Northwest Wayne News

The Wayne State University men's basketball team is set to face two ranked opponents at home following a successful two-game winning streak. The Warriors will play against Ferris State, currently tied for 22nd place, on Thursday night and then host the 16th-ranked Lake Superior State on Saturday for Senior Day.

Wayne State holds a record of 14-12 overall and 10-8 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The team recently secured back-to-back victories, defeating Grand Valley State 67-66 and Davenport 81-70. The Warriors aim to achieve ten home wins for the second consecutive season.

Ferris State has experienced mixed results lately, with a record of 23-6 overall and 13-5 in GLIAC play. Despite starting strong with wins in 18 of their first 20 games, they have struggled on the road recently. Ferris State is recognized nationally for its defensive skills, particularly in blocks per game and field goal percentage defense.

Lake Superior State stands at 23-5 overall and 14-4 in conference play. They are known for their offensive efficiency, ranking high nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio and scoring margin. The Lakers also maintain a strong defense, holding opponents to an average of 66.4 points per game.

In historical matchups, Ferris State leads Wayne State with a record of 58-41 but has faced challenges when playing away from home against the Warriors. Conversely, Wayne State leads Lake Superior State with a record of 48-38 but has lost most recent encounters except one during last year's GLIAC Tournament.

The recent victory over Davenport saw notable performances from several players including Carmelo Harris who scored a game-high of 19 points. Rob Lee Jr., Kelvin Tamakloe, and Jordan Briggs also contributed significantly to the win.

Wayne State's performance this season marks their best since the 2017-18 campaign in terms of regular-season wins. Junior Carmelo Harris stands out for his free throw accuracy which ranks him second in GLIAC this season.

Ray Williams Jr., referred to as "The Maestro," continues to break records at Wayne State with his extensive career achievements including becoming the program's all-time leader in games played and started.