Former Ankeny Centennial standout Cody McCullough scored 15 of his career-high 26 points in the second half to lead Wayne State College to a 78-76 victory at Minnesota Crookston in Northern Sun Conference men’s basketball action on Friday at Lysaker Gymnasium.
McCullough’s career-high night helped offset a 35-point performance by Minnesota Crookston guard Reid Grant, a former Johnston and North Dakota player.
Minnesota Crookston took a 60-50 lead at the 9:30 mark, but WSC held the Golden Eagles scoreless for the following 3:39 while scoring 12 straight points to take a 62-60 lead following a McCullough layup with 5:52 to play.
The rest of the game was close throughout and within one possession until WSC held a four-point lead with 10 seconds to play.
McCullough scored eight straight points for WSC, giving the ‘Cats a 68-67 lead with 3:36 left. Minnesota Crookston scored a basket on the next possession for its final lead of the game at 69-68.
UMC tied the score for the final time at 73-73 with 46 seconds to go, then McCullough’s tip-in gave the ‘Cats the lead for good 12 seconds later.
McCullough sank a pair of free throws with 10 seconds to go for a 77-73 lead. UMC made a 3-pointer four seconds later to make the score 77-76.
McCullough was fouled on the inbounds pass and made one of two free throws for a 78-76 lead, and a 3-pointer by Minnesota Crookston missed at the buzzer.
On Saturday, the Wildcats completed their Minnesota road trip with a 73-68 win in overtime at MSU Moorhead, snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Dragons dating back to 2013. McCullough had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds as WSC improved to 7-7 in the NSIC and 13-7 overall.
Former Ankeny star Carson Johnson had 12 points for MSU Moorhead.
McCullough, a fifth-year senior forward, has started 64 games over the last three seasons. He is averaging 12.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.