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 Jeremy Lathan made four of his five triples in the second half to defeat Ashland. |
Dec. 8, 2007
DETROIT - The Wayne State University men's basketball team (7-1 overall, 2-0 GLIAC) is off to the best start since the 1998-99 squad also started 7-1 after a come-from-behind 71-67 win over visiting Ashland University (4-4 overall, 2-1 GLIAC) to end the Eagles three game winning streak.
The Warriors trailed by eight (56-48) with 8:59 remaining but went on a 14-0 run in just over a four minute period to take a six point lead. Junior Jeremy Lathan (Portland, Ore./Benson Tech) started the rally with a triple after three consecutive offensive rebounds from the much smaller WSU forwards. Lathan followed with a steal and another three point basket to cut the deficit to two. After back-to-back turnovers by the Eagles, senior Wynn Sarden (Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren Cousino) sank two free throws to knot the game at 56.
Lathan nailed two more consecutive triples after back-to-back miscues by AU's Kale Richardson. Ashland's Brett Bartlett made two free throws to end WSU's run, but Sarden answered with an old-time three-point play on a lay-up and foul shot. Bartlett responded with the first of three consecutive AU triples to make it a four point WSU lead at 65-61.
Sophomore Lendyn Davis (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) scored down low for WSU, but Bartlett hit another three-point basket before senior Jason Saddler (Detroit, Mich./Cody) scored from inside off a feed from Sarden. AU's Bret Wackerly drained a triple from Bartlett cutting Wayne State's lead to two at 69-67.
In the next possessions, the Warriors missed two free throws and a triple try, while Ashland missed on both a two point and a three point field goal attempt. WSU was called for a turnover despite a no-foul call on AU's Tyler Rosenberger which led to a missed three point attempt by Wackerly and Sarden responded with two free throws with four seconds left to seal the win.
In the first half, Ashland jumped out to leads of 4-0 and 8-4 before Wayne State answered with a 9-0 run led by five points from Davis. WSU tallied seven straight points after AU had cut the Warrior lead to two (15-13), but the Eagles responded with eight consecutive points to trail 22-21 with 7:49 left.
Junior Lorenzo McClelland (Oak Park, Mich.) scored the next five points of the game giving WSU a six point lead. Ashland cut its deficit to two three more times in the first half including on the final bucket of the opening 20 minutes on a tip-in by Rosenberger.
Sarden scored a game-high 20 points to lead four Warriors in double figures. Saddler had a game-high 13 rebounds with Sarden grabbing 11 boards for his fifth double-double of the season. Rosenberger led AU with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Both teams shot 42 percent from the floor, made seven three pointers but WSU committed just 10 turnovers to 18 for Ashland.
The Warriors next game will be Saturday, Dec. 15 at Saginaw Valley. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. following the women's game and can be heard on 1400 AM (WDTK) or online at wdtkam.com.
Wayne State has won nine in a row at home but will play its next five games away from Detroit before returning home on Jan. 12 to face GLIAC rival Lake Superior.
