#9 Minnesota State shot 65 percent in the second half and used a 19-6 scoring run over four minutes late in the game to snap a 61-61 tie as the Mavericks defeated Wayne State 96-89 in Northern Sun Conference South Division men's basketball Saturday evening at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minnesota. Minnesota State is now 10-1 and 4-1 in NSIC games while WSC falls to 8-3 and 3-2 in the NSIC South.
            Trailing 6-3 early, WSC went on a 10-0 run and grabbed a 13-6 lead following a Justin Eagins 3-pointer at the 13:06 mark of the first half.       
            Minnesota State then went on a quick 7-0 run and evened the score at 15-15 with 10:54 to play in the half.
            The two teams then traded several lead changes with neither team leading by more than three until Jordan Janssen made a pair of free throws with 2:08 to play in the half giving the 'Cats a 37-32 lead before finishing the half with a 37-33 lead at the break.
            Wayne State held a pair of six point leads early in the second half, but a 13-3 scoring run by Minnesota State in five minutes turned a 42-36 Wildcat lead into a 49-45 Maverick advantage.
            With WSC trailing 57-52, the 'Cats battled back and tied the score at 61-61 on a Jordan Janssen three-point play with 8:36 to play.
            Minnesota State then seized control of the game with a 19-6 run over the next four minutes to take an 80-67 lead.
            WSC closed within six in the final minute before the host Mavericks closed a high-scoring second half outscoring the Wildcats 63-52 to finish with the 96-89 win.
            Janssen led Wayne State in scoring with 23 points, 21 coming in the second half.  Nick Ferrarini finished with 18 points in just 14 minutes of playing time on 7 of 9 shooting, but was ejected from the game with 13:41 to play following his second technical foul.  Nate Mohr also reached double figures with 12 points.
            Wayne State shot 50 percent for the game making 32 of 64 shots.  The 'Cats were 10 for 22 behind the arc and 15 of 20 at the free throw line.
            Minnesota State shot 48.5 percent for the game making 32 of 66 shots, but connected on 65.6 percent (21-32) in the second half including 7 for 11 on 3-pointers.  The Mavericks were 22 of 26 from the foul line.
            Trevor Moore and Malcom Jones each scored 23 points for Minnesota State followed by Harrison Broadus with 19.
            Minnesota State won the rebounding battle over WSC 40-32.  Janssen and Cody McCullough each had eight boards for the 'Cats. 
            The Wildcats will be at home next weekend hosting Winona State Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and Upper Iowa Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.