Box Score             Junior guard Jay Saunders tied a season-high with 11 points to go with six steals and six assists to spark Wayne State in a big 82-55 Northern Sun Conference men's basketball road win at Bemidji State Saturday evening.  Wayne State improves to 12-8 and 5-8 in the NSIC while BSU falls to 10-8 and 6-6 in league games.
            The first half was a back-and-forth battle with seven ties and seven lead changes until a late scoring run to end the half by Wayne State to take a double-digit lead as both teams shots 50 percent or better from the field.
            Bemidji State's biggest lead of the opening half was three (30-27) and the Beavers were still in front 33-31 with just over five minutes to go in the half when the Wildcats made their first scoring run of the game.
            WSC scored 12 straight points over the next 4:05 and built a 43-33 lead.  Jay Saunders scored five straight points followed by a JJ Ferrin 3-pointer, David Harmon basket and dunk from Trey Deveaux to cap the scoring run as the Wildcats closed the first half with a 43-36 lead.
            Bemidji State made the first basket of the second half to get within five at 43-38, but the 'Cats went on another scoring run to take control of the contest.
            A 10-0 scoring run for the Wildcats covering the next 4:40 gave WSC a 53-38 lead and Wayne State then used a 8-1 run to push the lead up to 20 points at 61-41 with just over 11 minutes remaining.
            Through the first 10 minutes of the second half, WSC made 8 of 13 shots for 61 percent while holding the host Beavers to just 3 of 15 for 20 percent to take control of the contest.
            The Wildcats cruised the rest of the half and saw nine players score in the balanced road win.
            Five players scored in double figures for Wayne State, .led by Deveaux with 18 points.  Alec Millender added 14, Saunders finished with 11 while Elijah Watson and David Harmon each scored 10.
            Wayne State shot 52.5 percent from the field on 32 of 61 shots.  The 'Cats were 6 for 18 from the 3-point line and 12 of 14 at the free throw line.
            Dalton Albrecht had 12 points for Bemidji State with Tate Olson adding 10.
            After making 50 percent (13-26) in the first half, Bemidji State could only connect on 7 of 28 shots (25 percent) in the second half.  The Beavers were 8 of 23 from 3-point range and 7 for 12 at the charity stripe.
            Wayne State held a 35-32 edge in rebounding as Watson grabbed a team-high seven boards.  Saunders led WSC with six assists and six steals.      
            The Wildcats be at home next weekend hosting #21 Minot State Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.