Wayne State 76 Winona State 55

            All five starters scored in double figures Saturday evening as the Wayne State men's basketball team cruised to a 76-55 Northern Sun Conference South Division victory over Winona State at Rice Auditorium.  The 'Cats move to 12-9 and 9-6 in the NSIC South, moving ahead of Winona State who is now 13-8 and 9-7 in the division following the loss.
            The game was close early, featuring three ties and three lead changes, until the final three minutes of the first half that saw the Wildcats explode with a scoring surge to take control of the game.
            Winona State held a 13-10 lead at the 8:40 mark, but WSC scored the next eight points on a basket by Jordan Janssen, back-to-back baskets from Justin Eagins and a Nate Thayer jumper that put the 'Cats in front 18-13.
            The Warriors evened the score at 18-18 with 3:27 to play, but WSC scored the next six points to take the lead for good and closed the first half leading 31-23 at intermission.
            WSC held Winona State to just 27 percent (6-22) in the opening half while shooting just 40 percent on 11-27.
            The Wildcats then caught fire in the second half, making 18 of 26 shots for 69 percent, never allowing the visiting Warriors a chance to get back into the game.
            WSC outscored Winona State in the second half 45-32 and finished with a convincing 76-55 win.
            Freshman guard Alec Millender led a balanced scoring attack for WSC with 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting.  Justin Eagins followed with 15 points, Nate Mohr had 13, Ben Dentlinger 12 (three dunks) and Jordan Janssen, who returned to the Wildcat lineup after missing three games due to injury, added 11 points on 5 of 6 shooting as all five starters hit double digits.
            Wayne State ended the game shooting 54.7 percent on 29 of 53, going 7 of 19 behind the arc while canning 11 of 14 free throws.
            Alec Rosner was the lone Winona State player in double digits with 12.
            Winona State shot 17 of 53 from the field for 32 percent.  The Warriors were 5 for 22 from 3-point range and a perfect 16 of 16 at the free throw line.
            WSU held a 33-29 edge in rebounding over WSC with Eagins grabbing six boards for WSC.  Eagins and Janssen each handed out four assists while Zach LaFave was credited with two blocked shots. 
            The 'Cats will be on the road next weekend for NSIC South Division games at Minnesota State Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and Concordia-St. Paul Saturday at 5:30 p.m.