Box Score

WAYNE, Neb. – The Wayne State College Wildcats took advantage of their home court advantage and a solid 24-point performance from center Brian Metz to knock off the Northern State University Wolves 71-65 on Friday in a key Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup.  Despite being mathematically eliminated from post-season competition, the Wildcats snared just their second win over NSU in the last 17 meeting between the two teams and put a significant dent in the Wolves' bid for hosting a first round NSIC tournament game.

The loss drops NSU to 18-6 overall and 11-6 in league play and into a 4-way tie for fourth place in the conference standings with three games left in the regular season.  WSC snapped a 7-game losing streak with the win and is now 9-15 overall and 5-12 in the NSIC.

The Wolves got off to a slow start right away, spotting the Wildcats a 6-0 lead to start off the game.  NSU recovered to take the lead briefly at 12-10 with 10:38 left in the first half, but could not hold on, as WSC went into the halftime break leading 27-24.

The second half belonged almost entirely to the Wildcats, who stretched their lead to as many as 14 with 7:23 left in the game.  NSU trimmed the advantage to four points twice in the last 39 seconds of the game, but it was too little, too late as WSC held on for the win.

NSU junior Mitch Boeck (Arlington, S.D.) led the way offensively for the Wolves, draining five treys to finish with 19 points.  Senior Kevin Ratzsch (Bloomington, Ill.) added 18.

The Wildcats got a game-high 24 points from Metz, who, along with forward Jonathan Thomas, were able to hold NSU big men Robert Thomas (Mankato, Minn.) and Bojan Todorovic (Pozarevac, Serbia) to a combined 11 points on the night.

Metz led three Wildcats in double figures and helped his team to a 32-24 edge in points in the paint.

NSU will be back in action tomorrow night, taking on Augustana College in yet another key conference matchup.  The Vikings, who took a 79-71 overtime victory over the Wolves back on Dec. 6, were 70-66 winners over the University of Mary on Friday.  That win also moves the Vikings up into the crowded race for fourth place in the standings.