WAYNE, NEB. – Fueled by 24 points from senior guard Mack Johnson, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (7-8, 3-4 NSIC) recorded a 64-58 win over Wayne State (4-9, 2-5 NSIC) at Rice Auditorium in NSIC action on Friday.

Following the Christmas break, Johnson served up a gift for USF fans with his 24 points providing the impetus for the Cougars to open the second half of the season with a victory. The Cougars led just 26-25 at halftime but used a 21-9 second half run to build a 13-point lead (47-34, 9:19, 2nd half) and held off a late run from the Wildcats to record its third NSIC win in seven starts. The Cougars registered its third straight win over WSC, cutting the Wildcats' all-time series lead to 12-9.

"I thought we played pretty well. When you give up 36 percent shooting and 58 total points that is a sound effort," said USF men's basketball coach Chris Johnson, who now has 148 career wins at USF. "There were a lot of positives tonight with Zach Wessels playing solid at point guard while Daniel Hurtt came up with a nice game and Mack (Johnson) did what he can do," added Johnson.

As for USF's senior guard, Johnson made 8-of-16 field goals, including 2-of-2 from three point range and 6-of-8 free throws to register his 21st career 20-point game. Johnson, who had six rebounds, an assist and a steal, recorded his 67th career game of double digit points. In addition, Johnson moved past 1,400 career points (1,417), which leaves him 10th on the school's career points list.

On the night, USF, which recorded its second NSIC road win of the season, had three other players reach double figure points as sophomore Drew Guebert had 13 points, four rebounds and two assists. It was Guebert's 27th career double digit point game, including a team-high 13th this season. Wessels provided 10 points, six rebounds and two assists while Hurtt, who moved past 500 career points (509), had 10 points, four rebounds and a steal.

USF offensive turnaround in the second half was energized by Johnson and the USF offense which hit 13-of-22 shots for 59.1 percent as they ended the game 22-of-45 for 48.9 percent. The Cougars made just 3-of-9 from three point range and 17-of-26 from the foul line. For the 12th time in 15 games, USF had a rebound advantage, 35-33. WSC hit 20-of-55 from the field for 36.4 percent and were hurt by struggles from three-point range by hitting 5-of-25 for 20 percent. The Wildcats, which were outscored in the paint, 34-24, made 13-of-21 from the foul line. Vance Janssen led WSC with 15 points while Kendall Jacks added 11.

In this defensive battle, USF built a seven-point lead (26-19) with two minutes to play in the first half, but the Wildcats rallied to cut the lead to one (26-25) at the halftime break. Neither team had trouble with turnovers as the Cougars had just four and WSC, three. Still, the defenses made it tough for the offensesas both teams shot below 40 percent from the field and neither team had much success from three-point range.

The Cougars, which were led by Guebert's 11 points, made just 9-of-23 for 39.1 percent and were only 2-of-6 from three point range for 33.3 percent. USF, which had an 18-15 advantage in rebounds, converted 6-of-9 from the foul line. WSC, which had seven points from Jacks and Janssen, hit 9-of-24 field goals for 37.5 percent but made just 2-of-11 from three point range for 18.2 percent.

Early on, USF opened the game by hitting 4-of-5 shots, including a lay-up and three-pointer from M. Johnson for a 9-7 lead at the 17:01 mark of the opening half.  WSC responded with a 5-0 run including a three from Jordan Cornelius for a 12-9 lead.  USF rallied as Wessels connected on a free throw for a 17-13 lead (9:43) after an 8-1 run.  In the closely contested first half, USF pushed the lead to 25-19 after a basket and two free throws (3:45, 1st half) on consecutive possessions by Guebert. Kebu Johnson made 1-of-2 free throws at the 2:48 mark for a 26-19 advantage but then the Wildcats rallied, closing the half on a 6-0 run including a basket by J.J. Zumbrennen with two seconds left to play. 

In the second half, the hot-shooting Cougars were led by Johnson, who had two baskets quickly for a 32-27 lead with 17:39 to play. The Wildcats responded with a 5-0 run as a lay-up from Jacks tied the game at 32 with 15:27 to play. 

USF, which did not give up the lead in the second half, responded with a rally of its own with Hurtt scoring three straight baskets for a 40-32 lead with 13:34 to play in the half. After another stop, M. Johnson's jumper with 12:11 to play gave the Cougars a 42-32 advantage.  USF's second half surge continued as M. Johnson converted a three-point play at the 9:19 mark as the Cougars took a 47-34 lead.

But, the Wildcats found a second gear and rallied back. They cut the lead to 49-40 following Cornelius's three point play (7:07).  After a missed free throw by WSC, M. Johnson threw in a three-pointer with 6:36 to play for a 54-42 lead. But the Wildcats continued to rally, using an 8-0 run to trim USF's lead to 54-50 at the 2:49 mark. A driving lay-up by Wessels ended the run by WSC and provided the Cougars with a 56-50 advantage with 2:31 left. The Wildcats pulled within 62-58 with 25 seconds to play but Clint Thomas, who had a team-high seven rebounds, closing the scoring with a pair of free throws with 21 seconds left as the Cougars picked up a key road win in league play.

Next for USF will be a match up with city rival Augustana (10-3, 5-2 NSIC) at 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve (Dec. 31) at the Sioux Falls Arena.