DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (15-8 overall, 12-5 GLIAC) recorded a thrilling 72-69 overtime victory over GLIAC North Division leading Ferris State University (15-8 overall, 12-4 GLIAC) Thursday evening at the Matthaei.

The Warriors led 32-31 at halftime as there were four lead changes and three ties in the opening 20 minutes.  The biggest lead was six points by WSU (23-17 and 25-19) before the Bulldogs went on an 8-0 run.  Wayne State finished the half with a 7-4 spurt.  Both teams were four-for-11 from beyond the arc prior to intermission with WSU holding a 17-16 edge in rebounding but a decisive 10-5 advantage in second chance points.

FSU's Jerrell Sanders split a pair from the foul line in the first minute of the second half to knot the game at 32.  WSU junior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) hit a triple and followed with a jumper a minute later then WSU senior guard Stacey Waters (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) completed the 8-0 run with a triple.

Wayne State's lead remained between five and 11 points for the next six minutes until a dunk by junior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) increased the Warrior lead to 13 (56-43) with just under 11 minutes left in regulation.

A lay-up by senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) ended a 7-2 FSU spurt and put the lead back to 10 (60-50) with 6:45 left.

The Bulldogs responded with seven consecutive points before an offensive rebound and dunk by Larkin made it a two possession game at 62-57 with just under three minutes left.

On the ensuing trip down the court, FSU's Dietrich Lever hit his only field goal of regulation, a triple to cut the WSU lead to two (62-60) with 2:41 left.

On its next three possessions, the Warriors had one missed shot and two turnovers but the Bulldogs had two missed jumpers and a turnover in their offensive trips.  Sanders had a steal and lay-up to knot the game at 62 with 31.6 seconds left but missed the free throw, however teammate Daniel Sutherlin grabbed the long carom.

WSU senior guard Dale Brundidge (Southfield, Mich./Detroit Country Day) came up with a steal in the waning seconds to send the game into overtime.

FSU's Donate Molden drilled a baseline triple on the first possession of overtime.  Udanoh answered with a lay-up, then made both free throws following a missed jumper by Molden.

Kenny Brown put the Bulldogs ahead 67-66 with a jumper at the 2:11 mark of the extra stanza.  Sutherlin split a pair from the charity stripe on FSU's next possession increasing the visitors lead to two (68-66) with 1:35 left.

Following a Ferris timeout, Waters hit a three to regain the lead for the Warriors at 69-68 with 79 seconds left.  Lever had an offensive rebound and was fouled but only managed one-of-two from the free throw line to knot the game at 69.

Waters again drilled a triple with just over 30 seconds left to put the Warriors in front 72-69.  Brown missed a three-point shot on FSU's ensuing possession and Brundidge was fouled.  He missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Molden's last second three point try was well short of the basket.

With the victory, Wayne State moves within one-half game of second place Ferris State in the overall GLIAC standings.

WSU will have its final regular-season home game this Saturday at 3 p.m. against Grand Valley.  WSU's four seniors - Brundidge, Waters, Udanoh and Andrew Tines will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony.