Wayne State could not convert a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds to tie the game as Minnesota State escaped with a 64-61 Northern Sun Conference men's basketball win Friday evening over the Wildcats at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.  MSU is now 5-4 and 1-0 in the league with WSC now 6-2 and 0-2 in the league.
            The Wildcats trailed by one point at 12-11 at the 12:03 mark following a pair of free throws from freshman forward Matt Noll.
            Minnesota State then used a 10-2 run over the next 6:24 to take their biggest lead of the night at 22-13 on a Justin Eagins 3-pointer with 5:39 to play in the half.
            WSC got as close as three several times before the visiting Mavericks ended the opening half with a 30-23 advantage.
            The second half saw the Wildcats chip into the Maverick lead and by the 13:00 minute mark took a 40-39 lead following a Cody McCullough three-point play.
            Neither team held a lead of more than four points the rest of the way as the two teams traded eight lead changes and five ties down the stretch.
            Wayne State's final lead came with 4:09 remaining at 55-54 following a Jay Saunders layup. 
            A Kyreese Willingham layup put the Mavericks ahead 63-59 with 33 seconds left.
            Wayne State cut the lead to two on a layup by Noll with 27 seconds to play making the score 63-61.
            The two teams traded quick turnovers and Eagins was fouled making one of two free throws with 17 seconds to play for a 64-61 score.
            WSC had 3-point shots from Sean Stokes and JJ Ferrin miss the mark in the final seven seconds as the Mavericks escaped Wayne with a 64-61 victory.
            McCullough's 20 points and 10 rebounds led Wayne State in the contest.  Stokes added 14 points with Noll scoring 10.
            WSC shot just 36.7 percent from the field making 22 of 60 shots, connecting on just 3 of 19 beyond the arc.  The 'Cats sank 14 of 15 free throws.
            Harrison Braudis had 18 points for Minnesota State with Willingham scoring 14 and Eagins 12.
            Minnesota State made 27 of 53 shots for 50.9 percent, including 5 of 13 from the 3-point line.  The Mavericks were just 5 for 12 at the free throw line.
            MSU held a 35-31 edge in rebounding as McCullough's 10 boards led the Wildcats.  Saunders handed out four assists in the game while Stokes set a new single game school record with 10 steals in the contest, breaking the old record of seven set three different times. 
            The Wildcats are at home again Saturday evening hosting Winona State at 5:30 p.m.