Jan. 10, 2006

Wayne State (6-6, 1-3 GLIAC) hosts
#25 Ashland (12-3, 4-1 GLIAC) & #11 Findlay (12-2, 5-1 GLIAC)
Jan. 12/14 - 7:30/3:00 Matthaei - Detroit

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

•GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State men's basketball team concludes its season-long five-game homestand with two nationally-ranked GLIAC South opponents this week. The Warriors host #25-Ashland on Thursday (7:30 pm) and 11th-ranked Findlay on Saturday (3:00 pm).

WSU enters the week on a three-game winning streak in which the Warriors have won by a margin of 20.3 points per game and out-rebounded their opponents by 10.0 a contest. Wayne State shot 51.6 percent in the three home victories with senior Erik Parker leading the way with 17.0 ppg, including 13-of-15 at the foul line. As a team, WSU is atop the GLIAC in free throw percentage at 73.3.

Ashland was the only conference team to sweep the regular-season series in 2004-05. Meanwhile, Wayne State handed Findlay its only GLIAC loss last season on Valentine's Day, but the Oilers defeated WSU the three other times they met, all at Croy Gymnasium.

WSU returns to the road with a trip to the U.P. next weekend. The Warriors will face Michigan Tech on Jan. 19 and Northern Michigan on Jan. 21.

•SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Ashland has won 10 of its last 11 games and is 5-0 away from home. The Eagles lead the conference in scoring offense at 79.4 ppg.

Justin Brown has seven double-doubles this season and is in the top three of the GLIAC in both scoring and rebounding, but it was junior forward Rob McRae earning the GLIAC South Player of the Week award on Monday.

The Oilers, winners of eight straight, are making 50 percent of their shots from the field. The team is led by junior Frank Phillips' 13.4 ppg and senior point guard Dustin Pfeifer's GLIAC-high 6.00 assists per game.

•ON THE BENCH
David Greer is in his fifth year at Wayne State and has a 73-56 record. Ashland's Roger Lyons is 201-143 in 14 seasons at his alma mater. Ron Niekamp is in his 21st season with the Oilers and owns a 444-164 record.

•IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was tied with Gannon for second place in the South Division of the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll. AU was picked fifth with nine points while Findlay earned four first-place votes and 24 points in first place.

•THE SERIES
Wayne State leads in both series: 18-15 against the Eagles and 13-11 over the Oilers.

•LAST GAME NOTES
Wayne State picked up its first conference win with a 68-52 defeat of visiting Northwood on Jan. 7 at the Matthaei.

Senior Ethan Banks drove the baseline and put up a layup for the game's first points. The Warriors were up 5-1 before NU scored four straight points. Erik Parker answered that run with a one-handed dunk followed by consecutive three-pointers by Banks and Kris Krzyminski for a 13-7 lead.

Another Banks three put the Warriors in front 20-10 as they made eight of their first 11 shots. After a Northwood three, neither team scored until the 6:40 mark when Herb Goliday made back-to-back layups. Krzyminski hit a deep three to push WSU's lead to 14 points as the Timberwolves wouldn't score for over six minutes in the first half.

The Warriors, who took a 10-point lead into halftime, scored four straight out of the locker room. Then a nice pass from Parker to Goliday under the hoop put WSU up 38-25. Two Goliday blocks on the same NU possession led to a three-pointer by Krzyminski on the other end. Jacob Black blocked a shot on defense then was rewarded with a jumper. He followed that with a steal and fast-break layup for a 51-30 lead with 11:03 remaining.

Parker scored four unanswered points for Wayne State's largest lead of the game at 61-39 with 7:08 to play.

Parker and Goliday tied for team-high honors with 15 points apiece. Goliday was a rebound shy of a double-double with a game-best nine boards. Banks and Krzyminski each knocked down three three-pointers, accounting for the team's six triples.

WSU shot 50.9 percent (27-53) for the game, marking the fifth straight game over 50 percent from the floor. The Warriors are 4-1 in their last five contests.