 |
 Erik Parker had a career-high 26 points. |
Jan. 19, 2006
HOUGHTON, Mich. - Kris Krzyminski's (Flint, Mich.) last-second three-point attempt hit the left side of the rim as Wayne State (7-8, 2-5 GLIAC) fell, 59-56, at Michigan Tech (9-8, 5-3 GLIAC) Thursday night at the SDC Gymnasium. It was the fourth straight game between the Warriors and Huskies decided by five points or less (64-60, 57-54, 53-48), but the first time Tech won since Jan. 11, 2003.
The game was scoreless for the first 2:35 until senior Erik Parker (Oak Park, Mich.) hit a turnaround jumper off the glass as the shot clock expired. After a Krzyminski jumper, the Huskies came back with five straight points. WSU answered with four in a row for an 8-5 lead.
The Huskies went on a 12-2 run and took a 17-10 lead after three consecutive three-pointers at the 9:01 mark. A Herb Goliday (Royal Oak Twp., Mich.) layup out of a media timeout and two free throws by Parker brought WSU within three points. Moments later Michigan Tech went ahead 23-16 following its seventh three-pointer of the half.
Wayne State went the final 7:10 of the half without making a field goal as Tech continued on a 9-1 run and held a 29-17 halftime lead. It was WSU's lowest-scoring half since last year's season opener at Virginia Union (14).
The Warriors started the second half with a basket by Goliday from Krzyminski. Then two straight Parker shots cut the deficit down to six points in the first 75 seconds of the second half. Michigan Tech came right back with five straight points to up its margin to 34-23.
Parker's five points in a row cut the lead down to 34-30 with just under 16 minutes to go. Then a steal and outlet pass by Will Pierce (Detroit, Mich.) to Goliday made it a one-possession game. Parker pounded the glass on the defensive and offensive ends and scored on a three-point play that gave WSU a 35-34 lead. He scored 15 of the Warriors' first 18 points of the second half.
With the game tied at 43, MTU had four straight points before Parker scored on a put-back and drew a charge. Pierce then tied the game with a jumper at the 4:51 mark. Tech scored eight of the next 10 points before Krzyminski hit a three. He then had a steal and layup to make it a 55-54 game with just over a minute to play.
After Tech hit a jumper, Krzyminski sank a pair of foul shots with17.4 seconds remaining. MTU's Radayl Richardson missed the front end of a one-and-one with 13.1 ticks left. Krzyminski's shot with 5.2 seconds left hit the rim and Tech came down with the rebound. Two made Husky free throws set the stage for the final play with Krzyminski getting off a good look, but just off.
Parker finished with a career-best 26 points while Krzyminski had a career-high eight rebounds to go with his 11 points and six assists.
The Warriors look to snap their two-game losing skid Saturday against Northern Michigan in Marquette.
