Wayne State 84 Dakota State 80 OT
Wayne State's Amry Shelby drained a three pointer from the left corner with 1.7 seconds left to send the game into overtime, then added six more points in the overtime, to boost the Wildcats in an 84-80 non-conference men's college basketball win in overtime against a very good Dakota State team Sunday afternoon at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. With the win, the Wildcats are off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1976-77 while Dakota State, who won at Augustana College Friday evening 52-51, falls to 5-4 on the year.
Dakota State held the lead for a good share of the first half that featured eight ties and four lead changes. Wayne State's biggest lead was three at 15-12 with 15:06 to go in the half following a Brad Starken three pointer while the visiting Trojans used a Mike Larsen three pointer with 1:02 remaining in the half to take their biggest lead of the first half at 38-31 as Dakota State held a 38-33 lead at intermission.
The game remained close as Dakota State held a six point lead at 46-40 with 13:40 left after two Spencer Adams free throws. WSC then rallied and tied the score at 51-51 following a Jason Jensen layup with 9:16 remaining. The Wildcats held a pair of four point leads with the final one coming at 59-55 with 6:19 to play following two Amry Shelby free throws. But Dakota State came roaring back and following the game's 13th tie at 62-62 with 2:46 remaining took a four point lead at 70-66 with 30 seconds to play on two Jordan King free throws.
Wayne State's Vontrell Seroyer and Dakota State's Mike Larsen each made two free throws to make the score 72-68 Trojans with 20 seconds to play. Wayne State's Derrell Williams made a layup with 11 seconds to go, cutting Dakota State's lead to 72-70. Dakota State's Mike Larsen was fouled and made the first but missed the second free throw with nine seconds to play, giving the Trojans a 73-70 advantage. Williams grabbed the board for WSC and passed the ball to Seroyer, who drove the length of the court and went to the right side of the lane, where he passed the ball in the left corner to Shelby who nailed the three pointer with 1.7 seconds left sending the game into overtime tied at 73-73.
In the overtime, Wayne State used a jumper by Shelby on the 'Cats first possession to take a 75-73 lead, a lead that the Wildcats would not relinquish in overtime. The Shelby jumper would be the only made basket for WSC in the extra session as Shelby and Seroyer scored the rest of the WSC points from the charity stripe. The Wildcats built a six point lead at 80-74 following two Shelby free throws with 2:23 to play, and then led 82-76 after Seroyer hit two free throws with 1:39 remaining. But Dakota State used shots by Jordan King and Mike Larsen to pull within two at 82-80 with 45 seconds to play. Following a missed three pointer by Dakota State's Mike Larsen, Seroyer was fouled and sealed the win with two free throws with two seconds to play giving Wayne State the thrilling 84-80 overtime win.
Shelby scored 23 of his team-high 25 points in the second half and overtime to lead Wayne State in scoring followed by Jason Jensen with 15 and Ben Tasa 13. The Wildcats made 25 of 58 shots from the field for 43 percent, hitting 7 of 21 shots from the three point line. WSC, entering the game at just 60.5 percent from the free throw line, came up big Sunday at the charity stripe canning 27 of 33 free throws, including 9 of 10 in overtime.
For Dakota State, Northwest Missouri State transfer Mike Larsen scored a game-high 27 points followed by Spencer Adams with 20 and Jordan King 14 along with 10 assists. The Trojans made 23 of 49 shots from the field for 46.9 percent and made 9 of 24 three pointers. Dakota State was 25 of 37 at the free throw stripe.
Wayne State held a 38-29 advantage in rebounding thanks to a career-high eight rebounds from Amry Shelby while Derrell Williams grabbed seven caroms. Dakota State's top rebounder was Mike Larsen with seven. Each team had 13 turnovers in the contest.
Wayne State will be on the road next weekend to open Northern Sun Conference play, visiting Minnesota State Friday night and Southwest Minnesota State Saturday night with both games set for 8:00 p.m.
