Wayne State University Athletics

Zack Belsky/WSU Athletics

Box Score

Rob Lee, Jr. scored in double figures for the 15th straight game.

Wayne St. (MI) Wayne 14-15,7-11 GLIAC

Ferris St. FSU 24-7,12-6 GLIAC

Wayne St. (MI) Wayne

14-15,7-11 GLIAC

Final

Mar. 09, 2024

Ferris St. FSU

24-7,12-6 GLIAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Wayne St. (MI) Wayne	45	36	81
Ferris St. FSU	36	55	91

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 3/9/2024 6:43:00 PM | Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Men's Basketball Post-Season Run Ends With Semifinal Setback

Six Warriors scored in double figures.

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball squad (14-15 overall) had its 2023-24 campaign come to a close in the GLIAC Semifinals as Ferris State University (24-7 overall) rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit for the 91-81 win.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
After falling behind 2-0, WSU rattled off eight consecutive points on three free throws by sophomore Carmelo Harris (Flint, Mich. / Beecher), a lay-up by junior Colin Golson, Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / Ferndale) and a triple by senior Kaimen Lennox (Kansas City, Mo. / Truman H.S.).

The Bulldogs tallied seven straight points to knot the score at 15-15, then took an 18-17 lead on three foul shots by Ethan Erickson.

WSU responded with a 12-4 spurt to grab a 29-22 advantage. Sophomore Tamario Adley (Detroit, Mich. / Warren De La Salle) had five points, while freshman Rob Lee, Jr. (Flint, Mich. / Beecher) contributed four points during the run.

FSU pulled within five at 32-27, but senior Ray Williams, Jr. (Detroit, Mich. / Edison Public School Academy) and Lee connected from long range in a span of 35 seconds for a 38-27 lead.

Ferris State tallied nine of the final 16 points of the opening half to cut WSU's advantage to nine (45-36).

Second Half
Following a lay-up by Harris a minute into the second half, which put WSU ahead 47-38, the Bulldogs answered with a 14-0 run to grab a 52-47 lead with just under 15 minutes remaining.

Wayne State responded with a 7-0 spurt to regain the lead at 54-52. WSU led 58-57, but FSU scored six consecutive points for a 63-58 margin.

A driving lay-up by freshman Jordan Briggs (Muskegon, Mich.) made it a three-point contest (63-60).

Over the next 8:30, FSU had a 20-17 edge in scoring to lead 83-77, and finished the game out-scoring the Warriors 8-4 over the final 90 seconds.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot 51 percent (23-of-45) from the floor, while FSU was 31-of-61 (51 percent). WSU connected on 7-of-18 triple tries (39 percent) compared to the Bulldogs 4-of-15 (27 percent). The Warriors were 28-of-38 (74 percent) from the charity stripe, while Ferris State was an outstanding 89 percent (25-of-28). FSU had a 33-23 edge in rebounding, and turned 14 WSU miscues into 28 points. Wayne State garnered 13 points off nine FSU turnovers.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Six WSU players scored in double figures led by Lee's team-high 17 points, the 15th straight game in double figures for the GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Adley contributed 10 points and team-high totals of seven rebounds and five assists. Harris chipped in with 12 points, including 10-of-11 at the charity stripe.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Rob Lee, Jr., Wayne State
Max Weisbrod, Northern Michigan
Britain Harris, Grand Valley State
Amari Lee, Ferris State
Vejas Grazulis, Ferris State - MVP

LEADING THE BULLDOGS
Vejas Grazulis tallied a game-best 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting. Erickson added 14 points, while Dolapo Olanyinka grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go with 12 points.

UP NEXT
Wayne State loses one senior (Kaimen Lennox) to graduation from a team that won six of its final nine games, including WSU's first post-season victory since 2012.

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