WAYNE, Neb. – The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball team fell 91–79 on the road Wednesday night against Wayne State, as the Wildcats used dominant rebounding, timely three-point shooting, and a strong first half to maintain control throughout the NSIC matchup.
USF shot an efficient 52.9 percent from the field and put together a 50-point second half, but Wayne State countered with 47 percent shooting, nine made threes, and a decisive 45–29 advantage at halftime to stay in front.
Game Summary
Wayne State set the tone early by shooting 48.6 percent in the first half and scoring 20 points in the paint, while holding a 19–12 rebounding edge before halftime. USF hit 12 of its first 25 shots and generated 20 points in the paint of its own, but the Wildcats capitalized on second-chance buckets and 14 points off turnovers to build a 45–29 advantage at the break.
The Cougars responded with a strong offensive push in the second half, scoring 50 points behind 57.7 percent shooting and 22 fast-break points. USF also improved at the foul line after halftime, going 16-for-21. However, Wayne State continued its efficiency from deep—hitting 5-of-6 threes in the half—and added 7 more second-chance points to prevent the gap from closing.
USF outscored Wayne State in the second half (50–46) and finished with 40 points in the paint, but the Wildcats' decisiveness on the glass (35–27) and their 20-for-25 performance at the line ultimately held off the Cougar rally.
How It Happened
First Half
USF opened the game shooting 48 percent from the field with Brogan Madson leading the charge with 9 points. 8 Cougars contributed to the first half scoring. However, Wayne State controlled the boards early (19–12) and used 6 offensive rebounds to create seven second-chance points.
The Wildcats went 17-for-35 from the floor—including four made threes—and added 7 points off turnovers to build separation. USF generated 20 points in the paint and 10 points off the bench in the half, but Wayne State's 87.5 percent free-throw shooting and a 15–0 run midway through the period helped send the Cougars into the locker room trailing 45–29.
Second Half
The Cougars put together an efficient offensive performance after the break, shooting 57.7 percent (15-for-26) and hitting 4-of-8 from three. USF added 22 fast-break points in the period—part of a 27-point game total—and forced Wayne State into six turnovers.
Despite the offensive surge, Wayne State continued to score in key moments, hitting 5-of-6 second-half threes and getting 13 points at the line. The Wildcats also maintained their rebounding advantage, pulling down 16 second-half boards—including seven more offensive rebounds—to keep the margin steady. USF closed within single digits late, but Wayne State answered each run to secure the 91–79 final.
Coach's Corner
"We didn't guard or rebound at the level required to win in this league. I do think there were stretches where we showed some growth offensively, but we have to learn from these lessons quickly and commit to being better on the defensive end."
— Head Coach Chris Johnson
Key Coo
Key Team Stats
- Shooting Comparison: USF shot 52.9 percent from the field while Wayne State finished at 47 percent, but the Wildcats hit 9-of-18 from three compared to USF's 6-of-18.
- Rebounding Margin: Wayne State outrebounded USF 35–27, including a 13–3 edge in offensive boards that led to 14 second-chance points.
- Paint Production: USF scored 40 points in the paint on 64 percent shooting inside, while the Wildcats added 38 points in the lane.
- Fast-Break Spark: The Cougars generated 27 fast-break points—their highest total of the season.
Up Next
USF continues NSIC play on Saturday, December 6, returning home to host Augustana at 3:30 p.m. inside the Stewart Center.
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