Improving Warriors Travel to Michigan Tech & Northern Michigan

Men's basketball aims for two wins in Upper Peninsula

By: Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Fans can listen to the games on WDTK - The Patriot (1400 AM / 92.7 FM).

Men's Basketball | 12/10/2014 11:30:00 AM

DETROIT -- After a solid second half against Lake Superior State on Thursday and a 10-point win over Northwood on Sunday, the Wayne State University men's basketball team (1-4, 1-1 GLIAC) continues competition against the North Division with games at Michigan Tech (3-2, 0-2 GLIAC) on Saturday and Northern Michigan (4-4, 2-0 GLIAC) on Monday.

Gavin Toma (Troy, Mich. / Southfield Christian) is the reigning GLIAC South Division Player of the Week after averaging 22.5 points per game including a career-high 25 points in Sunday's win. Toma has connected for at least two triples in all five games this season.

THE SERIES
Wayne State leads the all-time series against Michigan Tech 52-29 including wins in six of the last 10 meetings. The Huskies have won the last three contests. Coach Greer is 10-9 against MTU. The Warriors also lead the all-time series with Northern Michigan 36-34 including victories in eight of the last nine meetings. The two teams split the season series last year with each home team winning. Coach Greer is 11-7 all-time versus NMU.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan Tech was chosen as the preseason favorite in the North Division in October and just fell out of the Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Huskies won 24 games last season while advancing to the Sweet Sixteen behind senior All-American Austin Armga. Head coach Kevin Luke is the longest-tenured coach in the GLIAC, currently in his 21st season with MTU and is closing in on the 400 win milestone. Senior Ben Stelzer led the GLIAC in three-point shooting a year ago and averaged 17.8 points per game. This season, MTU is 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the league after falling at Malone and Walsh. The Huskies face Findlay on Dec. 11th. Stelzer currently ranks second in the conference at 23.6 points per game and is the only one in double-figures for MTU.

Northern Michigan was predicted to finish eighth out of eight North Division teams in the GLIAC Preseason Poll but are off to a 2-0 start in league play. Eight players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores under second-year head coach Bill Sall. NMU recorded road victories at Walsh and Malone last week. Jordan Perez leads the Wildcats at 10.5 points per game and ranks fourth in three-point percentage (45.3).

IN THE POLLS
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its 2014-15 Preseason Poll on Oct. 29th as voted on by local media members. The Wayne State University men's basketball team was predicted to finish third in the South Division with 90 points. Sophomore guard Clark Bishop was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team as voted on by the league's head coaches.

YOUNG WARRIORS
When you look up and down the Warriors' roster, you will notice just one junior and no seniors. However, WSU has some experience returning in Clark Bishop, Gavin Toma, Michael Lewis and Joel Ndondo who all played a role last season. In addition, a graduate student transfer DeMarius Miller (Clarion) will add another scoring threat to the roster.

2013-14 RECAP
Last season, the Wayne State University men's basketball program knew it would be an uphill battle all-year long in the always tough GLIAC. That battle became more difficult when the Warriors lost Mike Hollingsworth to injury prior to the start of the season. He was just the fifth player in WSU history with at least 990 points, 300 rebounds, 145 assists, 80 steals and 60 triples.

However, typical of David Greer coached teams, WSU fought its way to 12 wins including notable victories at Grand Valley State in overtime and a four-point win over No.16 Lake Superior State at home to end the season.

WSU missed the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2008 and will need to replace seven seniors who made a significant impact last season and in their careers.

LAST TIME OUT
After a solid second half against Lake Superior State on Thursday, WSU (1-4, 1-1 GLIAC) continued its improved play with a 69-59 win over Northwood (3-3, 0-2 GLIAC) on Sunday afternoon. Gavin Toma scored 16 second-half points to finish with a career-high 25 points to lead all scorers. Toma netted six consecutive points in the second half to stifle a Timberwolves' rally. He also drilled a three-pointer to beat the shot clock late in the contest. The 10-point victory helped the Warriors collect their first overall and first GLIAC win of the season. Clark Bishop tallied 17 points while Joel Ndondo finished with a career-high 12 points to go with six rebounds. Michael Lewis led WSU with seven boards.

THE BEAT GOES ON
David Greer is in his 14th season at the helm of the Warrior basketball program during the 2014-15 academic year. He is the fourth-longest tenured coach in program history and is just three wins shy of 200 victories with Wayne State. Greer, who has directed the Warriors to a 197-165 record, was voted the 2012-13 GLIAC Coach of the Year by his peers. Greer coached his 300th WSU (non-exhibition) game vs. Northwood on Feb. 11, 2012, and his 200th GLIAC game vs. Grand Valley State on Feb. 18, 2012. Coach Greer passed Joel Mason for second place in victories with his 187th win in the victory over Ohio Dominican on Dec. 7, 2013.

NEELY INDUCTED INTO EMU HALL OF FAME
Current and longtime assistant coach Lorenzo Neely was inducted in the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame. The Eastern Michigan University E-Club Alumni Chapter, the official varsity athletic letterwinners club, announced Neely as well as six other former standouts who were enshrined at the Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, Oct. 24. Neely is entering his 11th season with the WSU men's basketball program, all spent with head coach David Greer, and has been a collegiate coach for the past 16 years. He finished his Huron career with 1,528 points, 433 free throws, 317 rebounds, and his 521 assists rank second in EMU's all-time record book. Neely served as an assistant men's basketball coach at EMU for two seasons including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1998.

COMCAST/XFINITY
Beginning on Jan. 17th every men's and women's basketball home game will be broadcast live throughout the state of Michigan on Comcast CN900. Sean Baligian, Ryan Ermanni, Rod Beard and Joe Abramson will bring you the action.

WDTK - THE PATRIOT
Russ McNamara will call all of the men's action this season on WDTK - The Patriot (92.7 FM / 1400 AM). Fans can also listen online at WDTKAM.com. WSU Hall of Famer Cliff Russell will return to provide his insights for each home game.

ALL-NEW MATTHAEI
The Matthaei has received a face lift over the course of the past decade. In January of 2014, a new scoreboard and video board were installed which features live action and replays. During the offseason, the Warriors added a new parquet floor and the sub-floor (circa 1965) was replaced. And finally a new basketball office expansion was completed in the fall on the northwest corner of the Matthaei. The new expansion includes six coaches offices, a theater-style film room and a reception area.

NEXT UP
The Warriors will resume conference play in 2015 when Grand Valley State visits Detroit on Jan. 2.

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Players Mentioned

#31 Mike Hollingsworth: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior

#30 Clark Bishop: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#20 Michael Lewis: F; 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

#34 Joel Ndondo: C; 6' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore

#3 Gavin Toma: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#11 DeMarius Miller: G; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#31 Mike Hollingsworth
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#30 Clark Bishop
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G

#20 Michael Lewis
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore
: F

#34 Joel Ndondo
: 6' 8"; Redshirt Sophomore
: C

#3 Gavin Toma
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#11 DeMarius Miller
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: G