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 Wynn Sarden had 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the win over Northwood. |
Dec. 6, 2007
DETROIT - Despite scoring a season-low 58 points, the Wayne State University men's basketball team (6-1 overall, 1-0 GLIAC) won its conference opener by 13 points (58-45) over visiting Northwood University (3-2 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) Thursday evening at the Matthaei before a crowd of 677.
The visiting Timberwolves never trailed in the first five minutes of the game and had their biggest lead (five points at 7-2) following an Antonio Harrison fast-break lay-up at the 16:56 mark. The Warriors responded with a 7-2 run keyed by five points from junior Lorenzo McClelland (Oak Park, Mich./Oak Park). The game was knotted twice more in the next 90 seconds before N'wood scored six straight and led 24-15 at the 7:26 mark following a triple by Tony Marcotullio.
After the Timberwolves held a 28-21 lead with 4:17 remaining, Wayne State tallied five of the last six points of the opening half to cut the deficit to three (29-26) at intermission.
Two buckets from senior Wynn Sarden (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino) were sandwiched around a free throw by NU's Antonio Harrison tying the game at 30. Sarden's second bucket started a 15-5 Warrior run that concluded with two free throws by junior Jeremy Lathan (Portland, Ore./Benson Tech) at the 9:36 mark giving Wayne State a 43-35 lead.
Mark Barnes made two consecutive field goal attempts to pull Northwood within four at 43-39 but WSU responded with five straight points, three of which came from senior Jason Saddler (Detroit, Mich./Cody) for a nine point lead at 48-39. In a game of scoring streaks, the Timberwolves went on a 5-0 run to pull within four at 48-44 with five minutes remaining but once again Wayne State answered with a 8-0 run including the middle four points by sophomore Lendyn Davis (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) to put the game out of reach at 56-44 with only 2:40 left.
Sarden scored in double figures, with 13 points, for the seventh consecutive game and missed a double-double by one rebound. Saddler also had 13 points and tallied in double figures for the sixth straight contest. McClelland also had 13 points, reaching double figures for the seventh time this season. Sarden had a team-best nine rebounds. Harrison was the lone Northwood player in double figures with 10 points, while Mark Barnes had a game-high 12 rebounds.
Wayne State continues GLIAC play with a 3 p.m. tip-off at home on Saturday versus Ashland.
Notes:
Wayne State had a season-high three blocked shots including two by Wynn Sarden, which helped the Warriors allow less than 50 points for the second straight game. Northwood made just 15 of 52 shots from the floor (28.8 percent).
WSU had season-lows in field goals made (23) and field goal percentage (36.5) and was held without a three-point basket the entire contest. The one category coach Greer was happy to see his squad low in was turnovers with only 10, compared to 21 for Northwood.
