Box Score #25 Southwest Minnesota State 85 Wayne State 73

            #25 Southwest Minnesota State built a 42-27 halftime lead and maintained a double digit advantage the rest of the way as the Mustangs downed Wayne State College 85-73 in a Northern Sun Conference men's basketball game played Saturday evening at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  SMSU is now 12-1 and 7-1 in league play while the Wildcats drop to 4-10 and 2-6 in the NSIC.
            WSC held a pair of leads early in the game until the Mustangs went on a big scoring run and never relinquished the lead the rest of the night.
            Kendall Jacks scored five of Wayne State's first seven points on a 3-pointer to open the game and a jumper that was the Wildcats' final lead of the night at 7-6 with 17:26 to play.
            SMSU then scored the next six points for a 12-7 lead which catapulted to 22-11 at the 11:07 mark following a Turner Moen layup.
            WSC got as close as seven at 24-17 at the 7:16 mark on a JJ Zumbrennen 3-poniter.  The Mustangs then scored the next nine points to go up 33-17 and finished the first half with a 42-27 lead.
            SMSU used a Ryan Brueggeman 3-pointer to open the second half for the Mustangs' biggest lead of the night at 45-27.  The Mustangs held a double digit lead the rest of the night.
            WSC got as close as 10 at 72-62 on a pair of Matt Thomas free throws with 4:12 to play, then SMSU scored the next five points to go in front 77-62 and went on to the 85-73 victory.
            Wayne State was 25 of 63 from the field for 39.7 percent.  The 'Cats were 5 of 18 from the 3-point line and 18 for 25 at the free throw line.
            Jacks and Thomas led WSC in scoring with 19 points apiece while Jordan Cornelius also reached double figures with 11.
            SMSU made 26 of 50 from the field for 52 percent.  The Mustangs were 5 of 19 from the 3-point line and 28 for 43 at the charity stripe.
            Ryan Bruggeman scored a game-high 25 points for the Mustangs.  KJ Davis scored 14 points while Carter Kirk notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Mitch Weg also hit double digits with 10.
            SMSU held a sizeable 44-30 advantage in rebounding over the Wildcats.  Cornelius grabbed nine boards for WSC.
            Vance Janssen had four of Wayne State's eight steals and three of the 'Cats 10 assists.
            Wayne State is on the road next weekend as the Wildcats visit Concordia-St. Paul Friday night at 8 p.m. and Minnesota State Saturday for a 6 p.m. tipoff.