WAYNE, Neb. --- #25 Minnesota State finished its three-game road trip with a loss Saturday afternoon as Wayne State bested the Mavericks 79-69.

With the loss, MSU drops to 7-3 on the season, including a 2-3 NSIC record. With the win, WSC improves to 7-4, including a 4-1 conference record.

The first half saw the Wildcats lead through most of the opening 20 minutes. WSC built a seven-point lead at 9-2 in the first four minutes but the Mavericks would respond with an 11-2 run over the five minutes to take a 13-11 lead.

The Wildcats managed to go back up by as many as eight points at 23-15, but MSU was able to cut into their lead in the final five minutes as WSC carried a 31-27 lead into halftime.

Freshman Kyreese Willingham led all scorers in the first half with nine points, matching his season high. Freshman Brady Williams added eight points and six rebounds also. As a team, MSU shot 40% from the field in the first half.

Jordan Janssen paced WSC in the first half with seven points and five rebounds. As a team, the Wildcats shot 44.8% from the field in the first half. 

The second half saw the Wildcats build an 11-point lead at 40-29 with 17:33 to go, only to see MSU respond with a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to cut WSC's lead to three at 42-39. Williams hit two threes during MSU's 10-2 run.

Minnesota State managed to get within two points of the Wildcats at 51-49 with 8:38 to go but the Mavericks would get no closer as the Wildcats led by at least two scores the rest of the en route to claiming the 79-69 win.

Williams recorded his first career double-double as he notched a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kyreese Willingham added a season-high 15 points, while freshman Harrison Braudis tallied 14 points. Junior Devonte Thedford finished with 10 points and five assists also.

As a team, MSU shot 42.9% from the field. The Mavericks also hauled in 28 rebounds.

Justin Eagins paced WSC with 23 points, while Janssen notched 19 points and nine rebounds. As a team, the Wildcats shot 44.6% from the field, to go with a 26-of-30 (.867) showing from the line.

Minnesota State begins a four-game homestand on Friday as it takes on Sioux Falls. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., at Taylor Center.

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