Southwest Minnesota State 73 Wayne State 54

            Southwest Minnesota State used 57 percent first half shooting to build a 40-23 halftime lead as the Mustangs went on to a 73-54 win over Wayne State College in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball played Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  SMSU is now 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the NSIC while WSC falls to 1-5 and 0-2 in league play.

            The game was close early with four ties and three lead changes.  But SMSU went on big scoring spree to end the first half with strong shooting and four three pointers in the final five minutes to build a 40-23 halftime lead.  WSC took an 11-8 lead on a Jordan Holdsworth three pointer with 13:48 to go in the first half.  SMSU then scored the next nine points to take the lead for good at 17-11. 

            After WSC got within five at 19-14 on a pair of Holdworth free throws with 7:12 in the half, the Mustangs used a 12-3 run over the next 4:08 and took a 31-17 lead with 3:04 to play in the half on a Trent Carlson three pointer.  SMSU finished the first half with a 40-23 lead, shooting 15 of 26 (57.7 percent) in the first half.

            The second half saw the visiting Mustangs hold a 33-31 scoring advantage over WSC to maintain their double digit lead.  WSC got within 13 points at 42-29 on a Derrell Williams jumper with 17:44 to play, but SMSU scored 12 of the next 16 points to take a 54-33 lead and never looked back in posting the 73-54 win over the Wildcats.

            Derrell Williams notched his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds to lead Wayne State.  He was 6 of 8 from the field and 4 of 6 at the free throw stripe.  Junior guard Amry Shelby also accounted for 16 points for the Wildcats.  WSC was 17 of 48 from the field for 35.4 percent, hitting 2 of 11 three pointers and 18 of 23 free throws.

            Southwest Minnesota State had four players in double figures led by Matt Zager and Tramel Barnes with 13 points apiece.  William Giddings added 12 with Nick Smith scoring 10.  The Mustangs made 28 of 58 shots from the field for 48.3 percent, connecting on 5 of 19 three pointers and 12 of 16 free throws. 

            The Mustangs had a 35-31 edge in rebounding over the Wildcats with Smith grabbing six boards for SMSU while Williams led all rebounders for the Wildcats with 11. 

            The Wildcats are on the road next weekend, visiting Northern State Friday evening at 8:00 p.m. and the University of Mary Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in Northern Sun Conference matchups.