DETROIT – Junior guard Kip Kelley (Raleigh, N.C.) continued his hot shooting and freshman forward Don Kellum (Chicago) set season highs in points and rebounds, but Ohio Dominican's men's basketball team fell 81-69 at Wayne State in GLIAC action Thursday night.

The setback dropped ODU to 2-7 (0-4 GLIAC), while the Warriors improved to 7-1 (4-0 GLIAC).

Kelley poured in a team and career-best 17 points, hitting all six of his shots from the field and all five three-pointers, while matching a career-high with four rebounds. He's 13 of his last 20 shots from the field (65 percent) and 12 of his last 15 three-pointers (80 percent).

Kellum chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds off the bench, sophomore guard Morgan Jones (Oberlin, Ohio) tallied 14 points and a career-high six assists, and junior forward Aaron Gibbs (Oberlin, Ohio) registered 10 points and seven rebounds.

The first half featured four ties and a pair of lead changes as the Panthers hung close with the host Warriors. Wayne State temporarily pulled away to a 33-25 lead with 2:51 to play, but ODU answered with a triple by Kelley and a John Trew (Barberton, Ohio) jump shot. The Warriors, though, took a 35-30 lead into the break.

The Warriors earned some separation early in the second half. Leading 39-34, Wayne State went on an 11-2 run to build a 50-36 advantage five and a half minutes into the half. The Panthers drew as close as nine points on several occasions but could get no closer.

Ohio Dominican shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field and 13-of-16 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line, but was hurt by committing 17 turnovers, which turned into 25 Wayne State points. The Warriors, led by a 26-point, nine-rebound, five-assist performance by Bryan Smothers, shot 50 percent (31-of-62) from the field and turned the ball over just nine times.

The Panthers play their final game before the holiday break at 1 p.m. Saturday at No. 2 Findlay. Live audio will be provided at pressboxproductions.net.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu