SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Hot shooting from the outside by Bemidji State spelled doom for the Wayne State men’s basketball team.
The Beavers hit 13 3-pointers and outscored Wayne State 79-71 Saturday in the men’s quarterfinals of the Northern Sun Conference Tournament, ending the Wildcats’ season at 18-1.
Wayne State held a 32-31 lead at the half, but Bemidji State came out on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 3-of-4 from long range to ignite a 13-2 run that saw them take the lead for good at 44-34.
Wayne State trailed by as many as 14 in the second half, but got to within three at 68-65 with 5:25 to go on baskets by Nate Mohr, Jay Saunders and Nick Ferrarini.
That’s as close as the Wildcats could get, though, as Bemidji State responded with back-to-back baskets and hit four free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the win and end Wayne State’s season.
Ferrarini led Wayne State with 17 points, followed by Cody McCullough with 14, David Harmon had 13 and Saunders scored 12. Jordan Janssen, who tried to play through a foot injury, scored two points and had one rebound.
Wayne State graduates three seniors – all 1,000 point scorers – Ferrarini, Janssen and Mohr.
