Box Score Missouri Western 81 Wayne State 75

            Wayne State College rallied from a 10-point second half deficit before falling late at Missouri Western 81-75 Friday evening at the Hillyard Tip-Off Men's Basketball Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri.  The Wildcats fall to 0-1 on the year while the host Griffons move to 1-0.
            The two teams exchanged several leads early in the contest.  After trailing 8-3 to start the contest, WSC went on a 9-2 run and took a 12-10 lead on a Matt Thomas layup at the 14:22 mark of the first half.
            Brian Goodwin made a layup at the 14:11 mark for Wayne State's last lead of the game at 14-13.  Missouri Western then went on a 13-3 run over the next 5:12 to take a 26-17 lead, their biggest advantage of the first half, with 8:59 remaining. 
            WSC chipped away at the Griffon advantage and got as close as one at 32-31 on a Adam Moon layup with 2:25 to go before halftime.  But Missouri Western scored the final seven points of the half for a 39-31 cushion at halftime.
            The Wildcats were down 12 early in the second half and pulled within two at 59-57 following a David Andersen layup with 10:13 to play.
            Down 71-61 at the 5:34 mark, Wayne State rallied to tie the score at 75-75 on an Austin Esters layup with 1:24 remaining.
            But Missouri Western's Wes Mitter made a jumper on the next possession for a 77-75 Griffon lead.  Following a WSC turnover, Missouri Western made two free throws for a 79-75 lead with 18 seconds to play and a missed 3-pointer by Wayne State's Matt Thomas resulted in another Wildcat foul and two more Griffon free throws to seal the 81-75 win.
            Wayne State made 29 of 62 shots from the field for 46.8 percent, going 7 for 23 from 3-point range.  The Wildcats were just 10 of 22 at the foul stripe for 45.5 percent.  Missouri Western shot 50.8 percent from the field on 30 of 59, making 10 for 23 behind the arc and 11 of 15 free throws.
            Sophomore forward Jordan Cornelius led Wayne State College with 16 points and nine rebounds, one of four double digit scorers.  Sophomore reserve guard Brian Goodwin poured in 13 points with sophomore guard Matt Thomas and senior center David Andersen each producing 10 points.
             Trey Sampson was the leading scorer for Missouri Western with 18 points followed by Mitter with 15.
            Missouri Western held a 41-33 advantage in rebounding over the Wildcats despite nine caroms by Cornelius and seven from Andersen. 
            Thomas had six of Wayne State's 14 assists in the game.  WSC had just nine turnovers in the contest compared to 12 for Missouri Western. 
            The Wildcats will play again Saturday evening against #14 Northwest Missouri State in a 5:30 p.m. contest at the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri.