ST. PAUL – Zach Wessels had eight crucial points down the stretch and Mack Johnson scored 28 points to lift the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (14-15, 10-11 NSIC) to a 73-69 victory over Concordia-St. Paul (5-23, 2-19 NSIC) at the Gangelhoff Center.  

The win enabled USF head coach Chris Johnson to become the program's career wins leader with 155, passing Shane Murphy (154, 2001-08).

With the victory, the Cougars ended a six-game losing streak and retained a hold onto fifth place in the NSIC South Division. USF now stands 14-15 overall and 10-11 in NSIC play. Interestingly, the Cougars are 6-4 in road conference games and just 4-7 at home. This is just the second time in 10 decisions decided by four points or less that USF has emerged with a victory. On Saturday, the Cougars conclude the regular season against Minnesota State at the Taylor Center with tip-off set for 6 p.m.

M. Johnson, who was 10-of-22 from the field with a trio of three-point field goals, had a season-high 28 points. As a result, Johnson, who recorded his 22nd career 20-point game and 78th double digit scoring game, moved into eighth on USF's career scoring list with 1,600 points. Johnson, who now has had a three-point field goal in 99 games and three treys or more in 33 games, passed USF Hall of Fame forward Luther Hippe, who had 1,589 from 1983-87. On the night, Johnson also hauled in seven rebounds and had two assists without a turnover in 38 minutes of action.

Wessels, who had his 15th double digit scoring game of the season, added 14 points and matched Tom Aase with a team-high nine rebounds while handing out an assist and recording a steal.

"I am really proud of our guys," said Johnson in a post-game interview with USF radio play-by-play announcer Tom Frederick. "It is a pretty happy crew in the locker room. We lost Clint Thomas early but other guys stepped up. I am really happy for them," he said.

"Now we need to move forward and play the way we are capable. Mack (Johnson) carried us for big stretches tonight. Daniel (Hurtt) made some big shots down the stretch as did as Zach (Wessels) who hit a big three and made some critical free throws. Other guys also contributed like Tristan Teichmeier and Kebu Johnson, along with Tom Aase. It was really nice to see this team get back on the winning track," he said.

With the Cougars down late, Wessels made perimeter shots and sank free throws to help USF hold off CSP. Down 63-61 with 2:13 to play, Wessels hit a jumper to tie the game. Later with USF again trailing by two points, Wessels hit just his fifth three-pointer of the season to give USF a 66-65 lead with 1:25 on the clock. After Hurtt, who had 14 points before fouling out, hit another triple with 35 seconds to play for a 69-65 lead, Wessels made three of four free throws in the final 14 seconds to lift USF to the win and a season sweep of the Golden Bears. In a game with nine tie scores and seven lead changes, USF led 33-29 at halftime and matched CSP with 40 points in the second half.

Overall USF was 25-of-66 from the field for 37.9 percent, including 9-of-25 from three point range for 36 percent. They were 14-of-22 from the foul line. Both teams had 42 rebounds. As for the Golden Bears, they made 20-of-52 field goals for 38.5 percent but just 3-of-14 from three-point range for 21.4 percent. However, they stayed in the game with a 26-of-36 performance from the foul line. Bryndan Matthews led CSP with 24 points and nine rebounds while Brandon McRoy had 17 points off the bench.
 
Led by M. Johnson's 16 points, USF took a 33-29 halftime lead. Johnson put the Cougars on board with a jumper and a three-pointer with 17:09 to play for a 5-2 lead. After Golden Bears tied the game, Daniel Hurtt knocked a three (15:16) followed by a Wessels lay-up for 10-6 edge (14:45). Drew Guebert, who had six points, knocked down a three with 7:40 left as Cougars took a 20-13 margin.

Ted Brown's dunk with 6:58 to play cut USF's lead to 20-16.  At the 3:43 mark, M. Johnson converted two free throws as part of a 9-4 run for a 27-18 edge.  However, CSP closed on an 11-6 run to cut USF's deficit to four at halftime. Mathews had nine points to lead the Golden Bears in the half.

In the opening 20 minutes, USF hit just 13-of-39 for 33.3 percent, including 3-of-14 for 21.4 percent. The rows and committed just four turnovers. Cougars, which had a 24-21 rebound edge, also made 4-of-5 free throws. As for the Golden Bears, they made 9-of-23 field goals for 39.1 percent but did not make a three pointer in eight attempts. They stayed in the game at the foul line, knocking in 11-of-16 free throws.

After the Golden Bears cut the USF lead to 35-34 early in the half, Hurtt and Guebert knocked in back-to-back threes as Cougars regained a 41-34 lead with 17:34 on the clock.  Then M. Johnson connected with a triple for a 44-35 edge with 15:44 to play. But CSP, which had defeated the Cougars a year ago, 78-63 in St. Paul, began their comeback. Mathews had a three point play followed by a McRoy three to cut the USFS's advantage to 51-47 (11:32). McRoy dropped in two foul shots (10:12) to reduce the Cougars' lead to 53-52 as part of a 17-9 run.

After Hurtt made 1-of-2 free throws, CSP tied the game on Ted Brown's basket at 54.  Then, CSP's Max Keefe's connected on a triple with 6:37 to give CSP its first lead (57-55) since 19:20 of the first half. M. Johnson made a pair of free throws for a 61-59 lead with 5:06 to play.  With 2:27 to go, CSP's McRoy converted two free throws for a 63-61 lead, which set the stage for Wessel's late game heroics as the Cougars rallied to pull out the win.