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DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (5-3 overall, 3-2 GLIAC) ran into a hot shooting first half by Walsh University (7-2 overall, 3-2 GLIAC) and could not overcome a 21-point (49-28) halftime deficit in falling 77-62 to the visiting Cavaliers.

Walsh connected on 72 percent (18-of-25) of its first half field goal attempts including 9-of-14 from beyond the arc (64 percent) compared to 38 percent (12-of-32) for the Warriors.

The guests scored the first six points of the game, and following a triple by senior guard Chene Phillips (Detroit, Mich./Renaissance), Walsh rattled off 11 consecutive points which began with back-to-back-to-back three-pointers by Jesse Hardin to open a 14-point advantage at 17-3.

WSU pulled within nine (17-8) after recording five straight points on a triple by senior forward Bryan Coleman (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) and a jumper by classmate Jamar Ragland (Detroit, Mich./Loyola).

Walsh's lead remained between 10 and 17 for the next 5:30 prior to a 13-7 run increased the margin to 23 (49-26) with just over two minutes left before intermission.

The Cavaliers started the second half on a 7-2 spurt pushing their lead to 26 (56-30).  A 17-4 run by Wayne State cut the deficit in half with just under 11 minutes left.  Phillips tallied eight of WSU's points during the run.

The Warriors trailed by at least 13 the rest of the game, but outscored the guests 34-28 during the final 20 minutes as the Wayne State defense limited Walsh to 36 percent (9-of-25) from the floor and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.  Meanwhile, WSU shot 44 percent (14-of-32) from the field.

Phillips led the Warriors with 16 points and six assists, while Coleman added 14 points.  Ragland chipped in 10 points off the bench, while senior Michael Martin (W. Bloomfield, Mich.) grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.

Hardin tallied a game-best 22 points which included 4-of-7 from three-point range.  Hrvoje Vucic contributed 21 points as the 7-1 center drained three triples.

The 77 points by Walsh is the third fewest this year (including exhibition games), behind 63 at Ohio State (in a 93-63 exhibition game setback in Columbus) and 65 against Lake Superior (in a 68-65 loss at home on Dec. 14).

Wayne State will try to end a two-game losing streak when the Malone Pioneers visit the Matthaei for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday.