WAYNE, Neb. – William Giddings led a balanced scoring attack with a career-high 12 points to lead Southwest Minnesota State to a 73-54 victory over Wayne State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Saturday night.

Tramel Barnes and Matt Zager each scored 13 points to lead the Mustangs, while Nick Smith rounded out SMSU's double-figure scoring with 10 points.

The victory for SMSU (2-3, 1-1 NSIC) was just its fourth all-time in 23 games in Wayne, Neb. 

The Mustang defense limited Wayne State to just 35 percent shooting and forced 16 turnovers.  SMSU shot 48 percent (28 of 58) from the field and held a 35-31 rebound advantage.

WSC held an 11-8 lead six and a half minutes into the game, but then it was all SMSU after that as the Mustang defense limited the Wildcats to just one field goal the remainder of the half.

A lay-up by Matt Zager at the 12:12 mark gave SMSU a 12-11 lead and moments later William Giddings drilled a 3-pointer and was followed by a Tramel Barnes jumper to build the lead to 17-11 with 11 minutes left in the half.

Holding a 23-17 lead with five minutes remaining in the half, SMSU closed the half on 17-6 run behind hot-shooting from Trent Carlson, who connected on a pair of 3-pointers and a long two-point field goal in the final 4:40 to help SMSU take a 40-23 halftime lead.

SMSU limited WSC to just 25 percent shooting in the opening half, while the Mustangs shot a blistering 58 percent from the field with four 3-pointers.

Wayne State cut the SMSU lead to 13 points early in the half, but SMSU answered each Wildcat run and pushed the lead to 54-33 with 12 minutes left in the game and were never threatened again.

Derrell Williams led Wayne State with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Southwest Minnesota State will next be in action on Tuesday, Dec. 6, with a non-conference game at NCAA Division I South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.  SMSU will then return to NSIC play on Friday, Dec. 9, to take on St. Cloud State in the 2011-12 home opener.