Box Score Minnesota State 86  Wayne State 81

           Four players scored in double figures and Minnesota State held a 23-8 advantage in second chance points as the Mavericks edged Wayne State 86-81 in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball play Friday evening in Mankato, Minnesota.  Minnesota State is now 11-3 overall and 6-2 in the NSIC with the win while Wayne State drops to 3-11 and 1-8 in league play.
            Wayne State came out of the gates as the aggressor pulling out to a 20-11 lead just seven into the game, but Minnesota State used a quick 9-0 over the next two minutes to tie the game at 20 with 10:15 to play in the half.
            The remainder of the half was fairly back and forth with MSU pulling ahead by as much as seven with 1:10 remaining in the half but the 'Cats cut the lead to 43-41 thanks to a Brian Goodwin 3-pointer as time expired in the first half.
            After Wayne State knotted the score at 47 with 17:45 to play, Minnesota State used a 12-4 run over the next 5:53 to take the 59-51 thanks to a Jalen Pendleton jumper with 11:52 remaining.
            The Wildcats clawed back to as close as three after a Matt Thomas layup with 7:36 left in the game, but this is as close as WSC would get, as the Mavericks finished with the 86-81 win.
            Sophomore guard Matt Thomas led Wayne State offensively with 25 points followed by Adam Moon with 15.  Freshman guard Vance Janssen also reached double figures for the 'Cats with 14 points in the contest.
            Wayne State made 29 of 60 shots from the field for 48.3 percent.  WSC was 6 of 19 from the 3-point line (31.6%) and 17 of 20 from the charity stripe.
            Jalen Pendleton paced four double digit scorers for Minnesota State with a game high 27 points followed by Jon Fuqua with 16.  Cole Harper (15) and Joey Witthus (11) also reached double figures for the Mavericks.
            The Mavericks were 31 of 65 from the field for 47.7 percent, but were just 1 of 8 from behind the arc.  Minnesota State was 23 of 42 from the free throw line.
            Minnesota State held a commanding 46-31 advantage on the boards over Wayne State, converting 23 second chance points to just eight by WSC.  Fuqua and Snoop Viser brought down seven rebounds apiece to lead the Mavericks.  Sophomore forward Jordan Cornelius led Wayne State with six caroms.
            WSC had just 11 turnovers in the game to ten on MSU.  The Mavericks also held a 48-32 advantage on points in the paint.
            Wayne State will be on the road again tomorrow night, visiting Concordia-St. Paul for a 6 p.m. contest in St. Paul, Minnesota.