Box Score Wayne State 69 Winona State 67

            Wayne State College rallied from a 48-36 deficit with just over 13 minutes remaining to pull out a 69-67 Northern Sun Conference men's basketball win Friday evening over Winona State at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats have now surpassed last year's win total (10-19) by improving to 11-10 overall and 6-7 in the NSIC South Division while Winona State slips to 12-7 and 7-6 in league play.
            The Wildcats started the game strong, taking an early 18-12 lead.
            With WSC still in front 20-15, Winona State held the Wildcats to just two baskets over the next 8:45 and turned a five point deficit into a seven point lead (34-27) before Wayne State's Kendall Jacks closed the first half with an old-fashioned three point play to reduce the Warrior lead to 34-31 at halftime.
            WSC started slowly in the second half as Winona State built a 48-36 lead with 14:39 to play.
            The Wildcats battled back and took a 53-52 lead on a Jacks 3-pointer with 7:04 remaining.
            With the score tied at 59-59, Winona State used a Connor Flack 3-pointer and a pair of Caleb Wagner free throws to take a 64-59 lead with 2:33 to play.
            Senior forward Jordan Cornelius then scored five straight points on a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer with 25 seconds to play giving WSC a 66-64 lead. 
            Jacks made two free throws with nine seconds left after getting fouled on a rebound to put the 'Cats ahead 68-64. 
            Winona State's Devin Whitelow drained a 3-pointer with three seconds left to cut the Wildcat lead to one at 68-67.
            Jacks was fouled on the inbounds pass and made one of two free throws with two seconds to play making the final score 69-67.
            Junior guard Trevin Joseph finished the game with 19 points to lead Wayne State.  Jacks also hit double figures for WSC with 15.
            Wayne State made 25 of 54 shots for 46.3 percent, including 5 of 12 behind the arc and 14 for 20 (70%) at the free throw line.
            Caleb Wagner and Connor Flack each scored 13 points for Winona State followed by Corey Jeffs with 12 and Kevion Taylor 10.
            Winona State made 24 of 57 shots for 42.1 percent and was 12 of 27 from the 3-point line to go with 7 for 10 at the free throw stripe.
            WSC held a slim 34-32 edge in rebounding over the Warriors thanks to 10 boards from Jordan Cornelius while Brian Goodwin added eight.
            Wayne State held a 32-18 edge on points in the paint and 11-5 in points off turnovers as WSC had just eight turnovers and Winona State 10.
            Cornelius had three blocked shots while Vance Janssen and Matt Thomas each had three assists.
            WSC will be at home again Saturday night entertaining Upper Iowa in a 6 p.m. NSIC contest.