SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls men's basketball team didn't just win Wednesday night — they sent a message.
Behind a 30-point explosion from Taylen Ashley, dominant rebounding, and suffocating perimeter defense, the Cougars dismantled Wayne State 94–76 inside the Stewart Center to advance to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals. It was the kind of complete, wire-to-wire performance that makes opponents uncomfortable — and makes the rest of the bracket take notice.
Game Summary
USF was sharp from the opening tip, shooting 48.4 percent from the field and connecting on 11-of-26 (42.3 percent) from three-point range. Ashley was the headliner, going 10-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-8 from deep for 30 points. Kyle Ingwerson drained four threes and finished with 18 points. Brogan Madson added 16 points and five assists, and Gerard Bosch quietly put together a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double that anchored the paint on both ends.
The Cougars didn't just beat Wayne State — they outworked them. USF won the rebounding battle 48–34, grabbed 13 offensive boards, and turned those second chances into 19 points. On the other end, they held the Wildcats to a dismal 3-of-20 (15 percent) from three-point range, effectively taking away the one thing that could have kept Wayne State in the game.
How It Happened
First Half
USF wasted no time establishing the tone. The Cougars attacked the glass early, collecting eight offensive rebounds and converting them into 15 second-chance points — compared to just two for Wayne State despite the Wildcats grabbing seven offensive boards of their own. The difference wasn't just effort; it was execution.
Offensively, USF shot 16-of-34 (47.1 percent) and went 5-of-14 from three, while holding Wayne State to 38.2 percent shooting and a quiet 2-of-9 from beyond the arc. Ashley chipped in 11 first-half points, and Bosch was a force inside with seven points and seven rebounds before the break. The Cougars carried a 42–35 lead into halftime — comfortable, but not yet decisive.
Second Half
USF came out of the locker room and turned a manageable lead into a rout. The Cougars shot 50 percent (15-of-30) from the floor and went 6-of-12 from three in the second half, adding 16 free-throw points as the lead ballooned to 25 midway through the period.
Wayne State didn't go quietly — the Wildcats trimmed the deficit to 11 with four minutes remaining, showing some life. But USF answered with timely buckets and locked down defensively when it mattered most. The Wildcats went just 1-of-11 from three in the second half, and whatever momentum they tried to build never fully materialized. The Cougars closed it out 94–76.
Key Team Stats
- Perimeter Defense – USF held Wayne State to 3-of-20 (15.0%) from three-point range
- Rebounding – Cougars won the glass battle 48–34, turning 13 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points
- Free Throws – USF made 21 free throws — more than Wayne State even attempted (19) — finishing 21-of-31 at the line
- Balanced Attack – Four Cougars scored in double figures; five players grabbed five or more rebounds
Key Cougars
Coach's Corner
"Thought we played very well tonight. Really guarded and rebounded better. Taylen had a big night, but I also thought we had great balance."
– Head Coach Chris Johnson
Up Next
The Cougars don't have long to celebrate. USF advances to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals to face St. Cloud State on Saturday, March 28th at 4:00 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls — a home-crowd atmosphere and a familiar opponent standing between them and the semifinals.
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