Wayne State University's men's basketball team achieved a significant victory over Purdue Northwest, marking their first win at John Friend Court since 2017. The Warriors secured a 73-69 win, overcoming past defeats at the venue.
The game began with Wayne State taking an early lead, driven by Carmelo Harris's three-pointer. Despite gaining a 14-4 advantage, the Warriors faced a challenging period where they scored only one free throw while Purdue Northwest surged ahead with a 20-1 run. However, Wayne State regained momentum and led 36-33 at halftime.
In the second half, Wayne State maintained a narrow lead until Purdue Northwest took control with a seven-point advantage. The Warriors responded with key plays from Tamario Adley and Rob Lee Jr., eventually tying the game at 64-64. Adley's performance in the final moments was crucial as he scored the last seven points for Wayne State and ensured victory by making all his free throws.
Adley ended the game with 20 points and was perfect from the foul line, becoming the first Wayne State player in over two decades to achieve such accuracy while attempting more than ten free throws. Rob Lee Jr. contributed 17 points, while Harris added 13 points and four assists.
For Purdue Northwest, Quinton McCullough led with 19 points and nine rebounds, supported by Will Ashford's 16 points.
Wayne State will continue their road trip with a game against Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday as they aim to improve their position in the GLIAC standings.
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