STORYLINES
The Warriors will continue their second trip through the GLIAC with a contest at Saginaw Valley State on Thursday at 6:00 p.m.  Wayne State will stay on the road and meet Northwood in Midland on Monday for an 8:00 p.m. start.  With just four weeks left in the regular season, the Green & Gold will look to improve its league standing and attempt to move into a playoff spot.

THE SERIES
The Warriors trail 44-38 in the all-time series vs. Saginaw Valley State, including a 14-25 mark on the road.  Wayne State won the two regular-season meetings last season in Detroit, but the Cardinals had the last laugh with a 76-74 triumph in the GLIAC playoffs in a contest played in Hammond, Ind.  The Cards defeated a depleted WSU roster earlier this season, 67,55, inside the Fieldhouse.  SVSU has seven of the last nine contests.

The Warriors lead 45-33 in the all-time series against Northwood, including a 17-20 record in road contests.  The Warriors won this season's first matchup in Detroit, 65-57.  The teams have split the last six match-ups.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
SVSU is currently tide-for-fourth in the GLIAC at 7-5 and have a 13-7 overall record.  The Cardinals topped Lake Superior State, 79-67, after falling 82-71 to Ferris State.  Head coach Randy Baruth is in his 10th season leading the program.  Senior guard Delano Smith is one of the more prolific scorers in the region and is the current GLIAC South Division Player of the week.   He leads the team at 17.2 points per game.  Senior guard Darnell Hoskins, Jr. is shooting over 40 percent from long range and scoring 15.1 points per night, while senior forward Tyler Witz is posting 12.4 and seven rebounds per night.  Sophomore guard Maurice Barnett is adding just over 10 points per contest.  As a team, Saginaw Valley is scoring 80.3 points per game and allowing 74.4 points per night.  The Cards are shooting 46 percent from the floor, 35 percent from behind the arc and 73 percent at the charity stripe.

Northwood is 3-13 overall and 1-8 in league games.  The Timberwolves are looking to end a 10-game losing streak on Saturday vs. SVSU before hosting the Warriors.  Head coach Lonnie Griffin is in his second season at the helm.  Senior guard Jack Ammerman leads the roster in scoring at 17.2 points per game, while senior Trevor Davis is averaging 12.0 points per night and sophomore DeSean Munson is at 11.5 points per contest.  Sophomore Maurion Scott is adding 11.3 points per game.  Munson is the team's top rebounder with 7.1 boards per night, while Davis leads the team with 4.2 assists per game.  As a team, NU is scoring 69.2 points per night and allowing 82.6 points per game.  The T-Wolves are shooting 44 percent from the floor, 73 percent from the charity stripe and 37 percent from long range.

LAST TIME OUT
After ending its seven-game losing streak against Lake Superior State two days prior, Wayne State battled 17th-ranked Ferris State to a 33-30 halftime deficit.  The Bulldogs led the rest of the way and used the free throw line to power them to a 75-60 victory.  Darian Owens-White finished with 19 points, while Ray Williams, Jr. led WSU on the glass with 11 rebounds.

WINNING DOWN LOW
Wayne State went 0-for-10 on three-point attempts vs. Northwood on Dec. 11, 2021, 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's last win previously without making a long-range shot was 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 seven games this season, including a four-point lead at Purdue Northwest on Jan. 22nd, but the Warriors are 2-5 in those contests.  In addition, Wayne State has led in 12 of the 14 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 DUO
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.

Both Neely and Darian Owens-White are approaching the milestone for WSU games.  Neely needs 14 points and Owens-White needs 49.  They would be the 21st and 22nd members of the club.

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.

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.

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.  Former Tartar/Warrior Andy Dold (Thursday) and former Warrior Chuck Key (Saturday) will provide analysis this week.

FAN POLICY
Capacity will be capped at 50 percent for home WSU basketball games moving forward.  Masks must be worn indoors and social distancing must be followed whenever possible.  In addition, proof of appropriate vaccination will be required.

WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
Every regular season home game, will be available to stream pay-per-view via Warrior All-Access at WSUAthletics.com.  Season ticket holders will have free access to the broadcasts.