It was a rough night at the office at Rice Auditorium, as both Wayne State basketball teams were defeated by Minnesota State.
In the women’s game, the visiting Mavericks shot a blistering 60 percent from the field in the second half to come away with an 85-72 win over the Wildcats, dropping Wayne State to 5-2 overall and 0-2 in the NSIC. It was only the 10th home loss in the last 112 games over eight years for Wayne State.
The Wildcats trailed 13-10 after one period, but the Wildcats came back and took an 18-16 lead on a three-point basket by Magie Schulte. Wayne State led by as many as five after and Anna Martensen jumper, but the Mavericks came back to take a 26-24 lead into the locker room.
Minnesota State came out hot in the second half, leading by as many as 11 in the third period. Wayne State got back to within three at 45-42 on a Paige Ballinger layup early in the third quarter, but the Mavericks built the lead back up to nine and were never threatened again.
Ballinger led the Wildcats with 15 points and Amanda Brainerd added 10. Martensen had a team-high 11 rebounds and Ballinger and Haley Moore each had five assists.
In the men’s game, Minnesota State rallied in the last five minutes and overcame an 11-point deficit to leave town with a 77-72 win over the Wildcats, dropping Wayne State 1-6 overall and 0-2 in NSIC play.
The Wildcats trailed for much of the first half, but a pair of baskets by Kendall Jacks and 3-pointers by Luke TerHark and Brian Goodwin gave the Wildcats a 30-28 lead that they extended to 36-30 at the break on baskets by Jacks, Austin Esters and Vance Janssen.
Wayne State led 43-32 with 17:03 to play, but the Mavericks came back and used a 9-2 run to take a 66-60 lead with 2:49 to go.
Wayne State couldn’t get any closer than four points down the stretch as the Mavericks were 11-of-12 at the free throw line to seal the win.
Jacks led the Wildcats with 20 points, Janssen added 17 and Matt Thomas had 15. Esters led the Wildcats in rebounds with eight.
Both teams host Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday. The women’s game is at 4 p.m., while the men tip off at 6 p.m.
