WAYNE, Neb. – The Wayne State College (Neb.) Wildcats used a 13-2 run to open the second quarter to help capture a 79-72 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team. The Golden Eagles would be down just 33-31 at the break, but the closest UMC would get in the final 15 minutes would be six.

Minnesota Crookston would limit the Wildcats defensively in the first half to just 33 points. However, they would allow Wayne State to tally 46 points on 11-of-20 from the field for 55 percent in the second half.

UMC falls to 7-17 (3-15 NSIC) with the loss. The Golden Eagles still have seven wins, which is still tied for the best win total for the program since the 2000-01 season. Minnesota Crookston had seven wins during the 2014-15 season, which was Head Coach Dan Weisse's first season with the Golden Eagles. They remain just two wins short of tying the school record of nine wins, set during the 2000-01 season.

Wayne State improves to 8-16 (6-12 NSIC) with Saturday's victory.

The Golden Eagles were led by 25 points from Harrison Cleary (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.). Cleary was 7-of-20 from the field and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Connor Gamble (R-Fr., G, Stillwater, Minn.) had the best game of his young career with 22 points on 7-of-13 from the field and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.

Chase Johnson (Fr., F, La Crosse, Wis.) also had a big game for UMC with a double-double of 14 points and 12 boards. He would add three blocks on the game.

Minnesota Crookston finished the game 25-of-54 from the field for 46.3 percent. They were 7-of-22 for 31.8 percent from beyond the arc and 15-of-19 for 78.9 percent from the free throw line. UMC was out-rebounded 31-22 by the Wildcats.

Wayne State looked to four players with double figures. Kendall Jacks led the way with 19 points and seven boards on 7-of-10 from the field. Vince Janssen would chip in 15 points on 5-of-6 from the field. Matt Thomas would chip in 15 points, including going 10-of-10 from the charity stripe. Austin Esters would come off of the bench for 16 points on 6-of-7 from the field.

The Wildcats were 25-of-48 from the field for 52.1 percent. They went 5-of-12 for 41.7 percent from beyond the arc and 24-of-26 for 92.3 percent from the charity stripe.

Wayne State would get out to an early 11-2 lead on the Golden Eagles after a Brian Goodwin layup. UMC would piece away at the lead and would cut it to 20-17 after a Gamble triple with 11 minutes left in the first half. They would continue their run and would take the lead 21-20 after a Gamble layup. Wayne State would take the lead back as Janssen converted a layup to make it 22-21.

The Wildcats and Golden Eagles would go back-and-forth until UMC would push the score out to 27-24 on a Gamble three-pointer. Wayne State would come back with a 4-0 run to take lead 28-27 on a Jacks layup. They would trade leads again until the Wildcats went up 33-31 on a Janssen old-fashioned three-point play going into the locker room.

Wayne State would open the second half on a 6-0 run to make it 39-31. UMC would end the run with a Kobe Critchley (So., G, Roseville, Minn.) free throw. However, Wayne State came right back with an 8-0 run to go up 47-32 on a Janssen layup with 15:04 left in the game.

UMC would be able to get the lead down to six with 9:02 left after a Johnson layup. However, Wayne State responded with a run to make it 60-49 after a pair of Thomas free throws. Minnesota Crookston would struggle to get stops down the stretch as they would ultimately fall 79-72 to the Wildcats.

Minnesota Crookston will continue their four-game road trip in conference play as they take on Northern State University Fri., Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.