hollingsworth led all scorers with 23 points while junior guard Chene Phillips (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) chipped in with 17 points, and Larkin contributed 16 points.  Hollingsworth also had a game-best six rebounds, while Prophet had a game-high five assists.

Austin led three Storm players in double figures with 14 points.

Wayne State finished the game with a 36-7 advantage in points off turnovers, a 14-0 edge in fast break points along with a 44-30 margin in points in the paint.

The Warriors will continue their homestand this Saturday (Dec. 15) with a 3 p.m. tip-off at the Matthaei against GLVC opponent Drury.  It was be WSU's final non-conference game of the regular-season.