Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (17-8 overall, 14-5 GLIAC) clinched a home playoff game (top four in the conference) with a 76-54 triumph Thursday evening at Lake Superior State University (11-14 overall, 6-12 GLIAC).

Junior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) scored WSU's first eight points on two triples and field goal as the Warriors raced out to an 8-2 lead in the first 3:40 of the contest.

The WSU defense limited the host Lakers to one made field goal in the first 6:50 as the Warriors opened a 15-2 advantage.

Ten Lake Superior points in under four minutes cut the WSU lead to 12 (24-12), after the visitors had a 22-8 lead with 10:45 left in the first half.

Wayne State went on an 11-4 run to open a 35-16 lead four minutes before intermission.

The Warriors shot 62 percent (13-of-21) in the opening 20 minutes, while the Lakers shot 40 percent (12-of-30).  Both Larkin and junior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) had 10 points at halftime.

Lake Superior was able to get within 10 points (42-32 and 47-37) in the first 5:15 of the second half, but a 12-4 Warrior run opened an 18-point lead at 59-41 just past the mid-point of the second half.

Wayne State shot 52 percent (14-of-27) in the final 20 minutes to finish at 56 percent (27-of-48).

Larkin tallied a game-high 23 points, while senior center Ike Udanoh (Detroit, Mich./Warren Woods Tower) contributed 15 points and a game-best 11 rebounds.  Udanoh also added four assists, two blocks and two steals.

Prophet scored 13 points and dished out six assists.

Derek Billing led LSSU with 16 points, but the Lakers shot just 33 percent (9-of-27) in the second half and only made one field goal in the final 7:50 of the game.

Wayne State will host a GLIAC quarterfinal playoff game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 29 against an undetermined opponent.