Wayne State University Athletics

Brendan Baker

Antonio Marshall made a career-best six triples in scoring a career-high 24 points.

Men's Basketball 1/12/2023 8:49:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Men's Basketball Wins 72-63 At Grand Valley State Behind Strong Second Half

Marshall and Harris each score career-highs (24 & 21 points, respectively).

Box Score ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (6-7 overall, 3-3 GLIAC) garnered a 72-63 road victory Thursday evening at Grand Valley State University (8-8 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) after out-scoring the Lakers 38-24 during the final 20 minutes.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
In an opening 20 minutes that saw nine ties and five lead changes, a late 9-4 run by the host Lakers secured a 39-34 halftime lead.

The Warriors started strong as senior guard Antonio Marshall (Detroit, Mich. / Martin Luther King) connected from three-point range on the game's opening possession, his first of three triples in the first half. With just under 13 minutes remaining, freshman guard Carmelo Harris (Flint, Mich. / Beecher) drained a shot from beyond the arc to snap a 9-9 deadlock. After GVSU went on a 5-0 spurt for its first lead of the game, senior center Nate Talbot (Lake Orion, Mich.) grabbed an offensive rebound and put-back put WSU ahead 16-14.

Wayne State led 20-18 following a steal and fast-break lay-up by Marshall with 7:39 left. GVSU's Britain Harris and Marshall exchanged triples on back-to-back possessions put the Warriors in front 23-21. After a driving lay-up by graduate student guard Cortez Jackson (Harper Woods, Mich. / St. Clair Shores Lake Shore), Grand Valley State tied the game at 25.

A Marshall triple from Carmelo Harris with 3:18 knotted the score at 30-30, before the aforementioned late run by GVSU. Marshall was the lone player in double figures at intermission with 15 points.

Second Half
Marshall started the second half with his fourth triple of the contest pulling the Warriors within two at 39-37. After falling behind 44-39, Wayne State tallied the next seven points, including the final five by Carmelo Harris. Following a GVSU free throw, Carmelo Harris connected on his second triple in less than 90 seconds to extend the advantage to 49-45.

On Wayne State's next possession, Carmelo Harris again drained a shot from beyond the arc, his fourth triple of the night making it 52-47. After the score was tied at 54-54, there were three lead changes in less than 50 seconds preceding a 59-59 draw.

Senior Avery Lewis (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron) split a pair from the charity stripe, then had an offensive rebound and put back for a 62-59 lead. Marshall followed with a career-best sixth triple extending the margin to six (65-59). After two foul shots by the Lakers, Carmelo Harris connected from long distance to seal the win.

Over the final 6:45, the WSU defense limited Grand Valley State to 1-of-9 from the floor and one turnover.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 48 percent (27-of-56) from the floor, compared to GVSU's 43 percent (24-of-56). WSU connected on 11-of-28 triple tries (39 percent), while limiting the Lakers to 31 percent (5-of-16). The Warriors were 7-of-12 (58 percent) from the charity stripe, with Grand Valley State making 10-of-14 (71 percent). GVSU had a 35-32 edge in rebounding.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Marshall (24 points) and Carmelo Harris (21 points) both had career-highs with Marshall making a career-best six triples. Lewis contributed 13 points and team-best totals of eight rebounds and six assists.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Marius Grazulis was the lone GVSU player in double figures with 15 points.

UP NEXT
Wayne State continues its west side of Michigan road trip Saturday with a 3 p.m. contest at Davenport. The six wins this year by WSU exceeds last year's total of five with 12 games remaining.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

#4 Cortez Jackson: G; 6' 1"; Graduate Student

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

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

#20 Nate Talbot: F; 6' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

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

#4 Cortez Jackson
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student
: G

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

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

#20 Nate Talbot
: 6' 10"; Senior
: F