Monday, November 24, 2008

Wayne State 71 Nebraska-Kearney 69

            Wayne State College rallied from a 57-43 deficit with 12:53 left in the game to record a 71-69 men's college basketball win over Nebraska-Kearney Monday evening in Wayne at Rice Auditorium.  The Wildcats even their season record at 2-2 while UNK slips to 1-3 on the season.

            UNK shot at a 60 percent clip for nearly 30 minutes and held a double digit lead for much of the game until Wayne State mounted its rally midway through the second half.  The Lopers had a 44-34 lead at halftime thanks to 64 percent in the first half (18 of 28).  UNK was still shooting near 60 percent when the Lopers held a 57-43 lead with 12:53 remaining before Wayne State began their rally.

            The Wildcats tied the score at 62-62 with 5:42 to play following a David Walters layup and took the lead for good at 65-64 on a Brian Metz layup with 4:15 left.  After a Jonathon Thomas layup put WSC in front 67-64 with 1:33 left, UNK got within one point a final time at 67-66 on a tip in by Nick Alexander.  WSC then used a layup by Thomas to take a 69-66 lead with 41 seconds left.  Following a missed three pointer by UNK's Drake Beranek, Brent Jackman made one of two free throws to put WSC ahead 70-66.  David Walters made one of two free throws with seven seconds left to give the 'Cats a 71-66 lead and UNK's Jeremy Cruise hit a three pointer with two seconds to play to make the final score 71-69.

            Walters finished with a game-high 21 points to lead four double figure scorers for the Wildcats.  Thomas added 15, Metz had 14 and Jackman ended with 11.  The Wildcats made 27 of 60 shots for 45 percent including 9 of 24 three point attempts.  WSC was 8 of 12 at the free throw stripe.

            Jeremy Cruise finished with 20 points to pace UNK in scoring followed by Drake Beranek with 16.  Josiah Parker added 15 points and five blocks while Max Froehlich finished with 12.  The Lopers ended the game hitting 27 of 53 shots for 50.9 percent.  UNK was 9 of 17 from the three point line and 6 of 8 at the free throw stripe.

            Wayne State held a 35-29 edge in rebounding over the Lopers with Metz grabbing 11 boards to lead WSC while Parker hauled in seven caroms for the Lopers.  UNK had 15 turnovers in the game to 13 for Wayne State.

            Wayne State will be play in the 2008 NSIC Holiday Hoopsfest in Sioux Falls on Saturday and Sunday, battling MSU Moorhead and Minnesota Duluth in non-conference games at the Elmen Center with tip off set for 8:00 p.m. each night.