Box Score Sioux Falls 64 Wayne State 58

            Wayne State College shot just 36 percent from the field as Sioux Falls held off a late Wildcat rally for a 64-58 Northern Sun Conference men's basketball win Friday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  USF is now 7-8 and 3-4 in league play while WSC slips to 4-9 and 2-5 in the NSIC.
            The two teams exchanged three ties and three lead changes in the first eight minutes of the game, but the Cougars led the rest of the night.
            WSC took its biggest lead of the night at 12-9 with 14:50 to play in the first half following a Kendall Jacks layup.  The Cougars then scored eight of the next nine points and led 17-13 following a Zach Wessels free throw with 9:43 remaining in the first half. 
            USF pushed the lead to seven at 26-19 with 2:51 to go in the half before WSC finished the half with a Vance Janssen jumper followed by two Jacks free throws and a layup by JJ Zumbrennen to end the half with the 'Cats trailing 26-25.
            WSC tied the score at 32 early in the second half (15:27) on a layup from Jacks.  But the Cougars took control of the game with a 12-0 run over the next 5:37 and built a 44-32 lead.
            USF took its biggest lead of the night at 47-34 with 9:19 to play on a Mack Johnson three-point play.
            WSC still trailed 54-43 with 5:51 remaining before making one last rally at the Cougars.  A layup by Jacks got the 'Cats within four at 54-50 with 2:49 to play, but USF answered the run and went back up eight at 61-53 before finishing with the 64-58 win.
            Wayne State had its second-worst shooting night of the season, going 20 of 55 for 36.4 percent.  The 'Cats were 5 for 25 behind the arc and 13 of 21 (61.9%) at the charity stripe.
            Janssen led WSC in scoring with 15 points while Jacks also reached double digits with 11.
            Sioux Falls made 22 of 45 shots for 48.9 percent, including 3 of 9 from the 3-point line.  The Cougars were 17 for 26 at the free throw line.
            Mack Johsnon poured in a game-high 24 points for the Cougars.  Drew Guebert chipped in 13 while Zach Wessels and Daniel Hurtt each added 10.
            The Cougars held a slight 35-33 edge in rebounding over WSC thanks to seven boards by Clint Thomas while Jordan Cornelius grabbed a game-high 10 caroms for the Wildcats.
            Jacks handed out four of Wayne State's nine assists while Janssen and Brian Goodwin each had two steals. 
            The Wildcats will be at home again Saturday evening hosting #25 Southwest Minnesota State in a New Year's Even matchup starting at 6 p.m.