UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- The Wayne State University men's basketball team (4-5 overall, 1-2 GLIAC) couldn't overcome a cold shooting performance on Friday afternoon as it fell to Saginaw Valley State (8-3 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) by a final score of 65-62.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
The Green and Gold scored the game's first four points before an 11-point spurt by the Cardinals forced a Warriors' timeout.  Adam Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) connected on a long-range jumper to end Wayne State's offensive drought, but a 9-4 run for Saginaw Valley State made it 20-11 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half.  

A JaKobie Boose (Flint, Mich. / Hamady) jumper cut the deficit to seven (20-13), but Saginaw Valley State responded with a bucket of its own to lead by nine, 22-13.  

The Warriors pulled within one (22-21) after an 8-0 scoring run.  Jordan Briggs (Muskegon, Mich.) and Marshall Thorn (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth [Schoolcraft C.C.]) each had three points while Carlos Paul III (Southfield, Mich. / Cornerstone Lincoln-King [Missouri State - West Plains]) tallied two during that stretch.

The squads went back-and-fourth in the ensuing minutes of the half, with Ayrault knotting the score at 35-35 thanks to a triple at the end of the stanza.

Second Half
The Warriors nabbed their first lead since 4-0, scoring five-straight points to begin the second half.  An Xavier Thomas (SVSU) and-one cut WSU's advantage to two (40-38), before Devin Belle (Lyndhurst, Ohio Pepper Pike Orange [Lincoln Trail C.C. / Lakeland C.C.]) quickly pushed it to back to four with a lay-in.  

Saginaw Valley State then produced a 9-3 run for a 47-43 lead with 12 minutes left.

A Boose triple and Paul III basket sandwiched around a Cardinal three pointer brought WSU within one, 49-48.

SVSU posted a 9-2 run to extend its lead to 60-51 with just over six minutes to play.  Boose made a jumper, bringing Wayne State within seven, before a three-minute dry spell.  A pair of Jalen Jenkins (Belleville, Mich. Belleville [Macomb C.C.]) free throws ended the scoring drought and began a five-point spurt for the Warriors that slimmed the deficit to two, 60-58.

However, Saginaw Valley State scored five of the final nine points as WSU fell to the three-point spread in the end, 65-62.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State shot a season-low 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the floor, including 17.4 percent (4-of-23) from behind the arc, and 58.3 percent (14-of-24) at the free throw line.  Saginaw Valley State countered with a 37.9 percent (22-of-58) clip, 33.3 percent (7-of-21) from long range and 77.8 (14-of-18) percent at the charity stripe.  Both teams struggled with ball security including eight assists and 17 turnovers for the Warriors while the Cardinals notched nine and 21, respectively.  WSU had the upper hand in points off turnovers (19-9), second-chance scoring (15-7), bench points (20-10), fast-break scoring (12-9), and points in the paint (28-26), while SVSU won the rebounding battle (44-38).

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Briggs (15 points, four assists) and Paul III (13 points) were the two Warriors in double-figures while Paul III and Thorn each brought down nine boards.  Defensively, Ayrault stuffed a pair of shot attempts and Thorn earned a trio of steals.

LEADING THE CARDINALS
Thomas paced all scorers with 21 points and Marquese Josephs added 15.  Triston Nichols racked up 12 rebounds and a trio of Cardinals finished with a pair of dimes.  On the other side of the floor, Nichols blocked four field goal looks and Thomas garnered four steals.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will be at Lake Superior State on Sunday for a 2 p.m. tip against the Lakers inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.