Bemidji State 90 Wayne State 61

            Host Bemidji State shot 59 percent in the first half to build a 20-point lead and the Beavers cruised to a    Northern Sun Conference men's basketball victory over Wayne State College Friday evening in Bemidji, Minnesota.  BSU is now 5-3 and 2-2 in the NSIC North while WSC falls to 5-7 on the year and 2-2 in the NSIC South Division.
            Wayne State enjoyed a short-lived lead in the first half, but the Wildcats could not overcome 29 percent (8-27) shooting in the first half while the host Beavers knocked down 59 percent (13-22) to build a 44-24 halftime lead.
            The Wildcats were close early with their final lead coming at 10-7.  WSC was still within one point at 19-18 with 8:11 left in the half before BSU reeled off 10 straight points to take their first double digit lead of the night at 29-18 and the Beavers closed the half on a 15-4 run to take a commanding 44-24 halftime advantage.
            Even though WSC made 11 of their first 13 shots to start the second half, the Wildcats could never gain any ground on the host Beavers. 
            WSC got as close as 15 in the second half at 63-48 near the 10:00 mark, but the host Beavers scored 15 of the next 16 points for a 78-49 lead and rolled to the 90-61 win.
            Jordan Janssen led Wayne State in scoring with 12 points followed by Al'Tavius Jackson and Nate Mohr with 11 apiece.
            WSC finished the game making 24 of 59 shots for 40.7 percent despite going 14-23 (60.9%) in the second half.  The Wildcats were 4-15 from 3-point range and just 9-23 (39%) at the charity stripe.
            Nick Wagner poured in 28 points on 10-14 shooting to pace Bemidji State in scoring.  Griffin Chase added 18 points followed by Max Bjorklund (14) and Logan Bader (11).
            Bemidji State shot 56.1 percent from the field making 32 of 57 shots.  The Beavers, who entered the game leading the NSIC in 3-point field goals per game, sank 12 of 29 behind the arc and were 14-19 at the line.
            BSU won the rebounding battle over WSC 39-31.  Janssen and Nick Ferrarini each had five boards for the Wildcats.
            Wayne State will conclude their NSIC road trip Saturday at Minnesota Crookston in a 5:30 p.m. contest.