USM Blows Away Wayland 71-42

The   (USM) boys’ basketball team defeated Wayland Academy 71-42 in a Midwest Classic North game at Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam Tuesday night.

Wayland held an early lead at 5-2, but the rest of the game was in USM’s hands. With the sixth best defense in the Milwaukee area, the Wildcats kept the Big Red off the scoreboard until the final seconds of the first quarter while cranking up their own offense.  USM outscored Wayland 14-3 for the rest of the first eight minutes and took a 16-8 lead into the second quarter.  Junior Josh Baker led the Wildcats with 8 points in the quarter. Senior Jason Pickart, Juniors Tommy Pennington and Greg Booth,  and sophomore Julien Addison each had 2 points for USM.  Wayland senior Kevin Chen had 5 points, including a three pointer, and junior Michael Vaubel sank a three pointer.

USM sprinted even further ahead early in the second quarter as junior Adam Salaymeh, canned a two-point shot, Baker put through a field goal and a three-pointer and Pickart sank a two-pointer to give USM a 12 point lead. Freshman Djdade Denson added three points to USM’s total later in the quarter.  Wayland edged slightly closer by the end of the half as Vaubel and junior Zach Schubert each sank 3 of 4 free throws in the final few minutes.  Junior Nick Fortune had 4 points, junior Phil Olvera drained a three pointer, and senior Matt Bruning had 2 points for the Big Red.

Leading 28-23 going into the third quarter, the Wildcats were in no mood to let Wayland get any closer.  Pennington scored a two-pointer and sank a free throw, and Baker canned 2 free throws and a three-point shot, before Wayland could score and USM quickly was back ahead 36-22.  By the end of the quarter it was USM 43, Wayland 32.

USM never let up in the final quarter and outscored Wayland 28-10.  Baker had 6 points, senior Grant Close had 5 points, including a three-pointer, Pennington, Denson and Pickart each had 4 points, Booth canned a three-point shot, and Addison had a two-pointer for USM in the quarter. The Wildcats allowed Wayland junior John Moran to sink two field goals, Schubert to score on a field goal and a free throw, Fortune to put in a field goal and Chen to sink a free throw.

In the game Baker led the scoring with 26 points for USM.  Pickart had 13 points; Pennington had 9 points; Denson had 7 points; Booth and Close had 5 points; Addison had 4 points; and Salaymeh had 2 points for the Wildcats. Vaubel led Wayland with 10 points; Schubert had 9 points; Chen and Fortune each had 6 points;  Olvera had 5 points; and Moran had 4 points.

Wayland is now 3-14 overall and 1-13 in the conference.  USM improved its overall record to 13-7 and its conference record to 8-6.  The Wildcats have little time to rest. They host Heritage Christian in a conference game at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Editor's Note: Thomas Geilfuss is the sports information coordinator for USM.