WAYNE, NEB. – Drew Guebert scored 20 points and led five players in double-digit scoring as the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (18-10, 13-9 NSIC) rallied from 12 down to record a 79-77 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division victory over Wayne State at Rice Auditorium on Saturday night.

The Cougars, which trailed by 12 points late in the first half (42-30, 2:11, 1^st half), picked up a win in a game when trailing at halftime for the second time this season.

With the victory, USF won three of the past four games to close the regular season and earned the South Division's No. 4 seed in the NSIC Sanford Health Postseason Tournament, which begins on Wednesday. The Cougars will host the North Division No. 5 seed Minot State (14-17) at 7:30 pm on Wednesday at the Stewart Center. The men's game will follow the USF-Minnesota Crookston women's tournament game, which begins at 5:30 pm.

"I am really proud of this group of guys," said USF head coach Chris Johnson, who earned his 194^th career win at USF and 210^th overall. "For us, this game could not have started any worse. But we dug deep and found a way to rally. The best part of the game was guys like Austin Slater, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and made a huge impact. For that matter, Aaron (Rothermund) Chase (Grinde) and Drew (Guebert) came up big with key points all night long. Plus Trevon (Evans) hit a huge shot late in the corner," he said.

With the come-from-behind victory, USF swept Wayne State after taking a 77-71 win on Jan. 4 at the Stewart Center. The Cougars improved to 6-4 in road games with a 13-9 league record. USF finished just a game out of first place in the South Division.

WSC opened up a 42-30 lead with 2:11 to play in the first half but the Cougars had three-point shots from Rothermund and Slater to close within 45-39 at the break. In the second half, USF outscored WSC, 40-32, to earn the win. Guebert scored five points in the final 1:01 to help stave off the Wildcats.

In his final regular season game at USF, senior forward Drew Guebert came up big. He hit 7-of-11 field goals, including both of his three-pointers and made 4-of-6 free throws as he had 20 points in a game for the 16^th time this year and 43^rd time of his career. Guebert also extended his double-digit scoring total to 91 and now has 1,951 points in his career (3^rd all-time at USF). Guebert, who also had four rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 37 minutes, moved to 1,423 points in NSIC games, which places him seventh all-time.

USF also had double digits from Rothermund and Grinde, who both had 16 points while Evans had 10 points and Slater had his second career double double with a season-high 10 points and 10 rebounds. Rothermund, who had a season-high point total, reached double digits in points for the 10^th time in his career. He hit 7-of-11 from the floor and added three rebounds and four assists. Grinde also made 7-of-11 field goals, including his only three-point attempt, as he had double-digits in a game for the seventh time this year.

After a slow start as USF trailed 14-3 four minutes into the game, USF turned on the offensive engines and finished at 57.1 percent (32-of-56) for the game but were just 6-of-16 for 37.5 percent from three-point range. The Cougars, which made 9-of-13 free throws, had a 34-23 edge on the boards as they outrebounded their opponent for the 27^th time in 28 games. After shooting 50 percent in the opening half on 14-of-28 shooting, the Cougars lit it up in the second stanza by making 18-of-28 field goals, including many off offensive boards (13 offensive rebounds) or drives to the basket.

WSC, which was led by Kendall Jacks with 20 points and five rebounds, hit 28-of-59 field goals for 47.5 percent. They were 6-of-21 from three-point range and 15-of-18 at the foul line. WSC, which had just eight turnovers, recorded five blocks.

Game Breakdown –
While USF was hot in the second half, it was the home standing Wildcats that came out on fire in the first half, WSC hit their first seven shots of the game and opened up a 14-3 lead over USF at the 16 minute mark.

But then, USF's All-NSIC guard Evans had two baskets to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 13:49 to play. With 10:05 to play in the first half, Guebert hit from three-point range as USF cut WSC's lead to 24-16.  

After the Wildcats took a 32-22 lead on a pair of triples from Trevin Joseph, who had 17 points and made five triples, the Cougars answered with a three from Grinde and a lay-up by Slater to stay close at 34-27. After WSC took a 12-point lead (42-30, 2:10, 1^st), Rothermund and Slater connected from three-point range as USF cut WSC's lead in half at 42-36 with 1:32 to play.  With 19 seconds left, junior guard Milan Surlic broke a long spell without a three as his shot cut WSC's lead to 45-39. In the opening half, WSC used a 14-to-2 edge in points off turnovers and 22-to-16 margin of points in the paint to build the lead.

WSC took their lead out to 49-40 when Jordan Janssen made two foul shots with 18:24 to play.  USF responded with a 6-0 run as a lay-up by Evans cut the deficit to 49-46 with 15:45 to go. Joseph hit back-to-back threes as the Wildcats moved the lead back to nine points (55-46, 14:47, 2^nd half).

Once again, USF made a charge and with a 16-to-6 run took a 62-61 lead after a lay-up by Rothermund. WSC retook the lead on a three by Nate Mohr but it began a period in the game when teams had three ties as they exchanged points. Teachloach Pal's lay-up with 5:36 to play gave USF a 70-68 advantage. It was a lead USF did not give up the rest of the way. At the 2:11 mark Evans hit a jumper from the corner for a 74-68 lead. WSC rallied as Jacks had five straight points to crawl within 74-73 with 1:19 to play. Then, Guebert hit a jumper for a 76-73 lead with 1:01 on the clock.  

After WSC's Vance Janssen hit two foul shots to cut the lead to 76-75 with 48 seconds left, Guebert hit another basket for another three-point lead. Once again, Janssen made two foul shots as USF's lead was precarious at 78-77. Then, Guebert, who had five points in the final 1:01 of action, hit a free throw for a 79-77 lead and 13 seconds left in the game. On the ensuing possession, Janssen's three was off line and Rothermund hauled in the rebound, which secured the USF win and sweep of the Wildcats.