Wayne State 75 Minnesota, Crookston 70

           

           Bryce Caldwell and Jamar Diggs combined for 42 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Wayne State College in a 75-70 Northern Sun Conference men's basketball win Saturday night over Minnesota, Crookston at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats remain in a tie for third place in the NSIC with the win at 7-4 in league play and 12-8 overall while Crookston slips to 4-16 overall and 1-10 in the NSIC.

            Minnesota, Crookston held the lead for a good share of the first half until WSC made a late run to take a 38-34 lead.  UMC's Akeem Cubie hit a three-pointer with 5:56 remaining in the first half to give the Golden Eagles a 31-23 lead, but WSC used a 15-3 run to end the half to take the 38-34 advantage at the intermission.

            The Wildcats never trailed in the second half, but after building a 14-point lead, WSC had to hold off a late surge by Minnesota, Crookston to hold on for the 75-70 win.  A Bryce Caldwell three pointer put the Wildcats ahead 48-34 with 17:27 left, but the Golden Eagles slowly chipped into the WSC lead and got as close as two points at 66-64 with 2:24 to play following a layup by Joey Kollar.  The Wildcats then used a three pointer by Caldwell, four free throws by Jamar Diggs and two from David Walters to hold off Minnesota, Crookston and make the final score 75-70.

            Caldwell led WSC with 22 points, sinking 8 of 14 shots from the field, including 6 of 11 three point shots.  Diggs finished with 20 points, going 10 of 10 from the free throw line, to go with seven assists and six rebounds.  Jonathon Thomas finished with 14 points.

            WSC shot 26 of 55 from the field for 47.3 percent.  The 'Cats were 8 of 17 from the three point line and 15 of 20 at the charity stripe for 75 percent.

            For Minnesota, Crookston, Bryce Cummings scored 21 points followed by Eli McVey with 15 points and Akeem Cubie with 11 points.  The Golden Eagles shot 26 of 59 from the field for 44 percent. UMC was 11 of 22 from the three point line and 7 of 12 at the free throw line.

            WSC out-rebounded Minnesota, Crookston 36-32 with Thomas hauling in seven boards to lead the Wildcats while Cubie grabbed six boards for Minnesota, Crookston.  Both teams had only 10 turnovers.

            Wayne State hits the road next weekend for NSIC games at #7 Northern State Friday night and the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota on Saturday.