DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball squad (5-16 overall, 5-13 GLIAC) won for the third time in the last five outings posting a 76-67 triumph over visiting Lake Erie College (8-14 overall, 5-13 GLIAC) Thursday night at the Matthaei.

WSU started strong scoring the first seven points on a jumper by freshman Marcus Moore (Lansing, Mich. / Waverly), a jumper by sophomore Clark Bishop (Detroit, Mich. / Renaissance) and a triple by sophomore Michael Lewis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) but the Storm responded with a 10-0 run after not making a bucket in the first five minutes of the game.

A lay-up by freshman Chuck Key (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) off a feed from Bishop ended WSU's five minute scoring drought.  The last three lead changes of the opening 20 minutes occurred in a 70 second span and was part of an 11-0 Warrior run which turned a 12-11 deficit into a 22-12 lead at the 5:49 mark.

During LEC's nearly six minute scoreless period the Storm had three turnovers and were 0-for-4 from the floor.

Wayne State's largest lead of 11 (27-16) came following a Lewis basket with 1:19 remaining before intermission.

The Warriors led 29-19 at the break with junior Gavin Toma (Troy, Mich. / Southfield Christian) leading the way with 10 points.  The 19 points allowed by Wayne State was the best defensive effort in the opening 20 minutes this season.  WSU shot 48 percent (12-of-25) in the first half compared to 33 percent (7-of-21) for Lake Erie.

Bishop's hoop on the opening possession of the second half extended the hosts lead to 12, and Wayne State's advantage remained between 10 14 until back-to-back lay-ups by Lewis pushed the margin to 16 (45-29) at the 11:50 mark.

Lake Erie's deficit was in double digits until Jamil Dudley drained a triple with 7:21 left to make it a nine-point game at 54-45.  Toma hit an off-balance three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring around the nine-minute mark to turn a 10-point lead into a 13-point advantage.

The Storm pulled within seven (58-51) at the 4:52 mark as Roy Alexander split a pair from the charity stripe, but a free throw from Moore and a bucket by sophomore Joel Ndondo (Ajax, Ont.) regained the 10-point lead at 61-51 and Wayne State's margin was never less than eight the rest of the game.

Lewis tallied a game-high 21 points, his third 20-plus performance in the last eight contests on 7-of-8 shooting (1-of-2 three-pointers) and 6-of-9 from the foul line.  Toma added 18 points and a team-best three assists, while Bishop chipped in with 14 points.  Lewis and Toma tied for game-high rebounding honors with six boards.

Dudley and Alexander each scored 14 points for Lake Erie, who shot 63 percent (15-of-24) in the second half to outscore the Warriors 48-47.

Wayne State continues its home stand with a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday against Ashland on Hall of Fame Day.