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 Junior Jeffrey Ferguson had his third double-double. |
Jan. 21, 2006
MARQUETTE, Mich. - For the fourth game in a row, the Wayne State men's basketball team (7-9, 2-6 GLIAC) had the outcome decided by five points or less, and for the third straight time, the Warriors lost as Northern Michigan (9-8, 5-3 GLIAC) beat WSU, 72-67, Saturday at the Berry Events Center.
Junior guard Will Pierce (Detroit, Mich.) opened the scoring with a three-point play. The Wildcats quickly took a 4-3 lead before an Ethan Banks (Warren, Ohio) floater beat the shot clock buzzer.
Northern scored 16 of the next 19 points in the first eight minutes of the game to take a 19-7 lead. NMU was up 28-15 before Banks came back with a three at the 8:15 mark. Northern Michigan maintained its pace and held a 42-25 halftime lead.
Junior center Jeffrey Ferguson (Toronto, Ont.) scored on two straight Warrior possessions early in the second half, but NMU held a 47-29 advantage. Later, Herb Goliday's (Royal Oak Twp., Mich.) layup off the glass brought Wayne State within 10 at 61-51 with 6:35 to play. Ferguson came off the bench to record his third double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds which tied his career-high.
Pierce's three-pointer that beat the 35-second clock made it a nine-point game two minutes later. The Warriors scored the final eight points of the game, but fell short.
Pierce finished with a career-high 14 points. Banks and Goliday also had 14 points apiece.
Wayne State returns to Detroit on Thursday, Jan. 26 to face Grand Valley State.
