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 Lorenzo McClelland had a game-high 26 points in the win over SIUE. |
Nov. 17, 2007
DETROIT - The Wayne State University men's basketball squad (2-0 overall) rallied from a 10-point deficit with 8:19 remaining for an 84-74 triumph over visiting SIU-Edwardsville (1-1 overall) Saturday afternoon at the Matthaei.
The Cougars took a 10-point lead (71-61) on a fast break lay-up by John Edmison. Over the next 7:48, the Warrior defense forced SIUE into six turnovers and a 0-9 mark from the floor as WSU reeled off 21 consecutive points for an 82-71 advantage until T.J. Gray hit a three pointer with 31 seconds left. Senior Wynn Sarden (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino/Macomb CC) started the rally with a lay-up off an offensive rebound. Junior Lorenzo McClelland (Oak Park, Mich./Oak Park/Mott CC) followed with a steal and a lay-up 20 seconds later. McClelland then recorded another of his seven steals and made both foul shots. A jumper by senior Jason Saddler (Detroit, Mich./Cody/Mott CC) pulled the Warriors within two at the 6:41 mark, while another Saddler jumper knotted the game at 71 with 5:05 remaining.
Following a media timeout, junior Jeremy Lathan (Portland, Ore./Benson Tech/Eastern Utah) hit a jumper from the paint with 3:25 left giving WSU its first lead (73-71) since the 11:43 mark (59-58). Saddler scored after an offensive rebound and McClelland followed with a steal and a fast break lay-up. Sarden then made two free throws with 1:48 remaining stretching the lead to eight points, and the Cougars were within eight just once more (82-74) following the aforementioned Gray triple.
SIUE had an eight point lead at intermission (43-35) after holding a 27-25 advantage on the boards in the opening 20 minutes including 11 offensive rebounds. In the second half, where WSU had a 49-31 scoring advantage, the Warriors limited the Cougars to just four offensive rebounds and Wayne State had a 25-13 edge in total rebounds.
Sarden had 20 points and 20 rebounds, while McClelland had a game-high 26 points. Gray led the Cougars with 20 points. Sarden's 20 boards are the most by a Wayne State player since Brian Koscielski also had 20 rebounds in a 79-74 win at Oakland University on Feb. 5, 1994. It was also Sarden's fifth double-double as a Warrior and the 20 points are a career-high.
Both teams shot nearly the same from the floor (SIUE - 43.5 percent on 30-69; WSU 42.5 percent on 31-73), with the biggest difference coming in fouls and free throws. The Cougars committed 28 fouls to 10 for the Warriors. Wayne State made 17 of 29 from the charity stripe, while SIUE made 7 of 10. WSU also held a 32-16 advantage in points off turnovers in the contest scoring 22 of those in the second half.
WSU continues its season-opening four-game home stand with a 7:05 p.m. tip-off on Tuesday versus Tiffin. Fans can watch the game on Comcast Local with Ben Holden and Clarence Black calling the action, or listen to it via WDTK (1400 am) or online (wdtkam.com) with Warrior announcers Chad Bush and Kent Herriman.
