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 Shane Lawal had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. |
Nov. 20, 2008
Bowling Green, Ohio - The Wayne State University men's basketball team (1-1 overall) battled Division I Bowling Green (3-1) nearly even for the first 12 minutes of the contest, but BG's backcourt height and depth proved much in an 80-48 setback for the Warriors.
WSU started strong as freshman Reggie Stallings (Flint, Mich./Carman-Ainsworth) drained a triple on the visitors second possession. After a Falcon hoop, Shane Lawal (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup/Oakland Univ.) hit a jumper from the paint for a 5-2 advantage before the hosts went on a 7-0 run before another basket by Lawal.
BG had an eight-point lead at 17-9 following a three-pointer by Joe Jakubowski, but the Warriors answered with 10 of the next 15 points to make it 22-19 Falcons with 8:12 remaining in the first half. During WSU's run, Lawal had a pair of dunks sandwiched around a Bryan Wright (Warren, Ohio/Harding/Lakeland C.C.) jumper. Wright also made a foul shot and Lawal finished the run with a conventional three-point play.
Over the final eight minutes before intermission, Wayne State scored six points, had five turnovers and missed five shots from the field.
Bowling Green led 38-25 at the break despite the Warriors leading in field goal percentage (44.0 to 43.2) and free throw percentage (66.7 to 33.3). The Falcons had a 21-15 edge on the boards and had five turnovers to 10 for Wayne State.
WSU had the deficit down to 12 at 45-33 with 16 minutes left following a pair of foul shots by Wright, but BGSU went on a 20-1 run over the next 8:30 to put the game out of reach.
Lawal had game-highs in points (16), rebounds (13) and blocks (2), while Wright added 12 points and three assists.
Wayne State shot just 27.6 percent in the second half (8-29) while Bowling Green made 14 of 27 from the floor for 51.9 percent. Four Falcons scored in double figures led by Nate Miller's 15.
WSU returns home to face Central State on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m.
