#16 Minnesota State 89 Wayne State 83

            Wayne State got as close as four after trailing by 16 late in the first half before falling to #16 Minnesota State 89-83 in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The visiting Mavericks are now 12-2 on the season and 7-1 in league play while WSC drops to 3-12 and 0-9 in the NSIC.
            The Mavericks came out sizzling, taking a 34-19 lead just nine minutes into the contest. WSC got within eight at 36-28 on a Jordan Holdsworth trey with 8:38 to go in the half, but the Mavericks built the lead back to 16 before finishing the half with a 53-39 lead.
            Minnesota State maintained a double digit lead for the first 10 minutes of the second half until the Wildcats rallied and got within four points with just under five minutes to play.
            The Mavericks held a 71-57 lead with 11 minutes remaining when WSC made their run.  Freshman Jordan Cornelius made a jumper with 4:38 to play that got the 'Cats within four at 79-75. 
            After MSU pushed the lead back to nine at 84-75, WSC pulled within four at 86-82 with 37 seconds remaining after a Patrick Kurth layup. 
            Minnesota State's Zach Monaghan then sealed the win for the Mavericks making three of four free throws in the final 27 seconds to give MSU the 89-83 win.
            Freshman guard Trae VandeBerg scored 22 points to lead Wayne State in scoring.  Senior center Patrick Kurth added 15 followed by Jordan Cornelius with 11.
            The Wildcats were 30 for 60 from the field for 50 percent.  WSC was 8 of 19 behind the 3-point line and 15 for 24 at the free throw stripe.
            Assem Marei poured in a game-high 24 points for Minnesota State followed by Zach Romashko with 15.  Connor Miller (13), Zach Monaghan (12) and TJ Lake (11) also reached double figures for the Mavericks.
            Minnesota State shot 53.8 percent from the field, making 28 of 52 shots.  The Mavs were 10 of 21 from 3-point range and 23 of 31 at the foul line.
            The Mavericks had a 33-32 edge in rebounding over the Wildcats as Marei hauled in seven boards for MSU while Kurth grabbed a game-high eight caroms for Wayne State.
            WSC had just eight turnovers in the game to six on MSU.  Joel Heesch had six assists for WSC.
            Wayne State will be in action against Saturday evening hosting Concordia-St. Paul in a 6 p.m. contest at Rice Auditorium.