ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul (1-7, 0-2 NSIC) dropped a Saturday night home game 76-57 to Wayne State (5-3, 2-1 NSIC) at Gangelhoff Center. The 19 point margin swelled due to the difference in three-point shooting as the visiting Wildcats made 11 three-pointers while holding host Concordia to four on the night.

Concordia will make its first league road trip of the season next Friday and Saturday at Upper Iowa and Winona State.

The seven three-point difference between the teams was a key factor in the 19 point final margin with WSC converting at 52.4 percent (11-21) from the arc to Concordia's 28.6 percent (4-14). In addition, the Wildcats were able to take care of the ball on offense with just six turnovers while forcing 14, leading to a 15-4 scoring margin.

Three players scored in double-figures for Concordia with Avan Ward leading the charge with 13 points on 5-11 shooting including 3-6 from distance while adding three assists. Evan Wesenberg and Bryndan Matthews each added 12 points with Wesenberg shooting an efficient 5-8 from the field, collecting four rebounds with two assists and a steal. Matthews added five rebounds, just one off of Ted Brown's team high six boards.
 

Wayne State was led by Kendall Jacks with 28 points on 12-18 shooting, adding four rebounds and three steals. All five starters knocked down at least one three-pointer for the Wildcats led by Matt Thomas was 3-4 from the arc for 11 points. Vance Janssen was just 2-7 from the field, but knocked down both of his triples and added six assists and six rebounds to his six points.

Concordia shot 40.0 percent (20-50) on the night and was able to get to the foul line 12 more times than Wayne State, making 13-21 to WSC's 7-9.

The Golden Bears had the upper hand early on, using a 7-0 run as three different players scored to build a 7-2 lead in the first four and half minutes of play. The score remained tight as four lead changes and three ties occurred in the first 10 minutes of the first half. The Wildcats used a 9-2 spurt to pull ahead 29-20 with just over seven minutes to go in the half, the introductory piece of a larger 21-6 stretch of play to close out the half for a 41-24 lead at the break.

From there, the Wildcats were able to protect the double-digit margin the rest of the evening, leading by as many as 24 (74-50) with three minutes to play.