Box Score

Post-game interview with Coach Haralson

Box Score (HTML)

HOUGHTON, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team fell on the road Thursday night, losing 63-55 at Michigan Tech University. The Warriors fall to 9-9 in the GLIAC and 11-10 overall. MTU improves to 13-5 in the conference and 17-5 overall.

Both teams were strong defensively in the first half. Michigan Tech jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first four minutes, but Wayne State allowed just 14 points in the final 16 minutes of the half. WSU held Michigan Tech off the scoreboard for more than eight minutes in the first half, briefly taking the lead 12-10.

The Huskies held the advantage at halftime, 22-18. Freshman Clark Bishop had six points in the first half for the Warriors. WSU shot 25 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes, while Michigan Tech shot 31.8 percent from the field.

WSU trailed 37-27 with 13:26 left in the game. The Warriors pulled to within four points, 44-41, with 8:44 left after senior Chene Phillips converted on a conventional three-point play, but Michigan Tech held WSU off the scoreboard for the next three minutes, scoring six straight points to go up 50-41.

The Warriors would pull to within six points, 53-47, with 4:43 remaining. The last three of those points came on an Gerald Williams-Taylor three-point play. The Warriors would get no closer, however, as MTU drained its free throws in the last few minutes.

The Huskies made 22 of 27 free throws in the second half alone, while WSU went to the line 10 times in the second half, making seven foul shots. For the game, MTU was 27-for-36 (75 percent) from the foul line, while Wayne State was 12-for-17 (70.6 percent).

The two teams combined for 49 fouls during the contest, with Wayne State being whistled 30 times.

WSU shot 39.2 percent (20-for-51) from the field, while Michigan Tech made 16-of-44 shots for a 36.4-percent shooting clip. MTU had the rebounding edge, 35-33, and also had advantages in assists (11-9), steals (8-3) and blocks (7-2). WSU had 13 turnovers, while the Huskies had just seven.

Three Warriors were in doubles figures. Bishop had 13 points, Gerald Williams-Taylor added 12 points and senior Bryan Coleman scored 11 points for WSU.

Austin Armga had 19 points to lead Michigan Tech.

Wayne State returns to action Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest at Northern Michigan University.