Wayne State 83 Southwest Minnesota State 74 2 OT
Freshman guard Amry Shelby scored a career-high 22 points to lead five players in double figures as Wayne State outlasted Southwest Minnesota State 83-74 in double overtime Saturday night in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball played at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. The Wildcats move to 9-9 overall and 6-5 in the NSIC with the thrilling win while Southwest Minnesota State drops to 9-8 on the season and 4-7 in league play.
The game featured 11 ties and 14 lead changes as each team traded runs throughout. In the first half, WSC took an early 13-8 lead, their biggest lead of the first half, following a Brian Metz layup at the 12:22 mark. With WSC leading 20-18 with 5:17 left in the half, SMSU closed the half on a 8-2 run to take a 26-22 lead at halftime. The Mustangs took their biggest lead early in the second half at 31-24 with 15:58 to play following a Kevin Andrews jumper. WSC responded with a 15-2 run over the next 5:22 and took a 39-33 lead with 10:36 remaining on a three point play by Amry Shelby. The Wildcats kept the lead and still led by five points, 57-52 with 1:01 to play. But SMSU used a Jordan Miller three point play and a layup by Miller with 19 seconds left to send the game into overtime knotted at 57 apiece.
In the first overtime, neither team led by more than three points with three ties and two lead changes. WSC held a 64-61 lead with 1:17 to go following two Brad Starken free throws. The Mustangs cut the lead to one with 46 seconds left in overtime following two charity tosses by DeAnthony Zanders. On the Wildcats' next possession, Amry Shelby drove around the right side of the lane for a layup to put WSC in front 66-63 with 17 seconds to go. But SMSU's Kevin Andrews sank a three pointer as time expired to send the game into a second overtime tied at 66-66.
The second overtime saw SMSU take a 68-66 lead on a jumper by Scott Roehl, but WSC scored on three of their next four possessions while forcing the Mustangs to miss four of their next five shots, resulting in SMSU fouling Wayne State. A Jason Jensen trey put WSC in front 69-68 with 4:01 left in the second overtime. After SMSU tied the score at 69-69 on a DeAnthony Zanders free throw, WSC took the lead for good on a Brian Metz layup to give the 'Cats a 71-69 lead. Elijah Miller followed with a three point play to give WSC a 74-69 advantage with 1:39 to play. The Mustangs then had to foul WSC and the 'Cats made nine free throws down the stretch as Wayne State went on to the 83-74 win.
Amry Shelby paced Wayne State in scoring with a career-high 22 points, going 6 of 9 from the field and 9 of 12 at the free throw line. Jason Jensen added 16 points and was 5 of 8 from the field and 3 for 3 from the three point line. Brett Spiker finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season while Brad Starken and Elijah Miller added 12 points apiece.
WSC was 23 of 47 from the field for 48.9 percent. The 'Cats were 6 of 16 from the three point line and 31 of 44 from the free throw stripe.
For Southwest Minnesota State, Jordan Miller finished with 20 points followed by Scott Roehl with 19. Kevin Andrews (14) and Andrew Peschong (10) also reached double figures for the Mustangs. SMSU was 30 of 71 from the field for 42.3 percent, but made just 6 of 21 shots in the two overtime periods.
The Mustangs outrebounded WSC 38-35 with Roehl grabbing nine boards to lead SMSU while Spiker's 10 caroms topped WSC rebounders. WSC had 18 turnovers in the game to 15 for Southwest Minnesota State.
Wayne State will be on the road next weekend for Northern Sun Conference games at St. Cloud State Friday night and Concordia-St. Paul Saturday night with games beginning at 8:00 p.m. each night.
