Men's Basketball | 1/28/2015 8:00:00 AM

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (2-13, 2-10 GLIAC) have shown flashes of potential while dropping eight straight including two overtime contests. WSU will continue South Division play at Malone (7-11. 5-7 GLIAC) on Thursday before returning home to meet Walsh (9-7, 5-7 GLIAC) on Saturday.

The contest against the Cavaliers will be the first of six doubleheaders to air live on Comcast channel 900.

STORYLINES
The Warriors have just four road contests remaining and will play six of nine inside the Matthaei to finish the season after Thursday's game at Malone. Head coach David Greer is two wins shy of 200 victories with the Warriors.

THE SERIES
Wayne State will meet the two newest members of the GLIAC on Thursday and Saturday. WSU is 2-1 all-time against Malone with the only loss coming in 1977 in the Akron Classic and the two wins coming each of the last two years. In last season's three-point win over Malone in Detroit, Clark Bishop made two free throws with 30 seconds remaining to give WSU a 66-53 advantage. A late WSU turnover allowed MU a chance to tie the game but a Jamar Ragland rebound sealed the victory. The Warriors have played Walsh twice (2013 and 2014) and dropped both contests. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Malone enters Thursday's game in a tie for second place in the South Division at 5-7 and 7-11 overall. The Pioneers have won four of their last five games including an 81-61 victory at Grand Valley State on Jan. 10th. Head coach Tim Walker is in his sixth season leading MU's program and carries a 79-80 career record. Freshman guard Ben Haraway is leading the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game while dishing out 2.7 assists and grabbing 3.7 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Nate Sheppard is scoring 10.7 points per game while reigning GLIAC South Player of the Week, junior center Brian Stone is chipping in 10 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Stone tallied 30 points and 23 rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting in two games to earn the award. Freshman forward Mitch Spotleson leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 boards per game.

One of the three teams tied for second at 5-7 in the South Division is Walsh. The Cavaliers are 9-7 overall and have won four straight games coming into their game against Findlay on Thursday. Head coach Jeff Young is in his 11th season and is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 273 victories. Young led WU to a NAIA National Title in 2005 and a runner-up finish in 2010. Junior guard Jesse Hardin, Jr. is the team's leading scorer at 15.4 points per game and rebounder at 6.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore forward Trey Fletcher is scoring 14.1 points per game. As a team Walsh is second in the league in three-point shooting at 37.3 percent (133-357).

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. 

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
The WSU men's basketball team traveled back to Ohio on Saturday to meet division leader Ashland and the Eagles claimed a 73-59 win. Back-to-back three-pointers from Michael Lewis and Gavin Toma brought WSU within six, 33-27, at the 2:33 mark. Wayne State was held scoreless the rest of the half and went into the break trailing 39-27. Daniel Ball connected from deep to cut the deficit to three, 55-52, with seven minutes to play. However, that would be as close as the Warriors would get the rest of the way. Toma finished with a team-high 19 points while Chuck Key chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds. Lewis matched a game-high with 10 boards. Wendell Davis powered AU to the win with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

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 two wins shy of 200 victories with Wayne State. Greer, who has directed the Warriors to a 198-174 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
The final six men's and women's basketball home games 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 videoboard 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
Following the Walsh contest on Jan. 31, WSU will host Findlay on Monday and Tiffin on Thursday before traveling to Ohio Dominican on Feb. 7.