DETROIT — The Wayne State University men's basketball team (12-13 overall, 9-10 GLIAC) came up short on Thursday night, 82-79 at the hands of Lake Superior State (17-11 overall, 11-8 GLIAC) inside the WSU Fieldhouse.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Wayne State and Lake Superior State went back and forth in the beginning, including three ties and three lead changes through the game's first 19 total points.

At that point, just over five minutes in, the Lakers were ahead of the Warriors 10-9 and then pushed their advantage to as many as five (16-11, 18-13).

Following seven straight points from Jordan Briggs (Muskegon, Mich.), including the night's fourth deadlock at 18-18, he'd given his team a 20-18 advantage.

However LSSU proceed to count off 15 of the ensuing 18 points for its biggest lead of the stanza at 10, 33-23, with 4:27 to play until halftime.

WSU took full advantage of that 4:27, outscored the away team 17-5, and went into the locker room up two, 40-38.  

Five different players found the scoring column during that span — Adam Ayrault (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. / Grosse Pointe North) with five, Carlos Paul III (Southfield, Mich. / Cornerstone Lincoln-King [Missouri State - West Plains]) with four, Jalen Jenkins (Belleville, Mich. / Belleville [Macomb C.C.]) with three, Jotham Nweke (Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Loyola [Macomb C.C.]) with three, and Briggs with two.

Wayne State sank 14 of its 24 field goal attempts (58.3 percent) while Lake Superior State shot 15-of-30 (50 percent).  The Lakers cashed in two more three-pointers (6-of-15 to 4-of-6), but six fewer free throws (2-of-3 to 8-of-11).

The Warriors turned the ball over 14 times in the first 20 minute while the Lakers notched seven giveaways.

Second Half
In the first six-plus minutes out of the break, the scoring was fairly balanced but Wayne State carried a 13-9 advantage for its biggest lead of the contest at six, 53-47.

After two more ties (54-54, 57-57) and two additional lead changes, Briggs rattled off four points in a row to put his team ahead by four, 61-57.

Lake Superior State came right back with eight straight points and had regained the advantage, 65-61.

The Warriors weren't out of bullets quiet yet though as they countered with a 10-4 spurt of their own and led by two (71-69) at the 4:49 mark.

Then came two more deadlocks (71-71, 73-73) before the Lakers took back the advantage for good.  Following that final tie, the visitors tallied nine points to the home team's six, but went 5-of-6 at the charity stripe and didn't turn the ball over once.  In that same stretch, WSU registered three turnovers and made 1-of-4 from the free throw line.

The last of those missed freebies was on purpose as Wayne State intended to get a look from behind the arc, but Lake Superior State's Karter Richards secured the rebound and time ran out.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State finished at 54 percent (27-of-50) from the floor to Lake Superior State's 55.6 percent (30-of-54).  The Warriors did have the edge in both triples made (10-of-19 to 8-of-18) and free throws converted (15-of-22 to 14-of-16).  The game may have been decided in the turnover department, 23-12 in favor of the Lakers, which led to a 30-17 advantage in points off turnovers.  LSSU also won the scoring battle in the paint, 40-28.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
With JaKobie Boose (Flint, Mich. / Hamady) sidelined due to injury, only eight players saw the floor for Wayne State, half of which scored in double-figures.  That quartet included Carlos Paul III (20), Jordan Briggs (17), Jalen Jenkins (11), and Adam Ayrault (11).  Three Warriors brought down five rebounds in Paul III, Briggs and Marshall Thorn while Jenkins dished out seven assists.  Defensively, Jenkins and Jotham Nweke each swiped a pair of steals while Nweke and Devin Belle blocked one shot apiece.

LEADING THE LAKERS
Karter Richards paced all scorers with 25 points, Omar Suleiman added 16 and Nino Carter-Smith tacked on 15.  Richards was three boards shy of a double-double and Carter-Smith accounted for eight dimes.  On the other side of the court, Carter Smith (five steals), Suleiman (one block) and Richards (one block) were the ringleaders.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Saginaw Valley State on Sunday at 3 p.m. for Senior Day inside the WSU Fieldhouse.  Prior to the start, the men's program will honor Jon Brantley, Carlos Paul III, Chris Mutebi, Kelvin Tamakloe, Bryce Esman, Cooper Craggs, and Eli Lohr.