SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Sioux Falls Cougars (6-6, 2-4 NSIC) came up short in a 66-61 battle against Wayne State (8-4, 2-4) on Thursday night at the Stewart Center. Despite holding the lead for over 23 minutes, Sioux Falls struggled with turnovers and a late scoring run by the Wildcats.  

1st Half 

Sioux Falls set the tone early with sharp shooting and strong defensive play. Taylen Ashley opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and the Cougars quickly established a presence on the boards, grabbing 15 defensive rebounds in the first half. Ashley's early hot hand, including two three-pointers, helped the Cougars jump out to an eight-point lead midway through the half, their largest of the game. 

Shawn Warrior anchored the defense, collecting four rebounds, two blocks in the opening period. Sioux Falls' ability to disrupt Wayne State's rhythm led to six steals and limited the Wildcats to 30% shooting from the field. The Cougars also capitalized on turnovers, scoring seven points off Wayne State's seven giveaways. 

The bench made a strong impact, with Josh Baker contributing a quick layup and Jack Cartwright sinking a critical three-pointer in the final minute to extend Sioux Falls' lead. Despite Wayne State's attempts to close the gap, Sioux Falls ended the half with a 27-23 advantage, holding the Wildcats to just two three-pointers on 10 attempts (20%). 

2nd Half 

Wayne State came out firing in the second half, quickly erasing Sioux Falls' lead. Sioux Falls found themselves in an uphill battle as turnovers mounted, finishing the game with 21 turnovers that led to 18 points for the Wildcats. 

Noah Puetz emerged as a key player in the second half, scoring nine of his 11 total points while also grabbing key rebounds. His presence on the glass, paired with strong inside play, gave Sioux Falls second-chance opportunities that kept the game within reach. Despite Puetz's efforts, the Cougars struggled to string together consistent offensive possessions, shooting 40% from the field in the second half. 

Ashley led all scorers with 19 points, hitting three three-pointers and providing critical scoring bursts to keep the Cougars competitive. However, Wayne State's efficiency in the paint (36 total points) and their ability to capitalize on fast-break opportunities (17 points) proved too much. Sioux Falls cut the deficit to two points with under two minutes remaining on a Puetz free throw, but Wayne State sealed the game with clutch defensive stops and free throws in the final moments. 

The Cougars showed grit throughout the contest but were ultimately undone by costly turnovers and missed opportunities in transition. 

Key Team Stats 

• Paint Scoring: Sioux Falls scored 22 points in the paint. 

• Bench Contributions: The Cougars' bench added 22 points, including nine from Cartwright. 

• Turnovers: Sioux Falls committed 21 turnovers, leading to 18 points for Wayne State. 

Key Coo 

• Taylen Ashley: Scored a game-high 19 points, with three three-pointers, and grabbed three rebounds. 

• Noah Puetz: Recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, and went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. 

• Shawn Warrior: Contributed eight points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and three assists while playing a team-high 37 minutes. 

• Jack Cartwright: Provided nine points off the bench, shooting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. 

• Creighton Morisch: Tallied seven points, nine rebounds, and three assists, impacting both ends of the court. 

Up Next 

The Cougars will finish up 2024 with a trip to Marshall, Minnesota to take on the #24 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs. The game will take play in R/A Facility at 4:00pm on Saturday, December 21st. 
 
 

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