STORYLINES
After a bumpy ending to the 2021 year, which including a short-handed loss to SVSU and a trip to Virgins Island being cancelled, Wayne State will look to start 2022 off in the right direction at Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon. The game at Ferris State scheduled for Thursday night was postponed to a date to be announced later.
THE SERIES
Wayne State leads 46-32 in the all-time series against Lake Superior State, which includes a 19-20 record at LSSU. The teams split last season's two match-ups to start the year in Sault Ste. Marie. The Lakers have won five of the last six, and seven of the last eight meetings at Cooper Gymnasium.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Lake Superior State is 7-3 overall, including a 2-2 GLIAC mark. Head coach Steve Hettinga is in his 15th season at the helm. The Lakers, who lost against Lynn (76-71) and won at Florida Tech (81-68) to end 2021, will host SVSU on Thursday to begin 2022. Malek Adams is scoring 18.4 points per game to lead LSSU, while Xander Okerlund is adding 12.2 points per contest. Justin Fischer is the GLIAC's leading passer with 6.0 assists per game. LSSU is scoring 81 points per game and allowing 72 points per night. The Lakers are shooting 46 percent from the floor, 38 percent from behind the arc and 75 percent at the charity stripe.
LAST TIME OUT
Wayne State, despite playing without four starters due to GLIAC COVID protocols, led visiting Saginaw Valley State 48-47 with just over seven minutes remaining on Dec. 18th. But a nearly five minute scoreless drought was too much to overcome in a 67-55 setback.
Freddy Johnson, in his first action since the Michigan exhibition contest, tallied a team-high 15 points, along with a team-best three assists in nearly 36 minutes.
Mike Robinson nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds, while
David Hughes grabbed a game-high 11 boards.
WINNING DOWN LOW
Wayne State went 0-for-10 on three-point attempts vs. Northwood, breaking a streak of 35 games with a made triple. The Green & Gold went 0-for-10 vs. Saginaw Valley State on Jan. 23, 2020. WSU last won without making a long-range shot on Jan. 11, 2018, vs. SVSU (74-57).
On the other side of the coin, Wayne State grabbed 51 rebounds compared to Northwood's 34 and turned 20 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points.
FIRST HALF WARRIORS
WSU has led at halftime in four games this season, including a three-point lead vs. SVSU on Dec. 18th, but the Warriors are 1-3 in those contests. In addition, Wayne State has led in six of the seven games this season.
WAYNE STATE FIELDHOUSE
Wayne State opened its brand new basketball fieldhouse against Michigan in an exhibition contest on Nov. 5th in front of a sold out crowd. The night featured several special moments including a pre-game ceremony that featured basketball alumni (Bob Holmes and Shareta Brown) and coaches (Ron Hammye, David Greer and
Carrie Lohr), University president Dr. M. Roy Wilson, and Detroit Pistons Vice Chair Arn Tellem. Halftime featured a performance from Spyder Turner. Several community and University leaders were on hand, including Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and the WSU Board of Governors.
1,000-POINT SCORER
Brailen Neely entered this season with 993 career points combined between his time at Oakland and now as a Warrior. With 21 points at Ashland on Nov. 12, he surpassed the 1,000-point plateau, which includes 795 points for the Green & Gold.
2021 POSTSEASON AWARDS
Last season,
Darian Owens-White was a First Team All-Midwest District and a First Team All-GLIAC honoree, while
Brailen Neely was a Second Team All-Region and a First Team All-GLIAC selection. Owens-White was the first Wayne State student-athlete to be voted to the NABC All-District First Team since Tony Goins in 1998-99.
Avery Lewis earned Second Team All-GLIAC recognition, while also being a member of the league's All-Defensive Team. It was the first time WSU had two First Team All-GLIAC selections since Mike Hollingsworth and Bryan Smothers collected the awards following the 2010-11 season.
TYREE'S BLOCK PARTY
Newcomer
Tyree Martin blocked five shots vs. Northwood and had four swats vs. SVSU. The five blocks are the most rejections since
Antonio Marshall had five on Jan. 26, 2021, vs. Ashland. Martin ranks third in the GLIAC with 1.5 blocks per game.
NEW SHOT CALLER
Wayne State has a new man in the first chair for the first time since the 2000-01 season in interim head coach
E.J. Haralson. This comes after the program's winningest coach David Greer announced his retirement on Nov. 17th.
FRESHMAN BIG MAN
Freshman forward
David Hughes has been impressive when on the court this season. He totaled six points and nine rebounds vs. Hillsdale and then grabbed 10 rebounds at Grand Valley State. Hughes set season-highs with seven points and 11 rebounds vs. Saginaw Valley. For the season, he has 44 rebounds and 19 points with three steals in 99 minutes of action through six games played (did not play at Ashland in the season opener).
DANCING IN MARCH
The Green & Gold played in the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in program history a year ago, and for the first time since 2013. Head coach David Greer guided Wayne State to the national tournament on five occasions (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013 and 2021). The last time WSU won a game in the NCAAs was in 2005 when the Warriors topped Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 56-55, in Findlay, Ohio.
GLIAC CHAMPS
The Green & Gold won its eighth GLIAC championship last year and its first outright GLIAC regular-season title since the 1998-99 season. Following that 1998-99 season, WSU topped Saginaw Valley State, Gannon and Michigan Tech to win the tournament title.
LIVE ON WDTK
Kevin Brechmacher will call every Wayne State contest live on WDTK - The Patriot (1400 AM / 101.5 FM). Fans can also stream the action online at PatriotDetroit.com.
FAN POLICY
Due to University policies, fans will not be permitted to attend home athletic events for the month of January. Stay tuned to WSUAthletics.com for updates.
WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every regular season home game, will be available to stream pay-per-view via Warrior All-Access at WSUAthletics.com.
