Wayne State 91 Bemidji State 48
The Wayne State College men's basketball team shot a sizzling 63.5 percent from the field in a 91-48 rout of Bemidji State Saturday night. WSC had two players score 20 or more points as Jason Jensen of Milwaukee, Wisconsin had 23 and Brad Starken from Muskego, Wisconsin had 21. The win clinches a berth in the 2010 NSIC Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament for Wayne State and gives them a 13-14 overall record and a 10-10 record in the NSIC. The loss makes the Beavers a 12-15 overall record and 8-12 record in the NSIC.
Wayne State never trailed as the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead thanks to Brad Starken who hit his first of seven three pointers at the 13:41 mark of the first stanza to give WSC its first advantage. Bemidji State would battle back later in the first half to cut the Wildcat lead to two points at the 4:29 mark of the half. But WSC would outscore BSU 17-3 in the final 4:29 seconds of the opening stanza to take a 42-26 lead into the break.
The Wildcats dominated the second half as Wayne State outscored the Beavers 49-22. Wayne State shot 66.7 percent from the field going 18 of 27 in the half. The Wildcats defense would also lead to offense as Wayne State had 14 points off of turnovers in the half. Junior Ben Tasa capped of the night with a rim rattling dunk that had the Wildcats' faithful on their feet as WSC walked away with a 91-48 win.
Wayne State got it done behind the three point line as well on the night as WSC shot 52.4 percent from the behind the arc going 11 for 21. The Wildcats also held a big advantage in rebounds as WSC grabbed 36 rebounds compared to the Beavers 21.
The Beavers shot 35.6 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from behind the arc and 70.6 percent from the free throw line. Bemidji State committed 19 turnovers on the night.
Wayne State had four players in double figures on the night as Jensen led the way with 23 points. Jensen, who is averaging 19.5 points per game in his last four contests, was 10 of 14 from the field shooting 71.4 percent. Starken added 21 points, all of them from downtown, as the junior was 7 of 12 from the three point line.
Freshman Amry Shelby added 17 points and senior Brett Spiker notched his 12th double-double of the season scoring 11 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in his final game at Rice Auditorium. Fellow senior Brian Metz added five points in five rebounds in his final game in Wayne, America.
Bemidji State had one player in double figures on the night as freshman Lance Rongstad poured in 10 points. Senior Seth Haake, who is second in the NSIC in scoring, was held to only nine points on the night. Freshman Burke Lendl led BSU in rebounds grabbing five while adding eight points.
The Wildcats will be on the road as WSC will head to Augustana to open up the 2010 NSIC Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament Wednesday evening. The time is yet to be determined please check out www.wscwildcats.com for more information.
