Wayne State 65 Augustana 54

            Wayne State used balanced scoring while holding Augustana to just 33 percent shooting as the Wildcats won at Augustana for the first time since 2010 Saturday evening with a 65-54 win over the Vikings at Sioux Falls Arena in the NSIC opener for both teams.  WSC won at Augustana for the first time since March 3, 2010 (75-52 in NSIC Tournament first round) and improved to 6-1 on the season and 1-0 in league play while the host Vikings drop to 3-3 and 0-1 in NSIC games.
            The Wildcats never trailed in the contest.  Each team started the game with five point scoring runs and with the score tied at 5-5, WSC went on a 13-2 run and took an 18-7 lead on a Trevin Joseph 3-pointer with 12:55 remaining in the first half.
            Augustana got as close as four points several times, but WSC pushed the lead back to nine at 31-22 on a Nick Ferrarini 3-pointer with 1:58 to play before halftime and the Wildcats ended the half with a 33-25 lead at intermission.
            WSC opened the second half with a basket to take a 10-point lead at 35-25.  But the Wildcats went cold from the field and made just 4 of their next 16 shots allowing Augustana to get as close as one point three different times. 
            However, each time WSC came up with a basket then used a 10-0 run late in the game to push the lead back to double figures and the Wildcats opened NSIC play with the victory.
            The Vikings got within one at 43-42 and again at 45-44 with 9:37 remaining. 
            After WSC went in front 49-44, the Vikings got within one for the final time at 49-48.
            Wayne State then scored the next 10 points to go in front 59-48 and the 'Cats pulled away for the 65-54 win.
            Seniors Vance Janssen and Kendall Jacks led Wayne State in scoring with 16 and 15 points respectively.  Freshmen Nick Ferrarini and Jordan Janssen each added 11 points while Janssen hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds for his third double-double in four games.
            Wayne State finished the game making 23 of 62 shots for 37.1 percent.  The 'Cats were just 6 of 25 (24%) behind the arc and 12 for 17 (70.6%) at the charity stripe.
            A.J. Plitzuweit led Augustana in scoring with 14 points while Michael Schaefer and Tyler Riemersma also scored double figures with 11 points each.
            Augustana shot 33.9 percent from the field making 20 of 59 shots, including 5 of 19 behind the arc.  The Vikings were 9 for 11 at the free throw line.
            The Vikings held a 41-38 edge in rebounding over WSC as Jordan Janssen hauled in 11 boards for the Wildcats.
            Vance Janssen had four of Wayne State's 13 assists while Ben Dentlinger had all three Wildcat blocked shots.
            WSC will play NSIC road games next weekend at Upper Iowa Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and Winona State Saturday at 5:30 p.m.