Boxscore

Post-Game Interview with Mike Hollingsworth.

Post-Game Interview with assistant coach E.J.Haralson.

Marquette, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team remained unbeaten in league play with a 65-59 road triumph at Northern Michigan on Saturday.  The Warriors have won seven straight overall to improve to 12-2 overall and 11-0 in the GLIAC.  The Wildcats fall to 4-12 overall and 3-9 in the GLIAC.

Besides the performance of senior forward Ian Larkin (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance) in the opening 20 minutes, it appeared as if the 11:00 a.m. start was too early for WSU.  Larkin tallied 11 points and six rebounds in the first half, while the rest of the squad was just 3-of-13 from the floor.  Junior forward Gerald Williams-Taylor (Flint, Mich./Northern) did chip in six points on 2-of-2 from both the field and foul line.

However, the Warriors were trailing 25-22 at intermission despite shooting 40 percent (8-of-20) from the floor and limiting the Wildcats to 33 percent (8-of-24).  NMU had a 17-14 rebounding edge including five offensive boards to one for WSU.

Northern Michigan scored the first five points of the second half to open an eight point lead at 30-22.  Larkin ended the nearly four minute drought with a triple that ignited a 10-0 Warrior run.  In addition to Larkin's shot from downtown, he had a conventional three-point play, while Williams-Taylor added an offensive rebound and bucket along with a pair of free throws.

The contest was tied five times (30, 32, 34, 38 and 41) over the next six minutes including the final time on three-pointer by NMU's Stephen Pelkofer.  Larkin connected on a jumper and then split a pair from the foul line giving WSU the lead for good at 44-41.  A Larkin dunk sandwiched around four made foul shots by the Wildcats kept the Warrior lead at one (46-45).  Junior guard Mike Hollingsworth had a conventional three-point play, then less than a minute later drained a three-pointer putting Wayne State up five (52-47) with just under six minutes remaining.

Over the next four minutes, WSU made just two shots - a triple by senior guard Cole Prophet (Sandusky, Ohio) and a jumper by Hollingsworth, while Northern Michigan countered five made free throws and a pair of lay-ups to pull within one at 57-56.  Hollingsworth answered with another triple pushing the advantage to four (60-56) at the 1:45 mark.

Kendall Jackson had an offensive rebound and put back to make it a two-point game, then Hollingsworth drove to basket, was fouled, and made both shots from the charity stripe.  Pelkofer and Prophet each split a pair from the foul line keeping the margin at four (63-59).  Hollingsworth sealed the victory with a pair of free throws in the final 15 seconds.

Larkin totaled a game-high 24 points on 10-of-12 FG along with a team-best eight rebounds.  Hollingsworth, who was held scoreless in the first half, responded with 20 points, including three triples after intermission.  Prophet contributed eight points and four assists to just one turnover.

T.J. Cameron and Jackson each had 15 points for the Wildcats, who shot 34 percent (15-of-44) from the floor during the game.

Wayne State will conclude its three-game road trip with a Thursday contest at Ferris State.

Note:

Head coach David Greer moved into third place tie on the WSU all-time wins list with Newman Ertell at 179.