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 Wynn Sarden led WSU with |
Feb. 22, 2008
Ashland, Ohio - The Wayne State University men's basketball squad (9-16 overall, 3-13) concluded the road portion of its 2007-08 season with a 74-60 loss at Ashland University (13-13 overall, 7-9 GLIAC) Thursday evening.
The Warriors started strong scoring the first seven points of the game and holding the Eagles scoreless for the first 4:30. Senior Wynn Sarden (Sterling Hts., Mich./Warren Cousino) scored the first four points before sophomore Lendyn Davis (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) drained a three-pointer.
AU answered with an 8-0 run before WSU responded with a 6-0 run on back-to-back triples by Sarden, who had made just four shots from beyond the arc all season.
After a bucket by AU, freshman Tim Giles (Southfield, Mich./Southfield-Lathrup) made a three pointer for a 16-10 WSU lead at the midpoint of the opening half.
Wayne State had its largest lead of the game at 29-20 with 6:07 remaining following a triple by Davis.
Ashland scored six straight before a jumper in the paint by Sarden made it 31-26.
The Warriors led 36-32 at the break after shooting 50 percent (13-26) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.
A Sarden jumper 90 seconds into the second half put WSU ahead 38-34. Over the next three minutes the teams traded buckets with the score being tied at 42 following a Sarden lay-up.
A lay-up by Saddler and a three-pointer by Giles gave the guests a 47-42 lead with 12:43 remaining. Wayne State went scoreless for the next six minutes as it missed its next six shots plus had two turnovers, while the Eagles scored 12 consecutive points until a basket by Sarden.
A minute later WSU pulled within five following a Saddler jumper but AU made four straight foul shots for a nine point lead at 60-51. A lay-up by Sarden with four minutes remaining cutting the deficit to seven would be as close as the Warriors would get.
Wayne State shot 35.7 percent (10-28) from the floor in the second half, while Ashland made 53 percent (9-17) of its shots. The Eagles also were successful at the foul line making 20-of-23 (87 percent) in the final 20 minutes.
AU had a 34-24 edge in rebounding with Sarden grabbing a team-high eight boards to go along with his game-high 29 points. Kale Richardson led AU with 21 points while also recording a game-best 14 rebounds.
Wayne State concludes the 2007-08 campaign with a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday at home versus Hillsdale.
