Box Score #9 Northern State 71 Wayne State 69

            For the second straight game, the Wayne State College men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final two seconds at Northern State's Andrew Kallman drained a 3-pointer from the right corner with 2.2 seconds to play giving the #9 Wolves a 71-69 victory over the Wildcats in Northern Sun Conference men's basketball action Friday evening at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, South Dakota. 
            NSU is now 17-1 and 11-0 in the NSIC while WSC drops to 10-9 and 5-6 in the NSIC South Division.  The Wildcats are now 1-6 in games decided by five points or less this season and have dropped three league games by one or two points in the final two seconds this season.
            The Wildcats held their own for a majority of the night against the #9 team in NCAA Division II.  After the host Wolves took an 11-2 lead in the first 3:33, WSC responded with an 11-2 run and knotted the score at 13-13 following an Austin Esters 3-pointer with 13:01 to play in the half.
            Northern State pushed the lead back to five and was in front 27-20 at the 5:29 mark when the Wildcats scored the next seven points to tie the score at 27-27 on a Kendall Jacks basket with 3:31 remaining.  The host Wolves then closed the half with the final six points to take a 33-27 lead at intermission.
            WSC started the second half strong, using a pair of steals and Matt Thomas old-fashioned 3-point plays to even the score at 35-35 two minutes into the second half.
            The final tie of the game was at 43-43 following a Tony Bonner basket with 12:29 remaining.  But Northern State went on a 16-5 run over the next 4:30 to take their biggest lead of the night at 59-48 on a Darin Peterka layin with eight minutes to play.
            The Wildcats did not go away and rallied to get back into the game.  Still trailing 65-57, WSC closed with two at 65-63 on a Trevin Joseph basket with just under two minutes to play.
            A Vance Janssen 3-point play with 39.3 remaining got the 'Cats within one at 69-68.  WSC forced a NSU turnover on the ensuing possession on a Joseph steal. 
            Wayne State took its first and only lead of the game with 20.5 to play as Joseph missed the layup following a steal but senior Jordan Cornelius followed with a putback to give the 'Cats a 69-68 advantage.
            Northern State then used an Andrew Kallman trey from the right corner with 2.2 seconds to play to regain the lead at 71-69.
            Wayne State's inbounds pass to Kendall Jacks at midcourt was tipped by Northern State's Logan Doyle and time ran out as the Wolves escaped with the win.
            Junior reserve guard Trevin Joseph led WSC in scoring with 16 points followed by junior Kendall Jacks with 10.
            Wayne State was 25 of 55 from the field for 45.5 percent, including 3 of 10 behind the arc.  The 'Cats were 16 for 21 at the free throw line.
            Ian Smith scored 20 points to lead Northern State while DJ Pollard and Andrew Kallman also hit double figures with 18 and 12 respectively.
            Northern State shot 44.9 percent making 22 of 49 shots, going 9 of 19 from 3-point range.  The Wolves were 18 for 23 at the free throw line.
            NSU won the rebounding battle 37-26 thanks to seven boards from Smith while Jacks hauled in six boards for WSC.  The Wildcats forced 17 turnovers on NSU while having just 10, resulting in a 25-13 edge in points off turnovers.
            WSC will visit MSU Moorhead Saturday at 4 p.m.