The Wayne State University men’s basketball team was defeated by Lake Superior State, 82-79, in a close contest at the WSU Fieldhouse on Thursday. The Warriors now hold a 12-13 overall record and are 9-10 in the GLIAC, while the Lakers improved to 17-11 overall and 11-8 in conference play.
The game opened with both teams trading leads, resulting in three ties and three lead changes within the first five minutes. After a brief lead by Lake Superior State, Wayne State responded with seven consecutive points from Jordan Briggs to take a two-point advantage. However, the Lakers answered with a run of their own, extending their lead to ten before Wayne State closed out the half strong. Five different Warriors contributed to a 17-5 run that sent them into halftime ahead 40-38.
Wayne State shot efficiently in the first half, making over 58 percent of its field goal attempts compared to Lake Superior State’s 50 percent. The Lakers had more three-pointers but fewer free throws than the Warriors. Turnovers were an issue for Wayne State, who committed twice as many as their opponents before halftime.
In the second half, Wayne State gained its largest lead at six points before another series of ties and lead changes ensued. Briggs put his team up by four midway through the period but Lake Superior State regained control with an eight-point surge. The teams remained close until late when Lake Superior State capitalized on turnovers and free throws to secure the win.
Wayne State finished shooting 54 percent from the field while Lake Superior State made nearly 56 percent of its shots. The Warriors made more three-pointers and converted more free throws but turned over the ball 23 times compared to only 12 for their opponent. This resulted in a significant advantage for Lake Superior State in points off turnovers (30-17) and scoring inside (40-28).
Carlos Paul III led Wayne State with 20 points, followed by Jordan Briggs with 17. Jalen Jenkins and Adam Ayrault each added 11 points. Jenkins also recorded seven assists while several players contributed defensively with steals and blocks.
Karter Richards led all scorers with 25 points for Lake Superior State; Omar Suleiman scored 16 and Nino Carter-Smith had 15 along with eight assists.
Wayne State will next face Saginaw Valley State on Sunday at home during Senior Day festivities where seniors Jon Brantley, Carlos Paul III, Chris Mutebi, Kelvin Tamakloe, Bryce Esman, Cooper Craggs, and Eli Lohr will be recognized.
The Wayne State Warriors Men’s Basketball program is part of Wayne State University’s athletics department and competes at NCAA Division II level within the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). As a major athletic initiative serving Detroit’s urban region, it maintains historical records documenting achievements such as GLIAC Player of the Year honors and NCAA Regional All-Tournament selections. More information about past top players can be found on its official website.
