Wayne State pulls away in third quarter, tops Roosevelt 68-61 in GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal

Wayne State used a decisive third-quarter surge to separate from Roosevelt and claim a 68-61 win Wednesday in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals at the Wayne State Fieldhouse.

The game turned after halftime, when the Warriors put together the defining stretch of the night. Wayne State delivered a 15-2 run in the third quarter, the sequence that changed a tight game into a controlled one and helped secure the conference tournament victory. That burst gave the Warriors the cushion they needed heading into the final quarter.

Roosevelt kept the pressure on throughout the evening, and the final margin reflected a competitive matchup. But Wayne State's defense and timely execution in the third quarter made the difference. The Warriors were able to string together stops, convert on the other end and force Roosevelt to play from behind for much of the second half.

Wayne State finished with 68 points and held Roosevelt to 61, advancing after a performance built on that pivotal run and steady play late. Specific standout individual statistics were not provided, but the Warriors' collective effort on both ends of the floor shaped the result in a postseason setting.

The quarterfinal win sends Wayne State forward in the GLIAC Tournament after the Warriors protected home court and found their best stretch at the right time. In a game that was still there to be won after the break, Wayne State seized control in the third quarter and did not give it back.