The Wayne State men’s basketball team got a rare win over Winona State while the Wildcat women were humbled by the 17th-ranked Warriors in Northern Sun Conference action Friday in Winona, Minn.
In the men’s game, Wayne State came back from a 10-point deficit with five minutes to go and came away with a 66-63 overtime win over the Warriors, ending an 11-game losing streak to Winona State and marking just the second time in 23 games that the Wildcats have beaten the Warriors.
Wayne State led 12-7 early in the game, but Winona State held the Wildcats without a basket for eight minutes to take a 15-13 advantage. The game stayed close throughout the first half, with the host team going on a seven-point run to help them to a 28-24 halftime advantage.
Wayne State stayed within striking range for much of the second half, but the Warriors used a nine-point run to take a 52-42 lead with 7:38 to go. They led 58-48 with 4:56 to go before the Wildcats rallied to force the extra period.
The rally started with a Jordan Corenlius jumper, a Luke TerHark trey and two free throws by Matt Thomas to make it 58-55 with 3:26 to go. Vance Janssen hit a layup with 1:07 to play to make it 58-57, and Austin Esters hit one of two free throws with :28 left in regulation to force overtime.
The game was tied 60-60 early in overtime when Wayne State went on a key six-point run to take control of the game. Free throws by Janssen, TerHark, Cornelius and Kendall Jacks helped Wayne State build a 66-60 advantage. Winona State hit a 3-pointer and had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but a 3-point shot rimmed out to give Wayne State the win and help them improve to 6-13 overall and 4-9 in the NSIC.
Cornelius scored 14 points and Jacks added 13 to lead the Wildcats in the win. Janssen and Brian Goodwin each added 10 points.
In the women’s game, Winona State got out to a quick 6-0 lead and never trailed as they handled the Wildcats in a 62-41 win, dropping the Wayne State women to 13-5 overall and 8-5 in the NSIC.
Winona State built an 18-point first-quarter lead and limited the Wildcats to 2-of-12 shooting in the opening stanza. Winona State was 9-of-14 from the field in the second period to build a 40-16 halftime advantage, and the Warriors were able to cruise to the easy win.
Haley Moore and Kacie O’Connor scored 12 points apiece to pace the Wildcats in the losing effort. Paige Ballinger grabbed a team-best nine rebounds and had four blocked shots.
Both teams play at Upper Iowa on Saturday. The women’s game is at 4 p.m., with the men to follow at 6 p.m.
