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 Bryan Smothers had 14 points and four steals at CUP. |
Feb. 13, 2008
California, Pa. - The Wayne State University men's basketball team (9-14 overall) battled 28th-ranked California (Pa.) but fell 66-59 on the Vulcans home court Wednesday evening. CUP improves to 17-4 and avenges an overtime setback in Detroit on Nov. 24.
Both teams traded baskets over the first eight minutes of the game with WSU holding a 15-13 leading heading into the first media timeout.
The Warriors were able to maintain a two point advantage as neither team could pull away with 5:49 remaining in the half.
Out of the second media timeout, WSU got back-to-back three pointers from sophomores Lendyn Davis (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) and Larry Edwards (Benton Harbor, Mich.) to take a 32-25 advantage forcing Cal to take a 30 second timeout
Cal came out of the time out with four quick points before another Edwards jumper gave the Warriors a 34-29 lead heading into the locker room.
Both teams shot well from the floor with WSU going 13-for-28 (46 percent) hitting 4-for-6 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc while CUP shot 12-for-27 for a 44.4 percent clip. Smothers led WSU with 12 points while Ron Banks led the Vulcans with 11.
Early foul trouble plagued WSU in the second half as senior Wynn Sarden (Sterling Hts., Mich./Warren Cousino) picked up his fourth foul with 18 minutes left along with junior Emanuel Carter (Detroit, Mich./Kettering) also getting a quick three fouls off the bench.
CUP outscored WSU 18-6 over the first 10 minutes with seven points coming from the charity stripe to take a 47-40 lead. The Warriors struggled on the defensive end as the Vulcans extended their to 54-45 by the second media timeout.
WSU went on a quick 4-0 run to cut into the lead at 54-49 with 5:41 left in regulation. However, that would be as close as the Warriors would get as CUP scored 10 of its final 12 points from the free throw line down the stretch to close out the game with a 66-59 win.
Davis and freshman Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) each had 14 points to pace the Warriors with Sarden adding 10 points. Smothers also had a game-high four steals.
Alioune Mbaye scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the foul line. Both teams had 30 rebounds with WSU committing just 12 turnovers to 15 for the Vulcans.
Wayne State will try and end its nine-game losing streak at home on Saturday against second-ranked Grand Valley. The Lakers take a 26-0 mark into Thursday's home game versus Lake Superior.