DETROIT -- The Wayne State University men's basketball program (15-10 overall, 13-7 GLIAC) will play in the GLIAC Tournament for the second straight season and host a game for the first time since 2013 when Michigan Tech (14-13 overall, 11-9 GLIAC) visits the Matthaei on Wednesday night for a GLIAC Quarterfinal matchup.

STORYLINES
It was a nail-biter but the Warriors topped Northern Michigan, 71-70, on Saturday to secure a home playoff game and make Wayne State one of the two GLIAC member to host both a women's and men's quarterfinal contest (Ashland).  The Warriors will host a GLIAC Tournament game for the seventh time in program history and for the first time since 2013.

THE SERIES
Wayne State has a 54-34 lead in the all-time series against the Huskies.  The Warriors are 33-10 at home against MTU.  Michigan Tech has won eight of the last 10 meetings, including each of the last three matchups.  David Greer is 12-14 vs. the Huskies in his 17 seasons with the Warriors.  Tonight's game will be the fifth time the teams have met in the postseason, including the second consecutive season.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Michigan Tech has lost four of its last six games, five of which came in overtime or double overtime.  Junior forward Kyle Monroe is leading the GLIAC at 27.5 points per game, while junior guard Bryan Heath is scoring 13.6 PPG.  Monroe (69) and Heath (59) are one and two on the squad in three-pointers made.  Monroe also leads the team in rebounding (7.7) and steals per game (1.5).  Monroe has scored 34 and 29 points against WSU in the two previous games this season.  Sophomore guard Tommy Lucca is at 3.4 assists per contest, but has not played since Feb. 3rd.  Head coach Kevin Luke is in his 24th season with the program.

LAST TIME OUT
In the final game of the regular season, Wayne State secured a home playoff game with a 71-70 win at Northern Michigan.  Coming into the contest, the Warriors could have been seeded anywhere from three to six but the victory puts WSU into the number three seed.  WSU led by as many as 11 points in the second half and held off a late NMU comeback attempt to win a thriller.  Chuck Key led WSU with 22 points, while Marcus Moore scored 16 points.  George Spencer finished with 14 points and Ronald Booth chipped in 10.  Moore collected a team-high eight rebounds.

THIS SEASON VS. MICHIGAN TECH
In the first meeting this season, WSU led 34-30 at halftime over MTU at home but the Huskies outscored the Warriors 46-32 in the second half to win by 10 points.  Chuck Key scored 25 points in that contest but was bested by Kyle Monroe's 34 points.  In game two last week, the Warriors again led at halftime, 31-26, but MTU would come back and force overtime where WSU would never lead as the Huskies won 81-78 in overtime.  Ronald Booth led the Green & Gold with 24 points and Monroe led MTU with 29 points.

TRIO OF 1,000-POINT SCORERS
In the first 99 years of Wayne State men's basketball, 17 players scored over 1,000 points.  Seniors Ronald Booth, Chuck Key and Marcus Moore have all accomplished the feat this season.  Moore needed 18 points to join the club and scored 18 points at Michigan Tech last Thursday.

STARTING FIVE
Wayne State introduced the same starting five in 24 of the 25 regular-season games this season.  The only exception was Nick Mutebi starting 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 nine occasions.  The five Warriors have scored 1,546 of the 1,740 total points WSU has scored this season, or 89 percent.

GOING DANCING
Wayne State secured a GLIAC postseason berth on Feb. 10th without taking the court due to other action around the GLIAC and clinched a home game on the final day of the regular season with a win at Northern Michigan.  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 32nd nationally in scoring defense, allowing 68.2 points per game.   WSU has been especially stingy against the three-pointer, as opponents are shooting just 32 percent, which is the 17th best three-point defense in Division II.

NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
In the latest NCAA stat release, Wayne State ranks 11th in defending the three-pointer (.317), 13th in fewest turnovers (282), 32nd in scoring defense (68.2 PPG), 51st in fewest fouls (441) and 74th in free-throw percentage (.739).

ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
A couple of Warriors are in the top 80 in terms of active career leaders within Division II.  Marcus Moore ranks 38th in assists (364) and 39th in steals (142), while Ronald Booth is 79th with his 15.4 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 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.