The Wayne State Men's Basketball team never trailed as they defeated Southwest Minnesota State 83-62 inside of Rice Auditorium Saturday evening. The Wildcats move to 7-2 on the season with a 2-1 record in the NSIC South Division. The Mustangs fall to 4-3 on the season with a 1-2 record in the NSIC South Division.
 
    Both teams were off to a slow start as the Wildcats scored their first field goal of the first half at the 16:34 mark of a second chance layup from Cody McCullough. Wayne State would increase the lead heading into the the first media timeout of the half leading 11-6 over the Mustangs.
 
    Nate Mohr would increase the lead up to nine by the 12:49 mark of the first half hitting his second three-pointer of the half.
 
    Jordan Janssen would grab his third rebound of the half at the 5:20 mark of the first half which was career 1,000 for him. He is the first in Wildcat basketball history to get to 1,000 career rebounds.
 
    The Wildcats would lead by as many as 13 heading into the second media timeout of the half at 36-23 forcing the timeout from the Mustangs. The 'Cats ended up taking a 14-point lead into the break at 44-30.
 
    Wayne State shot 53.3% in the first half (16-30) and 53.8% from behind the arc (7-13). Jordan Janssen was the leading scorer in the first half with ten. Janssen was followed by Mohr with nine behind 3-5 shooting from three-point range and McCullough with seven. McCullough was the leading rebounder in the half with seven. Janssen was second with three in the half.
 
    As a team the Wildcats would force nine turnovers leading to 13 points. SMSU would lead in second chance points with 16 to the Wildcat's nine.
 
    The Wildcats opened the second half on a 7-0 run behind five points from Justin Eagins and two from McCullough to make he score 51-30 at the 16:28 mark of the half.
    
    The Mustangs came all the way back cutting the Wildcat lead down to nine with 8:01 left in the half at 62-53 before the Wildcats opened a 7-2 run heading into the final media timeout.
 
    The 'Cats increased the lead to as many as 23 in the final five minutes of the game and went on to win 83-62.
 
    Janssen and Eagins were the leading scorers for the 'Cats with 16. McCullough produced his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead Wayne State. Mohr shot 50% from behind the arc (5-10) while Eagins was 4-5 from three and produced four steals, and five assists in the contest.
 
    The Wildcats shot 56% in the game (32-57) compared to the Mustangs 49.1% (26-53). Wayne State scored 26 points off turnovers to the Mustangs eight while SMSU lead in second chance points at 16-12. WSC was 7-10 from the free throw line while SMSU was 3-5.
 
    Wayne State hits the road next weekend for NSIC South Division games, playing at Concordia-St. Paul Friday at 7:30 p.m. and at #16 Minnesota State Saturday in a 7 p.m. contest.