Boxscore

Post-Game Interview with Ian Larkin

DETROIT -- Despite being out-rebounded 36-24, and losing the second-chance points battle 17-5, the Wayne State University men's basketball team recorded a 74-71 triumph over visiting Northwood University (4-9 overall, 3-6 GLIAC) Thursday night at the Matthaei.  With the win, the Warriors improve to 9-2 overall and 8-0 in the GLIAC.

WSU led the entire second half except for a 24-second span (6:25-6:01) that the contest was tied at 60.

The Warriors margin was by two to five points the rest of the way until a triple by NU's Andrew VanDierenDonck with 37 seconds left cut the WSU lead to one at 72-71.

WSU worked for a good shot and senior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) drained a jumper with 12 seconds left putting the Warriors ahead by three.  Northwood's Wes Wilcox heaved a long desperation three just before the buzzer sounded that was off the mark.

Both teams put on a shooting show in the opening 20 minutes combining for 78 points (WSU 42-36).  Wayne State shot 55 percent (16-of-29), including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc with four different players hitting triples.  NU connected on 52 percent (14-of-27) of its shots in the first half.  Junior guard Chene Phillips (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) led all scorers with 13 points at intermission.  There were three lead changes and four ties in the first half.

Senior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) hit a triple extending WSU's lead to nine (45-36) less than 90 seconds into the second half.  Another three-pointer by Larkin two minutes later pushed the lead to 10 (50-40).  NU's Will Bowles scored the next four points before a Darvin Ham lay-up cut the Warrior lead to four (50-46).

Prophet hit a shot from beyond the arc making it a seven-point advantage.  The Warrior lead was between four and seven points for the next four minutes until Wilcox made a triple cutting the WSU margin to one (57-56) with just under eight minutes left.

Junior guard Mike Hollingsworth (Utica, Mich.) split a pair from the foul line and after Larkin grabbed an offensive rebound, Hollingsworth scored from down low.  A Wilcox lay-up and a lay-up by Bowles knotted the game at 60 with 6:25 left.

Larkin had a conventional three-point play on the ensuing trip down the court, then the teams combined for three consecutive scoreless possessions before Larkin made two foul shots pushing the lead to five (65-60).  The teams traded baskets until a tip-in by Bowles with 82 seconds remaining made it a two-point game (70-68).  Junior forward Gerald Williams-Taylor (Flint, Mich. / Northern) made two free throws with 53.1 seconds left after he was fouled by Ham on a lay-up attempt as the shot clock was expiring.  His two makes from the charity stripe gave WSU a 72-68 lead prior to the aforementioned triple by VanDierenDonck.

Larkin led the Warriors with a double-double on 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Prophet, Hollingsworth and Phillips scored 15, 14 and 13 points, respectively.  The Warriors had just eight turnovers leading to a 15-4 advantage in points off turnovers.

Bowles tallied game-high totals of 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead four Timberwolves in double figures.

Wayne State will conclude its four-game homestand with a 1 p.m. tip on Saturday against Saginaw Valley.