SIOUX FALLS – Wayne State College (9-6, 4-3 NSIC) used a late 14-0 run to rally past the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (8-4, 4-3 NSIC) in a 78-66 decision in NSIC action before 566 at the Stewart Center Saturday night.

Just like the weather outside, the Cougars had a cold-shooting night, finishing at just 38.7 percent from the field (24-of-62). Junior guard Trevon Evans led USF with 22 points and six rebounds. Evans, who had two steals and two assists, reached double digits in points for the 11th time this season.

Despite being hampered by fouls, junior forward Drew Guebert added 17 points, two steals and two assists. Guebert, who has tied Skyler Bloch (2008-12) for 25th all-time at USF in scoring, now has 51 career double digit scoring games, including 11 this season.

USF led by as much as a nine-points (37-28, :57, 1st half) in the opening half and took a 37-31 margin to the halftime break. However, the Wildcats, which defeated USF for the second straight year at the Stewart Center, outscored the Cougars, 47-29 in the second half. With USF leading, 63-62 with 3:27 to play, WSC put together a 14-0 run to earn their 14th win in 23 games in the all-time series between the two NSIC South Division opponents. USF only had a three-point shot from Aaron Rothermund, who finished with six points, in the final three minutes.

USF lost the rebound battle, 37-to-33, which happened for just the third time in 12 games this season. WSC held an advantage in field goal shooting 51.7 percent (31-of-60) to the 38.7% for USF. While the Cougars made just 3-of-18 from three-point range for 16.7 percent, the Wildcats hammered home 6-of-13 treys for 46.2 percent.
On the positive side, USF recorded a season-high eight blocked shots and also had a season-best 10 steals.

WSC was led in scoring by Trevon Joseph, who had 22 points off the bench as he made 9-of-14 shots from the floor. Kendall Jacks added 21 and grabbed five rebounds with five assists.

After the Wildcats jumped to a 12-6 lead (14:19), the Cougars scored seven straight, including five from Guebert to take a 13-12 lead with 12:47 left in the first half. After two lead changes, USF gained a 22-20 edge on a three-pointer from Evans, who had a team-high 14 points in the first half. With the score knotted at 22, USF took off on a 10-2 run to take a 32-24 lead with 5:15 left in the first half.  USF took the nine-point lead at 37-28 when Evans converted a lay-up with 57 seconds to go. However, Vance Janssen hit a trey to keep WSC within 37-31 at halftime.

In the second half, WSC opened on a 9-3 run to tie the game at 40 at the 16:50 mark. Two straight jumpers from Guebert pushed Usf to a 47-44 advantage (11:50).  After a Guebert dunk, USF maintained a 51-47 lead with 9:40 to play. However, the Wildcats hung tight and eventually took a 62-61 lead on a three from Janssen with 3:27 to play. On the play, Austin Slater was fouled and made two foul shots to give the lead back to the Cougars. 

After that, USF went cold from the field and WSC used foul shooting and a three from Brian Goodwin to build a 71-63 advantage with 1:29 to play. USF was forced to foul as the Wildcats increased the advantage to 76-63 before Aaron Rothermund's three cut it to 10 with 22 seconds left. By that time, the issue was decided as the Cougars dropped their first home game of the season.

Next for USF will be a home game at the Stewart Center on Sunday at 4 p.m. with city rival Augustana.