SIOUX FALLS – Drew Guebert had a game-high 28 points and Jerrod Walton added 21 as the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (4-1) used a hot shooting second half to record an 89-62 nonconference victory over Waldorf College on Tuesday night at the Stewart Center.

Guebert recorded his 16th, 20-point game of his career and had his 45th double digit scoring game in the win over Waldorf. The junior forward from Apple Valley, Minn., made 11-of-17 field goals, including 4-of-7 from three point range. He had six rebounds, three assists and a block in 29 minutes of action. Walton, a senior from Milwaukee, Wisc., was 8-of-11 from the floor and had three rebounds and two assists as he scored 20 points (21)  for the second time this year. In total, USF placed 12 players in the scoring column.
 

USF, which trailed 10-2 early in the first half, used a pair of 13-2 runs in the first half for a 38-30 halftime advantage. In the second half, the Cougars had an 18-2 run to break the game open and cruised to the win. During the final 20 minutes, the Cougars hit 20-of-33 field goals (60.6 percent), including 7-of-9 from three-point range, and outscored Waldorf, 51-32, for the 89-62 decision.

"We had some really good moments tonight when he were in a good flow," said USF head coach Chris Johnson, USF's all-time wins lead, who recorded his 160th career win at USF. "We made some mistakes but we stayed after it. Both Drew (Guebert) and Jerrod (Walton) had really good games to lead the way," he said.

USF leads the NSIC in scoring and again put up big numbers. For the fourth time in five games, USF scored 89 points or more. The Cougars also shot over 50 percent from the field for the fourth time in five games.

With the 60.6 shooting in the second half, the Cougars hit 54 percent for the game on 34-of-63 shooting. After making just 1-of-9 from three-point range in the first half, the Cougars, the top-ranked three-point unit in the NSIC, were 8-of-18 for 44.4 percent for the game.

USF, which owned a 38-29 advantage on the boards, made 13-of-17 free throws. Clearly the Cougars' biggest edge was points in the paint with a 44-to-14 advantage. They also held a 22-to-11 margin in points off turnovers and 13-2 edge in fast break points.  

Waldorf, which was led by Falmata Tula's 14 points, made 35.2 percent from the floor on 19-of-54 shooting. They were 5-of-10 from three-point range in the first half but finished just 9-of-26 for 34.6 percent. They made 15-of-22 free throws but were hurt by 18 turnovers.

With the benefit of a 13-2 run midway through the first half, the Cougars built a double digit league and carried a 38-30 lead in halftime. Guebert led the way for the Cougars with 15 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the field. Walton added 11 points with two assists and a steal. The Cougars were 14-of-30 from the floor for 46.7 percent. WC, led by nine points from Tula, was 10-of-26 from the floor. USF had a 19-13 advantage in rebounds but committed 10 turnovers.  
 
Waldorf jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead by hitting 5-of-6 shots including a jumper from Jordan Portee with 16:50 left.  However, the Cougars answered with a 13-2 run over the next 4:56 to take a 15-12 lead (10:52).  After WC tied the game at 17, the Cougars took off on another 13-2 run for a 30-19 lead with 4:30 to play. The visitors responded in kind, using an 11-4 run to draw within 34-30 with 1:46 left. However, a lay-up from senior guard Zach Wessels, who had four points, six rebounds and three assists on the night, and a jumper by Guebert (:37 seconds) gave USF the eight-point advantage at the break.

Early in the second half, the two teams traded baskets before the Cougars took off an 18-2 run to create separation. With treys from Guebert and Drew Maschoff and a lay-up from Devin Green, USF took a 64-39 advantage with 12:42 left in the second half. For much of the next 10 minutes, the Cougars maintained a 20-25 point advantage. With the starters out, WC cut the lead to 18 (75-57, 4:08) but Maschoff, who had five points, answered with a lay-up. That play was followed by a three-point play by Tristan Teichmeier, who also had five points, and a baskets from Justin Taylor for an 82-59 lead with 3:11 to play. Coltan Bertsch tallied USF's final basket, a lay-up with 1:03 to go for an 89-62 advantage as USF won its fourth straight against WC.

Next for USF will be its home NSIC opener with defending champion Southwest Minnesota State as part of a men's and women's doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. from the Stewart Center.