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 Senior Wynn Sarden had a game-high 24 points against UWP. |
Dec. 28, 2007
Findlay, Ohio - The Wayne State University men's basketball team (7-3 overall) suffered an 87-72 setback to Wisconsin-Parkside (7-2 overall) in the first game of the 2007 Findlay Holiday Classic Friday night.
Despite a career-high 24 points from senior Wynn Sarden (Sterling Hts., Mich./Warren Cousino) and a career-best tying 20 points from classmate Jason Saddler (Detroit, Mich./Cody), the Warriors were unable to overcome the terrific foul shooting by the Rangers who made 28 of 30 from the charity stripe.
After a sluggish start where UWP opened a 7-2 lead just three minutes into the contest, WSU battled back scoring the next six points for its first lead of the game. Baskets by Saddler were sandwiched around a jumper by Sarden for the 6-0 run.
A jumper by UWP's Dave Keane, was answered with a triple by sophomore Lendyn Davis (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) giving the Warriors a two point advantage.
A Saddler lay-up from Sarden knotted the game at 13, and junior Lorenzo McClelland (Oak Park, Mich.) followed with a lay-up for another two point Warrior lead.
Freshman Bryan Smothers (Pontiac, Mich./Northern) responded to two UWP foul shots with a jumper regaining the two point lead at the midway mark of the opening half.
After LaVontay Fenderson hit a three-point shot, junior Jeremy Lathan (Portland, Ore./Benson Tech) hit a jumper from the lane putting WSU ahead for the final time at 19-18.
UWP's Brad Ferstenou scored the next seven points of the game before a Sarden lay-up. Ranger Tyrone Deacon scored a conventional three-point play and following a jumper by Saddler, Parkside scored eight of the next 11 points for a 10 point lead at 36-26.
Wayne State outscored UWP 9-7 over the final four minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to eight.
The biggest difference in the opening 20 minutes was foul shooting as UWP made 10-of-11 compared to WSU's 6-of-14.
The Warriors scored eight of the first 12 points of the second half, behind six points from Sarden and two from Saddler, to cut UWP's lead to four at 47-43.
The Rangers responded with a 14-2 run for a 16-point lead at 61-45 as five consecutive fouls were called on WSU.
Wayne State answered with an 8-0 run keyed by six consecutive points from McClelland to cut the deficit to eight at 61-53.
Ranger D.J. Dantzler hit a three pointer, while WSU scored the next three to keep it an eight-point contest with eight minutes left.
After a Saddler steal, he was called for an offensive foul, the first of five consecutive fouls again on the Warriors. UWP made eight straight foul shots before WSU junior Marcus Jackson (Hammond, La.) made a three pointer.
Wayne State was able to get within nine with 4:19 left following a fast break lay-up by Sarden, but UWP scored the next five points.
Sarden had a game-high 24 points along with five assists and four steals. Saddler matched his career-high of 20 points set last month at Central State. He also had a team-best seven rebounds. McClelland was the only other Warrior in double figures with 11 points.
Ferstenou led UWP with 21 points and a game-high nine boards.
UWP shot 53 percent (27-51) from the floor and 93 percent (28-30) from the foul line, while WSU made 29 of 60 field goal attempts (48.3 percent) and 12 of 24 foul shots (50 percent).
Wayne State plays Shawnee State at 1 p.m. on Saturday. SSU fell to the host Findlay Oilers, 92-67, in Friday's second game.
