Box Score Northern State 86 Wayne State 74

            Northern State used 56 percent field goal shooting and 13 3-pointers to shoot down Wayne State College 86-74 in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball Saturday evening at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  The Wolves move to 14-10 on the season and 10-8 in the NSIC North while WSC drops to 5-19 and 3-15 in the NSIC South Division.
            The host Wolves jumped out to a 19-9 lead in the opening 6:30 of the contest. 
            WSC responded with a 10-2 run over the next 4:57 and got as close as two at 21-19 on a Jordan Cornelius 3-pointer with 8:33 to go in the first half.
            But the Wolves came right back scoring the next 10 points in just 2:32 to take a 31-19 lead.  Northern State maintained a double figure lead in the first half and held a 41-29 advantage at intermission.
            WSC got as close at 10 early in the second half at 44-34 following a Cornelius layup with 19:15 to play. 
            Northern State scored the next five points for a 49-34 lead.  The Wolves pushed the lead to 21 several times and led 83-62 with 3:09 to play when sophomore guard Matt Thomas scored nine straight points to highlight a 10-0 run to get the 'Cats within 11 at 83-72 with 1:26 to play before the Wolves used free throws to stave off WSC for the win.
            Matt Thomas led four double digit scorers for Wayne State with 21 points followed by Adam Moon with 18.  Jordan Cornelius (12) and Vance Janssen (12) also hit double figures for WSC.
            Wayne State was 25 of 55 from the field for 45.5 percent, including 4 for 15 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 20 of 28 at the charity stripe.
            Northern State's top scorer was Skye Warwick with 18 points.  Carter Evans chipped in 17 with Spencer Pankonin and DJ Pollard also hitting double digits with 14 and 13 respectively.
            The Wolves made 30 of 53 shots for 56.6 percent and drained 13 of 25 3-pointers for 52 percent.  NSU was 13 of 23 from the free throw line.
            Both teams had 32 rebounds in the contest to go with 34 points in the paint.  Moon led all rebounders for WSC with eight while four different players grabbed five boards for NSU. 
            WSC had just nine turnovers to 13 for NSU.  Northern State's bench held a 26-9 advantage in scoring over WSC. 
            Wayne State will be on the road again next weekend, playing at Sioux Falls Friday evening at 8 p.m. and at Southwest Minnesota State Saturday in a 7 p.m. contest.