Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wayne State 73 MSU Moorhead 60
Junior center Brian Metz recorded a career-high 25 points to lift the Wayne State College men’s basketball team in a 73-60 win over MSU Moorhead Saturday evening in Moorhead, Minnesota. It was the 12th straight win by the Wildcats over the Dragons, improving WSC to 7-7 overall and 3-4 in the NSIC while MSU Moorhead slips to 4-9 overall and 1-7 in the NSIC. Metz made 11 of 14 shots from the field for his career-high in scoring, recording 17 points in the first half. The Keswick, Iowa native (Tri-County HS) was 3 of 3 from the foul line and also grabbed eight rebounds in the Wildcat win.
MSU Moorhead jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the first six minutes of the game, but WSC would tie the game at 16-16 with 10:51 to play in the half following a free throw by David Walters. With the ‘Cats holding a 22-20 lead with 5:34 left in the half, WSC scored nine straight points to grab a 31-20 advantage following a Brian Metz three point play with 3:58 to go in the half. Wayne State ended the half with a 38-29 lead, shooting 57 percent (16 of 28) from the field in the first half.
The Wildcats maintained a double digit lead for a good share of the second half, but MSU Moorhead made a run at Wayne State late in the game before WSC finally put away the Dragons. WSC held a 53-39 lead with 11:08 to play, but MSUM got within five points at 61-56 with 4:37 left following a pair of free throws by Justyn Burgess. But Wayne State’s Brian Metz made back-to-back baskets and Ryan Rudloff canned a pair of free throws to push the ‘Cats lead to 67-56 with 1:49 left and WSC went on to make free throws down the stretch to preserve the 73-60 win.
Metz was the only double figure scorer for Wayne State College with his career-high 25 points. Sophomore guard Ryan Rudloff and junior forward Brent Jackman each recorded nine points for WSC. The Wildcats shot a season-high 57. 8 percent from the field, making 26 of 45 shots. WSC was just 2 of 8 from the three point line and hit of 19 of 23 shots at the free throw line.
For MSU Moorhead, Grant Fossum scored 14 points followed by Xavier Reed with 11. The Dragons made 21 of 51 shots for 41.2 percent, including 7 of 20 from the three point line. MSUM was 11 of 16 at the charity stripe.
Wayne State outrebounded MSU Moorhead 34-20 thanks to eight boards by Metz and seven from Zane Abner. MSU Moorhead’s top rebounder was Xavier Reed with four. The Wildcats did have 20 turnovers to just 15 for MSU Moorhead.
Wayne State will be at home for Northern Sun Conference games next weekend, hosting Winona State Friday night and Upper Iowa Saturday at Rice Auditorium in Wayne.