Dec. 28, 2005

Wayne State (3-6) hosts
Bellarmine (4-6) & Illinois Tech (2-10)
Dec. 29 & Jan. 2 - 7:30 p.m.
Matthaei - Detroit, Mich.

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< GAME STORYLINES
Having played seven of its first nine games on the road, the Wayne State men's basketball team returns to Detroit for its next five games, starting with a rematch against Bellarmine on Dec. 29. The Warriors, who are coming off an eight-day break, then host Illinois Tech to begin the new year for the first time in 36 seasons.

WSU will look to avenge an early season loss to the Knights, as BU handed Wayne State its first defeat of the year in Louisville, 85-77, on Nov. 19.

The Warriors' next three games are all home GLIAC contests as Northwood (Jan. 7), Ashland (Jan. 12) and Findlay (Jan. 14) all visit the Matthaei in the upcoming weeks.

< ON THE BENCH
David Greer is in his fifth year at Wayne State and has a 70-56 record. Bellarmine's Scott Davenport is in his first year as a collegiate head coach. The 1978 Louisville grad came to Bellarmine after spending the past nine seasons as an assistant coach at U of L.

< SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Knights have gone 3-5 since defeating the Warriors, but have a 91-63 advantage in three-pointers. Matt Otte lead the team in points (15.2) and rebounds (5.5).

IIT has been off since snapping its 10-game losing streak with a 72-64 win over North Central (Minn.) on Dec. 16. The Scarlet Hawks are led by Robert Lucky's 20.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game.

< IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was tied with Gannon for second place in the South Division of the GLIAC coaches' preseason poll.

BU earned 21 points in fourth place in the GLVC East Division Preseason Coaches' Poll.

< THE SERIES
Bellarmine won the only other meeting between the teams earlier this season in Louisville. The Warriors are 5-0 lifetime against IIT, with all five contests happening between the 1948-49 season and the `68-`69 campaign.

< LAST GAME NOTES
In its final action before Christmas, the WSU men's basketball team fell to fifth-ranked Southern Indiana, 78-59 on Dec. 21 during the 2005 GLVC/GLIAC Challenge at Nicoson Hall. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor, but USI scored 28 points off 22 Warrior turnovers.

Senior Herb Goliday scored the first four points for WSU as the Warriors led 4-3. The Screaming Eagles scored nine straight points that forced two Wayne State timeouts 32 seconds apart. Senior Ethan Banks finally stop USI's run with a long three-pointer at the 14:59 mark.

A 10-1 run by Southern Indiana during the next 3:42 pushed its lead to 22-8. WSU then got a deep three by Kris Krzyminski, but the Warriors committed eight turnovers in the first 11 minutes as USI's lead expanded to 27-11.

The Eagles' largest lead of the first half was 18 points, but Banks connected on a pair of three-pointers and sophomore Rob Igbawua scored on a smooth layup to make it 34-21 with 4:43 to play in the first half.

After two blocks on the defensive end, Banks hit his fourth three of the half to make the halftime score 40-26. WSU shot well (52.6 percent) in the half, but turned the ball over 14 times compared to Southern Indiana's five turnovers.

The Eagles made their first five shots of the second half as their lead grew to 23 points, but a Banks steal that led to a fast-break layup by Krzyminski cut it down to 15 with 12:51 to play. Then Banks made a saving catch and threw the ball over his shoulder to an open Goliday for an easy bucket.

The Warriors didn't let up and actually outscored USI, 20-19, during the first 11:57 out of the locker room. But Southern Indiana's lead was too much to overcome.

Banks scored a team-leading 16 points, while Goliday added 14 and Erik Parker pulled down seven rebounds.