Wayne State used 92 percent free throw shooting making 24 of 26 attempts to outlast Augustana 71-63 in Northern Sun Conference South Division men's basketball played New Year's Eve afternoon at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  The Wildcats improve to 11-3 and 6-2 in the NSIC while Augustana drops to 7-7 and 3-5 in league play.
            The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 14-4 lead less than six minutes into the game.  Justin Eagins hit back-to-back 3-pointers while Jordan Janssen added six points in the early WSC scoring run.
            With WSC still leading 18-9, Augustana went on an 11-2 scoring surge and tied the game at 20-20 with 8:29 to play in the first half.  The Vikings took their first lead of the game at 24-22 and held a three point lead at 32-29 before the Viking finished the first half with a 32-31 lead.
            A Nate Mohr 3-pointer to open the second half gave Wayne State the lead for good at 34-32. 
            WSC pushed the lead to eight at 51-43 on a David Harmon 3-pointer at the 12 minute mark. 
            Augustana closed within two points several times with the final one coming at 57-55 with 5:47 to play.
            Wayne State built the lead to eight again at 67-59 on a Jordan Janssen basket with 3:12 remaining.
            The Vikings closed to within four at 67-63 and had a chance to get closer but missed a pair of free throws with 1:30 left.
            Wayne State sealed the win with a pair of free throws by Janssen and Cody McCullough in the final 20 seconds to clinch the 71-63 victory.
            Janssen finished the game with his third straight double-double and seventh of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds, going 11 of 12 at the charity stripe.  Nick Ferrarini added 12 points with Eagins scoring 10.
            Wayne State made only 20 of 58 shots for 34.5 percent, including 7 for 27 behind the arc.  But the Wildcats sank 24 of 26 free throws for 92 percent to just 7 of 12 for the Vikings in the win.
            Akoi Akoi paced Augustana with 14 points while Ryan Miller and Brady Helgren added 12 and 10 respectively.
            The Vikings shot 43.3 percent from the field making 26 of 60 shots but were just 4 of 20 from the 3-point line.
            Augustana held a 40-36 edge in rebounding over the Wildcats with Janssen hauling in 10 boards for the 'Cats.
            Janssen had four assists, Eagins three steals and McCullough two blocks for the Wildcats.
            Wayne State will play road games next weekend at MSU Moorhead Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Northern State Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. contest.