DETROIT – Despite a career-high 30 points from Luka Mateski and a late rally that erased a 17-point second-half deficit, the Parkside men's basketball team could not complete the comeback Thursday night, falling 82-78 to Wayne State at the Wayne State Fieldhouse.
Parkside drops to 8-6 overall and 3-4 in GLIAC play, while the Warriors improve to 7-6 overall and 4-3 in league play.
The Rangers' offense found a rhythm after halftime, shooting 58% (15-for-26) in the second half, but an early hole and Wayne State's paint presence proved too much to overcome. The Warriors shot 54% (30-for-56) overall and went 53% in both halves, outscoring Parkside 44-30 in the paint while adding 14 second-chance points on nine offensive rebounds.
Mateski's night came largely at the foul line, where he went 14-for-16 on free throws and finished 8-for-13 from the field. Parkside shot 83% at the stripe (24-for-29), as this was the first game all season the Rangers made 20 or more free throws and still dropped the contest.
Paxton Warden added 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting with three triples, Josiah Palmer scored 13 points with a team-high five assists, and Braden McGlothlin finished with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting with two 3-pointers. Fawaz Surakat chipped in six points and a team-high five rebounds in 21 minutes before fouling out with over five minutes to play. Raphael Nagau-Trouart grabbed seven rebounds in his start.
Wayne State was led by Carlos Paul III, who scored a season-high 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting with five free throws. Jordan Briggs finished with 12 points and four assists, while Jalen Jenkins added 11 points off the bench. Wayne State received 29 bench points and also got 10 points and five assists from JaKobie Boose in 14 minutes.
Wayne State set the tone early, scoring the first six points and pushing the lead to double digits at 18-8 midway through the first half. Parkside answered behind Warden, who knocked down three first-half 3-pointers, and trimmed the deficit to nine after a Palmer triple with 4:54 left.
The Warriors closed the half with a 5-0 spurt over the final 25 seconds, capped by a Kelvin Tamakloe jumper, to take a 39-29 lead into the break. Parkside shot 39% (9-for-23) in the opening half, while Wayne State hit 53% (16-for-30) and scored 24 of its first-half points in the paint.
Parkside opened the second half with renewed energy and made it a one-possession game early, cutting the margin to five after Mateski free throws at the 18:18 mark. But Wayne State responded with a surge to regain control, stretching the lead to 59-42 with 12:14 remaining after a Cooper Craggs three-pointer.
From there, Parkside mounted its best stretch of the night. The Rangers used steady trips to the line and improved finishing inside to chip away, pulling within two at 74-72 on a McGlothlin three-pointer with 2:51 left. Moments later, McGlothlin came up with a steal and scored in transition to tie the game at 74-74 with 2:25 remaining, completing a 32-15 Parkside run that tied the contest for the first time.
Wayne State answered immediately with another Paul III layup to go back in front, and the Warriors sealed the game at the line down the stretch. Parkside tied it once more at 76-76 on a Palmer jumper with 1:20 left, but Briggs hit two free throws with 48 seconds remaining and Wayne State closed on a 6-for-6 stretch at the line over the final 22 seconds to hold off the Rangers. Parkside had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but a last-second 3-pointer missed as time expired.
Parkside finished with 24 rebounds and 12 assists, while Wayne State held a 28-24 edge on the glass. The Warriors also committed fewer turnovers (12) than Parkside (14) and turned those miscues into a 19-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
The Rangers continue their road swing Saturday at Purdue Northwest. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CT in Hammond, Indiana.
To keep up with the Rangers this weekend, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
