GAME STORYLINES
Wayne State comes in on its second three-game winning streak of the season, both of which have occurred in the last nine contests.  At 11-9 overall and 8-6 in the GLIAC, four of the Warriors' remaining six regular-season outings will be played in Detroit where they are 8-3 so far.

After just two losses in its first 20 games, Northern Michigan (20-4 overall, 11-3 GLIAC) has lost two of its last four.  Three of the Wildcats' four defeats have come away from home as they are 11-3 when hitting the road.

The same statements can be said for Michigan Tech (20-4 overall, 11-3), a loser in two of its last four after only two defeats in its first 20 games played.  The Huskies have also gone 11-3 when playing on another team's court.

SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State and Northern Michigan have faced off 87 times in the all-time ledger with the Wildcats holding a slim 44-43 lead.  As much as the Warriors have struggled in Marquette (14-25 record), WSU is 10 games above .500 when hosting NMU, 28-18.  With that being said, Wayne State has dropped three of the teams' last four meetings in Detroit.

Wayne State has a 16-win advantage (58-42) in the all-time series with Michigan Tech.  The Warriors have fared well at home against the Huskies to the tune of 37-12, including three straight and four of the previous five.

SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Northern Michigan is as good as they come on both sides of the floor.  Nationally, the Wildcats are first in rebounding margin (+11.6), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71), third in fewest turnovers per game (9.6), fifth in scoring margin (+19.2), ninth in three-point percentage (39.5 percent), 11th in triples made per game (10.5), and 11th in scoring defense (63.8).

Individually, three players lead the scoring department -- graduate student Dylan Kuehl (19.7 PPG), redshirt sophomore Cal Klesmit (13.3) and grad student Jackson Dudek (12.5). That output for Kuehl is third in the GLIAC, while his 6.2 rebounds per effort are good for a tie-for-11th.  Redshirt freshman Bennett Basich is right above him for boards with a 6.3 average, 10th in the league.  Klesmit is averaring 3.0 assists per performance, tied-for-eighth in the conference.

Nationally, Kuehl is ninth in field goals made (176), 14th in total points (473) and 35th in points per game.  Klesmit ranks eighth in three-point percentage (45.1), 10th in total triples made (73) and 21st in treys made per contest (3.04).

SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
Not many teams defend better than Michigan Tech.  The Huskies rank seventh in the country for field goal percentage defense (38.8 percent), 12th in defensive rebounds per game (28.4) and 16th in scoring defense (64.8 points per game).  Those three numbers are good for first, first and second (to Northern Michigan) in the GLIAC, respectively.

Individually, everything MTU accomplishes starts with the reigning GLIAC Player of the Year and First Team All-American senior Marcus Tomashek.  Nationally, Tomashek is second in field goals attempted (396), ninth in total points (501), 10th in points per game (21.8), 15th in total three-pointers made (69), 22nd in triples made per game (3.0), 24th in both free throws made (122) and in field goals made (155), and 31st in free throws attempted (152).

At the top of Michigan Tech's scoring column, Tomashek is joined by sophomore Ty Fernholz (9.3 PPG).  Fernholz is 14th for Division II in three-pointers attempted (181) and 30th in triples made (62).

Reshirt senior Nate Abel brings down 7.5 rebounds per contest, while redshirt sophomore Gabe Smith averages 6.6 RPG and Tomashek dishes out 3.0 assists per outing.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Junior guard Jordan Briggs was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday.  Last week in a pair of Wayne State wins, Briggs averaged 26.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game, while shooting 51.3 percent (20-of-39) from the floor.  The third-year Warrior splashed in six of his 14 three-point attempts (42.9 percent) and went 7-of-8 at the free throw line.  Against Davenport on Feb. 5, Briggs led the Warriors to a season sweep of the Panthers with a game-high 26 points.  The WSU point guard then upped that point total to a game-high 27 on Saturday as Wayne State snapped 14th-ranked Grand Valley State's nine-game winning streak.

IRON SHARPENS IRON
Wayne State's current strength of schedule is good for 40th (213-159, .573 winning percentage) in the country.  The Warriors' remaining slate is only slightly less difficult with a .569 winning percentage (74-56), which sits at 82nd nationally.  WSU's composite ranking is No. 36 out of 298 schools with an overall record of 287-215, good for a .572 winning percentage.

GLIAC STANDINGS
With six games to play in the regular season, Wayne State enters this week in sole possession of fourth place in the GLIAC standings.  Those final six contests will be against Northern Michigan (currently tied-for-first), Michigan Tech (tied-for-first), Roosevelt (last), Parkside (second-to-last), Lake Superior State (tied-for-fifth), and Saginaw Valley State (ninth).  The top four teams in the final standings will host a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal date before the highest remaining seed following those four contests hosts the semifinals and finals.

WARRIOR SPORTS NETWORK
Kevin Brechmacher (play-by-play), Marcus Moore (color commentary) and Brady Beedon (sideline) will have the call on Thursday before Brechmacher, Andy Dold (color) and Tony Ortiz (sideline) will bring you the action on Saturday.