DETROIT -- There will be plenty on the line when the Wayne State University men's basketball team (14-9 overall, 12-6 GLIAC) travels to the Upper Peninsula to battle with Michigan Tech (13-12 overall, 10-8 GLIAC) on Thursday night and Northern Michigan (14-11 overall, 11-7 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon.

STORYLINES
Six wins in its last seven games has propelled Wayne State into the third spot of the GLIAC standings.  Two wins on the upcoming road trip to the Upper Peninsula would secure that third seed for the Warriors and a split would guarantee a home playoff game on Feb. 28th.  WSU will play at Michigan Tech on Thursday night and at Northern Michigan on Saturday afternoon to conclude the regular season with hopes of avenging a weekend sweep earlier this season by MTU and NMU.

THE SERIES
Wayne State has a 54-33 lead in the all-time series against the Huskies.  The Warriors are 18-21 on the road against MTU.  Michigan Tech has won seven of the last nine meetings, including each of the last two matchups.  David Greer is 12-13 in his 17-plus seasons with the Warriors.

WSU has a 39-36 edge in the all-time series with the Wildcats, after winning 11 of the last 14 meetings.  The Warriors are 12-20 on the road against Northern Michigan.  Coach Greer is 14-9 vs. NMU in his career.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan Tech has lost three of its last four games all in overtime or double overtime.  Junior forward Kyle Monroe is leading the GLIAC at 27.0 points per game, while junior guard Bryan Heath is scoring 13.1 PPG.  Monroe (61) and Heath (55) are one and two on the squad in three-pointers made.  Monroe also leads the team in rebounding (8.0) and steals per game (1.5).  Sophomore guard Tommy Lucca is at 3.4 assists per contest.  Head coach Kevin Luke is in his 24th season with the program.

Northern Michigan has lost three consecutive contests heading into the final week of regular season action and has allowed Wayne State to pass them in the GLIAC standings.  Junior guard Naba Echols (17.5 PPG) and junior forward Isaiah Johnson (16.9 PPG) are two of the top five scorers in the GLIAC.  Johnson leads the squad with 140 rebounds, while Echols has a team-high 71 assists.   Johnson has made a team-high 49 triples, while sophomore center Myles Howard has a team-best 46 blocks, which ranks second in the league.  Head coach Bill Sall is wrapping up his fifth season with NMU.

LAST TIME OUT
In the final home game of the regular season, Wayne State won for the sixth time in its last seven games, topping Northwood 87-73 on Saturday afternoon.  It was the most points WSU has scored since a 90-point performance against Kentucky Wesleyan in the opening weekend of the season.  The Warriors led by as many as 20 points en route to their 10th home win of the season.  Seniors Ronald Booth, Chuck Key, Marcus Moore, Nick Mutebi and George Spencer were honored prior to the game.  Booth finished 11-for-15 from the floor in scoring 25 points, while Moore posted his second straight 20-point game, scoring 24.  Moore went 9-of-10 from the free throw line and also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while dishing out six assists.

TRIO OF 1,000-POINT SCORERS?
In the first 99 years of Wayne State men's basketball, 17 players scored over 1,000 points.  Ronald Booth and Chuck Key have both accomplished the feat this season and Marcus Moore is set to become the third Warrior to join the club as he needs 18 more points to tally 1,000 career points.

STARTING FIVE
Wayne State introduced the same starting five in the first 22 games until Nick Mutebi started on Senior Day.  The quintet have all scored in double-digits on four occasions - Kentucky Wesleyan, the league-opening win over Grand Valley State, the loss at Ferris State and against Northern Michigan.  Four of the five accomplished the feat on eight occasions, including each of the last four contests.  The five Warriors have scored 1,407 of the 1,591 total points WSU has scored this season, or 88.4 percent.

SENIOR DAY
The five Wayne State seniors (Ronald Booth, Chuck Key, Marcus Moore, Nick Mutebi and George Spencer) have combined to play in 418 games, make 258 starts and have amassed 3,858 points over 10,684 minutes.

GOING DANCING
Wayne State secured a GLIAC postseason berth on Feb. 10th without taking the court due to other action around the GLIAC.  The Warriors will be playing in the GLIAC Tournament for the second straight season and for the 17th time overall, posting a 14-12 overall record in their previous trips to the playoffs.

DEFENSE WINNING GAMES
Wayne State is second in the GLIAC and 23rd nationally in scoring defense, allowing 67.6 points per game.   WSU has been especially stingy against the three-pointer, as opponents are shooting just 31 percent, which is the 11th best three-point defense in Division II.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FREEBIES
During the past seven games, the Warriors are shooting 80 percent from the free throw line (93-for-116).  Ronald Booth has made 37 of his last 39 attempts from the charity stripe.  Booth leads the league with a .856 free throw percentage, while George Spencer would rank fourth at .833 but does not qualify due to per game minimums.  Spencer has made 34 of his last 35 attempts dating back to the Jan. 11th game vs. Saginaw Valley State, including a 7-for-7 performance against Davenport to help him match his career-high of 23 points.  Booth went 10-for-10 at Northwood on Jan. 13th.

NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA stat release, Wayne State ranks 11th in defending the three-pointer (.310), 14th in fewest turnovers (262), 23rd in scoring defense (67.6 PPG), 35th in fewest fouls (402) and 52nd in free-throw percentage (.748).  Ronald Booth is 61st nationally with his .856 free throw percentage.

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
A couple of Warriors are in the top 80 in terms of active career leaders within Division II.  Marcus Moore ranks 36th in steals (141) and 37th in assists (358), while Ronald Booth is 76th with his 15.3 points per game average.

HISTORICAL VICTORY
Earlier this season, the men's basketball program won its 800th game (76-73 over GVSU) as Wayne State University (1956-present).  In the 100 years of basketball, WSU has won 1,227 games (first 60 as Detroit Junior College [1918-23], 120 as College of the City of Detroit/CCD [1924-34], and 235 as Wayne University [1934-56]).

MOST IMPROVED TEAMS
Wayne State was one of the most improved teams in the country last season, adding nine wins from its 2015-16 total and subtracting eight losses.  

COMCAST/XFINITY
Every home men's basketball game in 2018, including the possible home playoff game will be aired live throughout the state of Michigan on Comcast/CN 900.  Sean Baligian (play-by-play), Rod Beard (analyst) and Joe Abramson (sideline) will call the action.

LIVE ON WDTK
Kevin Brechmacher will call every contest live on WDTK - The Patriot (1400 AM / 101.5 FM).  Fans can also stream the action online at PatriotDetroit.com.