Jan. 25, 2006

Wayne State (7-9, 2-6 GLIAC) vs.
#21 Grand Valley (15-3, 7-2 GLIAC) &
Lake Superior (3-15, 1-9 GLIAC)
Jan. 26 - 7:30 pm & Jan. 28 - 3:00 pm

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GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State University men's basketball team returns to Detroit this week for a pair of home games against GLIAC North opponents. The Warriors host 21st-ranked Grand Valley State Thursday night (7:30 pm), before Saturday afternoon's contest against Lake Superior State (3:00 pm). Thursday night will also feature the third installment of "Jazz & Jump Shots," as well as the WSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.

The Warriors have lost three straight by a combined 11 points. They are 1-6 in games determined by five points or less with the only victory an 85-83 overtime win against then-No. 25 Ashland.

Following the two home games, Wayne State faces a set of tough road match-ups at Findlay (Feb. 2) and Ashland (Feb. 4).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Grand Valley is outscoring its opponents by a league-high 19.2 points per game. The Lakers get things done on both ends of the court with a GLIAC-best 50.1 shooting percentage and 37.8 field goal defense percentage.

GVSU is led by Jason Jamerson (14.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and Callistus Eziukwu (13.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg), who is fifth in the nation in field goal percentage at 67.1.

After starting the season with a 1-15 record, Lake Superior has won its last two games including a two-point overtime victory against Mercyhurst last Saturday.

Freshman Ryan Kuhl leads LSSU with 13.0 ppg and 5.2 rpg. Fellow freshman Mike Rader was named GLIAC North Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 23.5 ppg against the Erie teams.

ON THE BENCH
David Greer is in his fifth year at Wayne State and has a 75-59 record. Grand Valley second-year head coach Ric Wesley has a 33-13 mark with the Lakers. Mike Fitzner is 21-52 in his third season at Lake State.

IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was tied with Gannon for second place in the South Division of the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll. GVSU was picked second in the North with two first-place votes and 31 total points, while Lake State earned six points in seventh place.

THE SERIES
Grand Valley leads Wayne State, 38-24, but WSU has won the last two. WSU holds a 36-16 advantage in the all-time series with Lake Superior that dates back to the 1968-69 season. The Warriors have won four straight.

LAST GAME NOTES
For the fourth game in a row, the Wayne State men's basketball team had the outcome decided by five points or less, and for the third straight time, the Warriors lost as Northern Michigan beat WSU, 72-67, Saturday at the Berry Events Center.

Junior guard Will Pierce opened the scoring with a three-point play. The Wildcats quickly took a 4-3 lead before an Ethan Banks floater beat the shot clock buzzer.

Northern scored 16 of the next 19 points in the first eight minutes of the game to take a 19-7 lead. NMU was up 28-15 before Banks came back with a three at the 8:15 mark. Northern Michigan maintained its pace and held a 42-25 halftime lead.

Junior center Jeffrey Ferguson scored on two straight Warrior possessions early in the second half, but NMU held a 47-29 advantage. Later, Herb Goliday's layup off the glass brought Wayne State within 10 at 61-51 with 6:35 to play. Ferguson came off the bench to record his third double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds which tied his career-high.

Pierce's three-pointer that beat the 35-second clock made it a nine-point game two minutes later. The Warriors scored the final eight points of the game, but fell short. Pierce finished with a career-high 14 points. Banks and Goliday also had 14 points apiece.