MSU Moorhead 55 Wayne State 51
Unbeaten MSU Moorhead held off Wayne State College 55-51 in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball played Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. With the win, MSU Moorhead improves to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the NSIC while beating WSC for the first time since March 1, 2003 to snap a 15-game skid against the Wildcats. Wayne State slips to 2-7 overall and 1-4 in league play.
The visiting Dragons got off to a quick start, grabbing an 11-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game. WSC then went on a 10-2 run and pulled within one point at 13-12 with 9:02 to go in the half following an Amry Shelby jumper. MSU Moorhead then scored the next six points to go back in front by seven before taking a 28-23 halftime lead in which the Dragons never trailed in the first half.
Numerous times WSC would trim the Dragon lead to one point early in the second half until the Wildcats took their only lead of the game at 39-38 with 13:27 to play on a layup by Derrell Williams to cap a 6-0 Wildcat scoring spurt. But the Dragons came back and took a five point advantage at 46-41 on a three pointer from Andrew VanHavermaet with 11:02 to play.
The Dragons took the biggest lead of the second half at six points, 54-48, with 3:03 remaining on a Charlie Chapman jumper. Williams pulled the Wildcats within three at 54-51 with 31 seconds to play on an offensive putback and free throw for a three point play.
WSC forced a turnover on MSUM's Charlie Chapman with 21 seconds left and had a chance to tie the game with a three pointer. Following a Wildcat timeout, Williams took the inbounds pass and drove to the basket, missing a jumper from the left side. Jake Lindfors of MSU Moorhead was fouled on the rebound and made one of two free throws with 11.4 seconds to play to make the final score 55-51.
Both teams posted similar shooting stats in the game. WSC was 18 of 37 from the field for 48.6 percent and 2 of 8 from the three point line. The 'Cats were 13 of 14 at the free throw line for 92.9 percent. MSU Moorhead made 18 of 38 shots overall for 47.4 percent and was 6 of 14 from the three point line to go with 13 of 21 at the charity stripe.
Derrell Williams led WSC in scoring with 11 points to go with a team-high six rebounds. Junior Ayron Worthington added a season-high 10 points off the bench on 4 of 5 shooting. Alex Novak paced MSU Moorhead with 13 points followed by DJ Hamilton with 10 points and five assists.
WSC held a 24-19 advantage in rebounding over the Dragon thanks to six boards by William and five from Worthington while Jake Lindfors paced MSU Moorhead on the glass with five rebounds.
Wayne State will be at home again Sunday afternoon hosting Minnesota, Crookston in a 4:00 p.m. contest.
