#17 Minnesota State 86 Wayne State 55

            Minnesota State shot 69 percent in the first half while building a 52-24 halftime lead and the #17 Mavericks went on to an 86-55 win over Wayne State College in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball played Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  MSU is now 9-2 on the season and 3-1 in the NSIC while WSC dropped to 3-5 overall and 0-4 in league play.
            The game was close early with two ties at 8-8 and 10-10.  Minnesota State then went on a 17-5 run over the next six minutes to take a 27-15 lead.  A Ryan Rolfzen trey got WSC within nine at 27-18, but MSU put the game out of reach with a 20-4 run as the Mavericks took a commanding 52-24 lead at halftime.
            Minnesota State outscored the Wildcats 34-31 in the second half to finish with the 86-55 win.
            The Mavericks finished the game making 26 of 49 shots for 53 percent after scorching the nets for 18 of 26 in the first half for 69.2 percent.  MSU was 9 of 20 from the 3-point line and 25 of 33 at the free throw line.
            Sophomore guard Jamie Pearson was the lone double figure scorer for the Wildcats with 15 points.  WSC made 20 of 51 shots for 39.2 percent, going 6 of 23 behind the arc and 9 for 16 at the free throw stripe.
            Minnesota State held a 37-25 advantage in rebounding on Wayne State thanks to six rebounds each from Connor O'Brien and Tanner Adler while Wayne State's top rebounder was David Andersen with six.         
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday evening hosting Concordia-St. Paul in a Northern Sun Conference contest starting at 6 p.m.