Box Score             Wayne State shot just 28 percent in the second half as host #5 Minnesota State pulled away for a 79-63 Northern Sun Conference men's basketball victory Friday evening at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minnesota.  The host Mavericks are now 22-2 and 16-2 in the league while WSC slips to 13-11 and 6-11 in the league.
            Five minutes into the game, WSC held an 11-7 lead following a 3-pointer from Jay Saunders. 
            Minnesota State went on a 13-3 run and built a 20-14 lead at the 10:49 mark of the half.
            WSC rallied and took their final lead of the night at 29-28 on a Cody McCullough basket with 5:26 to go before halftime.
            The Mavericks then scored the next nine points to grab a 37-29 lead before closing the half with a 41-35 advantage.
            WSC could get as close as six points early in the second half as the Mavericks built a 16-point lead midway through the half and led by as much as 20 before ending the contest with a 79-63 win.
            Redshirt sophomore guard Alec Millender led Wayne State in scoring with 17 points.  Freshman reserve guard JJ Ferrin added 11 with Saunders and McCullough each scoring 10.
            Wayne State shot 34.9 percent for the game making 22 of 63 shots.  The 'Cats were 9 for 28 from 3-point range and 10 of 11 at the stripe.
            Minnesota State made 27 of 61 shots for 44.3 percent.  The Mavericks hit 6 for 22 behind the arc and 19 for 25 at the free throw line.
            MSU had one more rebound than WSC 40-39.  Trey Deveaux hauled in eight boards for WSC.  Saunders had four assists while Millender was credited with four steals.
            The 'Cats are on the road again Saturday visiting Winona State at 5:30 p.m.