Wayne State University Athletics

Carmelo Harris leads the team in scoring.

Men's Basketball 12/8/2022 2:02:00 PM Zachary Manning, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Men's Basketball Prepares for Games Against Purdue Northwest and Parkside

Wayne State is 3-4 this season.

STORYLINES
Wayne State began GLIAC play with a 75-66 setback at Saginaw Valley State last Saturday, despite leading by 18 points (59-41) early in the second half. The Warriors rebounded for a 93-41 win over Michigan-Dearborn on Tuesday at the Wayne State Fieldhouse.

WSU returns to league competition this weekend and will host Purdue Northwest on Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Parkside on Sunday (3 p.m.).

THE SERIES
Wayne State leads 7-3 in the all-time series against the Pride as the teams have met twice each year for the last five seasons. WSU is 6-0 at home all-time vs. Purdue Northwest. Three of the last four meetings in Detroit have been decided by three points or less.

WSU trails 9-13 in the all-time series vs. the Rangers, which began in 1971 with a double-overtime affair at the Matthaei won the by Tartars 81-79. The Warriors are 6-3 all-time at home vs. Parkside, including victories in the last five outings in Motown (1992-2022).

SCOUTING THE PRIDE
Purdue Northwest ended a two-game losing streak with a 73-68 triumph over Michigan Tech on Dec. 3.

Alou Dillon, a graduate transfer from Winona State, leads PNW in scoring (17.3 PPG), rebounding (5.7 RPG) and blocked shots (14). Senior Mikell Cooper is second in scoring (16.2 PPG), but leads the squad in assists (29) and steals (13). Both Dillon and Cooper have made 18 triples this season.

Boomer Roberts is in his fifth season at Purdue Northwest and has an overall record of 38-72.

SCOUTING THE RANGERS
Parkside improved to 7-2 with a 76-68 win over Concordia Chicago on Monday.

Rasheed Bello leads a trio of Rangers averaging in double figures at 17.8 PPG. He also leads the squad in triples (14), assists (40) and steals (23) heading into Friday's game at Saginaw Valley. Jamir Simpson (14.6 PPG) and Colin O'Rouke (13.0 PPG) are the next two scorers, with O'Rourke leading the team in blocked shots with 11.

Luke Reigel has compiled a 283-258 record in his 20th season leading the Rangers.

LAST WEEK
Wayne State had an 18-point advantage (49-31) after a triple by Antonio Marshall less than a minute after intermission. Saginaw Valley scored the next five minutes before a jumper by Kaimen Lennox. WSU led 56-41 after two free throws by Avery Lewis, but the Cardinals responded with a 17-0 run to grab a 58-56 advantage.

A lay-up by Ray Williams, Jr. tied the game at 58-58. It was the Warriors first field goal in nearly eight minutes. SVSU scored six of the next seven points for a 64-59 advantage. Even though Wayne State did not make a field goal in the final 4:40, the Warriors still had a chance to tie with 3:26 remaining, but Marshall split a pair from the charity stripe. Saginaw Valley sealed the win by making seven of its final eight foul shots.

After Michigan Dearborn pulled within five at 26-21, Wayne State ended the first half on an 18-3 run to lead 44-24 at intermission.

The Warriors out-scored the Wolverines 47-19 in the second half for the 93-41 triumph.

Carmelo Harris scored a game-high 19 points, which included three triples, while Avery Lewis notched WSU's first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

WARRIOR UPDATE
Freshman Carmelo Harris leads a quartet of Warriors averaging in double figures after seven games. Harris (15.6 PPG), Antonio Marshall (13.4 PPG), Avery Lewis (12.6 PPG) and Ray Williams, Jr. (10.1 PPG) pace the WSU offense.

Harris and Marshall have each made 15 triples, while Williams, Jr. is just behind with 11 three-pointers as the trio has accounted for 41 of WSU's 50 made shots from beyond the arc.

Three individuals are averaging at least four boards per contest with Lewis grabbing a team-high 26 rebounds (6.4 RPG). Williams, Jr. (5.4 RPG) and Marshall (4.3 RPG) are the other two crashing the boards.

Marshall and Lennox have combined for 43 of Wayne State's 80 assists on the season, with Marshall leading the squad with 10 steals.

INTRODUCING COACH SMOTHERS
Wayne State officially began a new era in the men's basketball program last month as 2020 Hall of Fame inductee Bryan Smothers became just the second former WSU student-athlete to lead the program (joining Newman Ertell who lettered from 1921-25, then became head coach in 1929 for the College of the City of Detroit).

Smothers is the 11th head coach (including interim) since Detroit Junior College began playing basketball in January of 1918.

The 2022-23 campaign is the 105th season of Wayne State basketball (no games were played in 1943-44 due to World War II).

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. Former Warrior Chuck Key will serve as the analyst for the Dec. 9th game, while Marcus Moore will work the Dec. 11th contest.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every regular season home game will be streamed via Warrior All-Access at WSUAthletics.com.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Carmelo Harris: G; 5' 11"; Freshman

#22 Kaimen Lennox: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#33 Avery Lewis: F; 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior

#1 Antonio Marshall: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#23 Ray Williams, Jr.: G/F; 6' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#11 Carmelo Harris
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: G

#22 Kaimen Lennox
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#33 Avery Lewis
: 6' 6"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#1 Antonio Marshall
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#23 Ray Williams, Jr.
: 6' 5"; Junior
: G/F