DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (7-17 overall, 7-14 GLIAC) suffered an 85-72 setback to visiting Walsh University (13-12 overall, 11-10 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Warriors raced out to a 6-1 lead just 2:30 into the contest as junior forward Michael Lewis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) made his lone triple of the game and sophomore guard Marcus Moore (Lansing, Mich. / Waverly) followed by splitting a pair at the charity stripe then a fast-break jumper.

Moore's field goal would be WSU's last points until another Moore jumper at the 11:26 mark.  During the scoreless streak, the Cavaliers tallied 20 consecutive points to turn a five-point deficit into a 15-point advantage.  Walsh's Zac Carter drained a three pointer after Moore's bucket pushing the margin to 16.

Wayne State pulled within 11 (30-19) following a jumper by sophomore forward Chuck Key (Detroit, Mich. / Cass Tech) and two free throws by Moore. with 7:25 left in the first half.

Walsh went on a 9-2 run for its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes at 18 points (39-21), but the Warriors responded by ending the first half on 10-2 run over the final 3:15 to trail by 10 (41-31) at intermission.

Key started the second half scoring with a jumper, but the Cavaliers rattled off six straight points.  WSU's deficit ranged between 12 and 17 points unitl a Moore lay-up and two foul shots by sophomore guard Ronald Booth (Detroit, Mich. / Consortium) at the 11:59 mark.

Booth went on a scoring spree tallying 11 points on three triples and lay-up in less than a three-minute span to pull the Warriors within five (66-61) with 7:26 remaining.

Wayne State was within five again after a lay-up by Key, but Walsh answered with a 7-1 run over the next 3:20 to regain a double-digit advantage at 75-64.

The Warriors were within nine on three occasions but were unable to get it to a two possession game.

LEADING THE WARRIORS

Booth recorded a game-high 27 points, which included four triples and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.  Moore chipped in with 12 points and a game-best three steals.  Lewis led WSU with nine rebounds.

TEAM STATS RECAP

WSU shot 44 percent (25-of-57) from the floor, compared to 51 percent (29-of-57) for the Cavaliers.  Walsh held an 8-6 edge in three-pointers made, with the visitors also leading in free throw percentage (76% - 19-of-25; to 55 percent - 16-of-29).

Walsh had a 40-34 edge in rebounding, but Wayne State held a 24-4 margin in bench scoring.

LEADING THE OPPOSITION

Trey Fletcher notched a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds.  The 10 boards tied for game-high honors with teammate Chall Montgomery.  Jesse Hardin Jr. tallied 23 points, while Carter added 22 points.

UP NEXT

Wayne State will conclude its season at home on Thursday with a 7:30 p.m. tip against Findlay.

COMCAST

The Wayne State vs. Walsh contest will be replayed by Comcast CN 900 at 10 a.m. on Feb. 21, and again at 10 p.m. on Feb. 24.