Warrior Men’s Basketball Drops Road Contest at Lewis
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. — A decisive second-half surge by Lewis proved to be the difference as Warrior Men’s Basketball fell on the road Tuesday night at Neil Carey Arena. The Warriors stayed within striking distance through three quarters, but a late Flyers run created the final separation in a tightly contested nonconference matchup.
Wayne State opened with composure in a hostile environment, using balanced scoring from the backcourt to keep pace early. Guards Jon Brantley and Jordan Briggs helped the Warriors settle in offensively, attacking closeouts and getting to the rim to offset Lewis’ size in the paint. Wayne State’s defensive rotations on the perimeter limited clean looks from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, forcing the Flyers to work deep into the shot clock.
The Warriors’ best stretch came in the second quarter, when increased ball pressure and active hands on the wings sparked a key run. Wing defenders like Justice Gordon and Andre Harris disrupted passing lanes, generating live-ball turnovers that led to transition opportunities. Forward Marcus Bentley provided an interior presence during that span, securing contested rebounds and converting around the basket as Wayne State briefly grabbed momentum before Lewis answered at the foul line to keep the game close heading into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Wayne State continued to compete defensively, but the Flyers began to find a rhythm on the offensive glass. Despite strong efforts from frontcourt players such as Matt Coffey and Nate Talbot to protect the rim and finish possessions, second-chance points tilted in Lewis’ favor in the third quarter. The Warriors countered with timely perimeter shooting from reserves off the bench to stay within a manageable margin entering the final 10 minutes.
The turning point arrived midway through the fourth quarter, when a Lewis burst created the first double-digit separation of the night. Consecutive Warrior empty trips, including a pair of shots that rolled off the rim, allowed the Flyers to string together a multi-possession run. Wayne State continued to attack off the dribble and got into its late-game pressure package defensively, but Lewis handled the press and used clock management to prevent a final Warriors comeback.
While the result went against Wayne State, the contest provided another measure of growth for a rotation that features contributions from across the roster. Multiple guards logged extended minutes on the road, and the front line was tested by a physical opponent in a true away environment. The Warriors will look to build on the defensive stretches that fueled their second-quarter run as they shift back into preparation for the upcoming portion of the nonconference slate.
Wayne State returns to action on Thursday, Dec. 5, when the team hosts Davenport at the Wayne State Fieldhouse in the GLIAC opener.
