Justin Kelly Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach (Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
Justin Kelly Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach (Baseball, Volleyball, Basketball) | Wayne State University Athletics Website
The Wayne State University men's basketball team is set to compete in the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 2021. The Warriors, seeded seventh with a 13-14 overall record and a 7-11 mark in conference play, will face off against second-seeded Lake Superior State on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie. Wayne State aims to overcome two narrow defeats to Lake Superior State during the regular season.
Wayne State secured its tournament spot by defeating Saginaw Valley State 75-74, thanks to a last-second lay-up by Carmelo Harris. Entering the quarterfinal match-up, Wayne State has won three consecutive games and five of its last seven contests.
Lake Superior State, which had already secured the second seed before concluding its regular season with a victory over Parkside, has been strong at home this season with a 13-1 record. The Lakers have only lost one non-conference game at home this season.
Historically, Wayne State leads the series against Lake Superior State with 47 wins compared to 37 losses but has struggled recently, losing ten of their last twelve encounters. This season's meetings between the teams were decided by just two points each time, with Lake Superior coming out on top both times.
Lake Superior State is coached by Steve Hettinga in his 17th year and boasts the top scoring defense in the GLIAC, allowing an average of 68 points per game. The team ranks highly nationally in several statistical categories and features four players averaging double-digit points per game: Tyson Edmondson (13.2), Kingsley Perkins (12.8), Devin Womack (12.0), and Xander Okerlund (11.8).
Wayne State's previous outing saw them edge past Saginaw Valley State after trailing late into the game. Key performances included clutch plays from Ray Williams Jr., Colin Golson Jr., Rob Lee Jr., and Tamario Adley.
The Warriors are seeking their first post-season win since they triumphed over Northwood in February 2012. Carmelo Harris leads Wayne State's scoring efforts this season, supported by contributions from Colin Golson Jr., Ray Williams Jr., Rob Lee Jr., and Tamario Adley.
Coverage of Wednesday's game will be available through Warrior All-Access audio broadcast and FloHoops.com video stream.
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