FEB. 21 , 2004

WAYNE, Neb. [box score] - Adam Daley hit five three-point field goals en route to a game-high 21 points, leading the Bemidji State men's basketball team to an 81-70 victory tonight at Rice Auditorium.

Bemidji State scored the game's first seven points and never looked back. Senior All-America candidate Charles Hanks netted BSU's first bucket less than a minute into the contest on his way to a 17-point night, and a three-pointer from James Roberson and a dunk by Sherwin Johnson fueled the early run.

Wayne State would claw back into the game and take a 12-11 lead on a layup from Brett Cain at 11:44 of the first half. Brett Watson hit a three-pointer at 6:09 of the first to push the Wildcat cushion to six points, 25-19, but the rest of the half would belong to the visitors.

Bemidji State needed just three minutes to regain the lead, fuelled by its potent three-point game. The Beavers got three-pointers from Hanks, Martez Young and Daley, with a Jamal Clements jumper thrown in for good measure, to retake the lead for good, 30-27, at the 3:09 mark.

Wayne State shaved the lead to three points, 35-32, after a pair of free throws from Cain, but a conventional three-point play and a three-pointer with three seconds in the half by James Roberson pushed BSU's lead to nine points and set the tone for the rest of the game.

BSU pushed its lead to as many as 14 points in the second half, and Wayne State could get no closer than three points - a 60-57 deficit after a pair of Brett Watson free throws with 6:47 to play in the game.

Daley connected on 5 of 10 field goal attempts with all of his made baskets coming from three-point range to headline a group of three Beavers in double figures. Daley went 5 of 8 from long range and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free-throw line. He added four rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes of work.

Hanks had a workmanlike night with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting. He hit his only three-point attempt during BSU's early 7-0 run, was 2-for-2 from the foul line and pulled down four boards. He added three assists and a pair of blocked shots in 35 minutes of work and did not commit a turnover.

Clements added 10 points on 4 of 4 shooting, including 2 of 2 from three-point range, for the visitors. Marlon Walker had a game-high seven rebounds for BSU.

Cain led the Wildcats with 20 points. He was 8 for 12 from the field, 4 of 4 from the foul line, and had a team-high six rebounds. Watson had 13 points and six assists. Dallas Hodges (15) and Dusty Smith (10) also scored in double figures for Wayne State.

Bemidji State improved to 18-8 with the win and is now 13-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. Northern State keeps one-half game behind Bemidji State with a win at Minn.-Duluth today; the Wolves are 12-2 in the league. Wayne State dropped to 14-12, 8-7 against the NSIC.

Bemidji State is back in action Wednesday, Feb. 26 when it plays host to Minn.-Duluth in the regular-season finale. Opening tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. Central time from BSU Gymnasium on the Bemidji State campus.