SIOUX FALLS – Drew Guebert recorded a double of 23 points and 10 rebounds while Trevon Evans had 16 points, including six in the final 31 seconds, as the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (9-4, 4-3 NSIC) knocked off Wayne State (10-3, 5-2 NSIC), 77-71, on Friday night at the Stewart Center.

USF, which led by as many as 16 points (12:55 to play in the second half), ended a three-game losing streak to the Wildcats and knocked WSC out of a tie for first place in the NSIC South Division.

Guebert scored just three points in the opening 20 minutes and then caught fire in the second half with 20 points as he recorded his fifth double double of his career. A senior from Apple Valley, Minn., Guebert not only recorded his 79^th career double-digit scoring game of his career but established a new mark at USF for made three-pointers in a career with 234. By hitting 5-of-7, he passed former USF teammate Mack Johnson, who had 232 from 2013-17. Guebert, who now has 36, 20-point games in his career, hit 9-of-20 field goals and had seven defensive boards among his 10 rebounds. He also had a blocked shot and a steal in 37 minutes. In addition, Guebert increased his career point total to 1,674 and is 22 points from fifth all-time in scoring at USF (Todd Kelsey, 1977-81, 1,696 points).

With the score tied late and the Wildcats in possession of the ball, USF's Evans forced a turnover by WSC's Trevin Joseph and took Guebert's pass for a lead-changing dunk and a 73-71 lead with 31 seconds to play. After USF had a stop at the other end, Evans made two foul shots for a 75-71 lead with 18 seconds to play. He was again fouled and sank two more charity tosses with six seconds left to give USF a hard-fought 77-71 win and end USF's two-game NSIC losing streak.

"This was a big win for us," said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson, who now has 201 career wins. "We battled all night against a very good team. Drew (Guebert) had a huge second half and Trevon (Evans) had some big plays, particularly late. I was proud of the effort on the boards and on the defensive end," he said.

Evans, who had a pair of treys, four rebounds, three assists and a steal, registered double digits in points for his 17^th straight game with double-digit points. For his career, Evans has scored 896 points and registered 39 double-digit scoring games.

On the night, USF was 29-of-64 from field for 45.3 percent. The Cougars made 9-of-17 from three-point range and 10-of-15 foul shots for 66.7 percent. But USF, which has outrebounded every team by a margin of at least five, owned a 48-to-25 margin on the glass against the Wildcats. However, USF was hurt by the turnovers with 16 as WSC had just seven. Aside from Guebert and Evans, USF had eight points, seven rebounds and five assists from Milan Surlic, nine points, four rebounds and a block from Chase Grinde and eight points and three boards from Teachloach Pal. Sophomore forward Austin Slater had 10 rebounds while Devin Green came off the bench to provide four points, four rebounds and a block.

As for the Wildcats, they were led by a pair of guards as Trevin Joseph had a game-high 35 points as he made 13-of-20 field goals, including 8-of-11 from three-point range. Kendall Jacks, who banked in a trey and a free throw, had 25 points and four rebounds. As a team, WSC hit 28-of-64 from the field for 43.8 percent but were 11-of-22 from three-point range for 50 percent.

While WSC had a 22-9 edge in points off turnovers, the Cougars held a 14-9 margin in second chance points and a 19-5 margin in bench points.

"I can't tell you how pleased I was with the play off our bench. We had a number of guys who really stepped up. Devin (Green) had two big baskets; Troy (Houghton) had a huge block and a field goal; and Aaron (Rothermund) had a big three-pointer," said Johnson, whose team will host NSIC South Division leader and city rival Augustana at 6 p.m., on Saturday night at the Stewart Center.

GAME BREAKDOWN -
After Joseph canned a pair of threes early for WSC, the Cougars took an 11-8 lead when Evans hit a shot from deep and Pal had a lay-up with 14:11 to play. USF continued to find success on the offensive end and with a 16-to-4 run took a 27-12 advantage with 6:48 on the clock after Rothermund knocked in a pair of foul shots. A lay-up by Grinde helped USF hold a 36-22 advantage with 2:40 to play. But then Joseph caught fire. He scored eight points in the final 2:11 of the half as WSC closed with an 11-2 run to draw within 38-33 at halftime.

In the first half, Evans led USF with eight points as USF hit 14-of-30 field goals for 46.7 percent. The Cougars made 4-of-8 from three-point range. The Wildcats hit 13-of-34 field goals for 38.2 percent and were led by Joseph with 18 points while Jacks had 11. WSC made 5-of-12 from three-point range.

After opening with just three points in the opening 20 minutes, Guebert took control early in the second half. He had nine straight points to help USF regain a double-digit lead at 47-33 with 17:29 to play. Later, Grinde converted a lay-up for a 58-42 advantage at the 12:55 mark. But if anyone thought this game was over, the Wildcats had an answer. Over the next three minutes, WSC cut the lead to eight (58-50, 10:11) after a jumper by Luke TerHark.