Sioux Falls 85 Wayne State 75

            Despite a career-high 23 points from Sioux Falls native Adol Aluong, the Wayne State College men's basketball team suffered an 85-75 loss at the University of Sioux Falls Friday evening in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball.  The Wildcats drop to 3-3 on the season and 0-2 in the NSIC while Sioux Falls is now 5-1 and 2-0.
            The first half was a back and forth battle that saw the two teams exchange several leads.  Sioux Falls held an early 15-9 lead at the 14:12 mark and still led 21-16 when Wayne State used a scoring surge off the bench fueled by junior guard Gary Ross to give the Wildcats the lead.
            Ross hit back-to-back treys and gave WSC a 22-21 lead with 10:59 to play in the half.  A Jamie Pearson basket and two free throws from Adol Aluong gave the 'Cats a 26-21 lead, but USF then scored the next eight points in just 1:11 to regain the lead at 29-26.  The two teams exchanged several leads and ties the rest of the first half before USF finished with a 44-42 lead at halftime
            The Cougars scored the first seven points of the second half to build a 51-42 lead.  WSC got as close as seven points several times, but USF always had an answer for an attempt at a Wildcat comeback.
            With Sioux Falls leading 65-53 with 12:40 to play, WSC pulled within 68-61 on a David Andersen lay-up with 7:21 remaining.  WSC closed within seven again at 73-66 with 5:36 to play on a Jared Bartling shot.  The Cougars then pushed the lead back to 11 at 77-66 and Wayne State never got closer than eight the rest of the way as Sioux Falls registered the 85-75 win over the Wildcats.
            Senior guard Adol Aluong, a graduate of Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School, scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Wildcats on 8 of 11 shooting from the field and 6 for 9 from the foul line.  Junior center David Andersen was the other Wildcat in double figures with 10 points.
            Wayne State made 27 of 48 shots from the field (56.3%), going 5 of 10 from the 3-point line and 16 for 26 at the free throw stripe.
            Sioux Falls had four players in double figures led by Charles Ward with 23 points.  Jordan Stotts had 14 with Mahlon Jones and Robert Goffney scoring 13 and 11 respectively.
            The Cougars were 26 for 51 from the field for 51 percent, making 9 of 22 3-pointers and 24 of 36 free throws. 
            Sioux Falls had one more rebound than WSC, 30-29.  Ryan Rolfzen and Jamie Pearson led Wayne State on the boards with five apiece while Jordan Stotts hauled in seven caroms for the Cougars.  WSC had 17 turnovers in the game to 12 by Sioux Falls.  Jared Bartling, Ty Bauschek and Aluong were each credited with three assists.
            Wayne State will be in action again tomorrow evening with a 7 p.m. contest at Southwest Minnesota State.