Box Score Minnesota State 87 Wayne State 78

            Minnesota State scored the first eight points of the second half, then used a 14-1 run midway through the second half to put the game out of reach as the Mavericks defeated Wayne State College 87-78 in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball Saturday evening in Mankato, Minnesota at the Taylor Center.  MSU is now 10-5 and 5-4 in league play while WSC falls to 5-11 and 3-7 in the NSIC.
            The game was close early in a first half that featured six ties and seven lead changes.
            Minnesota State's biggest lead of the first half was four at 14-10 with 12:19 to go in the half.  WSC then scored the next five points and took their first lead of the night at 15-14 on a Tony Bonner jumper with 11:32 to go before halftime.
            WSC pushed the lead to four at 21-17 at the midway point of the first half on a Brian Goodwin 3-pointer.  But MSU came back to take the lead until the Wildcats closed the final four minutes of the first half strong to take a 41-36 lead.
            With MSU leading 30-29 at the 4:15 mark, the Wildcats used a pair of Austin Esters layups and two Matt Thomas free throws to grab a 35-30 lead.  Wayne State took its biggest lead of the night at 39-31 on two Thomas free throws with 1:59 to go in the half before ending with a 41-36 lead.
            Minnesota State opened the second half scoring the first eight points to take the lead for good at 44-41.  WSC got within two at 50-48 on an Esters layup with 14:50 to go in the game, but the Mavericks held WSC without a basket for the next 5:27 and went on a 14-1 run to take a 64-49 lead with 9:44 left.
            Still down 70-57 with 6:05 remaining, WSC got as close as five at 78-73 with 1:22 on the clock following a Thomas layup on an offensive rebound. Minnesota State then held off the Wildcats making 9 of 10 free throws in the final 90 seconds to top WSC 87-78.
            Wayne State was 30 of 64 shooting for 46.9 percent.  The 'Cats were 4 of 12 behind the arc and 14 for 19 at the charity stripe.
            Jacks led WSC in scoring with 19 points followed by Esters with 14.  Matt Thomas and Brian Goodwin also reached double digits with 13 and 11 respectively.
            Minnesota State ended the game making 29 of 54 shots for 53.7 percent.  The Mavericks were 10 of 19 from 3-point range and 19 for 27 at the foul line.
            Jon Fuqua scored a game-high 21 points for MSU.  Aarias Austin (16), Joey Witthus (12) and Cameron Kirksey (10) also produced double figures for the Mavericks.
            Wayne State held a 37-28 advantage in rebounding thanks to nine boards by Jacks.  The 'Cats also had 11 offensive rebounds in the contest. 
            Wayne State is at home next weekend entertaining Northern State Friday evening at 8 p.m. and MSU Moorhead Saturday at 6 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.