WAYNE, Neb. – Brennen Burns and Jett Sternberger each turned in 20-point outings to pace Southeastern to a 91-78 season-opening victory over Wayne State on Friday night in the GAC/NSIC Crossover in Wayne, Neb.
 
The win gives the Savage Storm a 1-0 record to open the season heading into a Saturday matchup with No. 21 Minnesota State Moorhead at 4 p.m.
 
In his debut with the Storm, Burns led all scorers with 27, shooting 11-of-18 from the floor and adding a 5-of-6 effort at the free throw line.
 
Sternberger was right on his heels with a 25-point effort on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor overall, while going a perfect 12-of-12 at the free throw line.
 
Kyle Leslie knocked down 3-of-5 threes and finished the night with 13 points, while Kody Clouet finished with 10 points in his Storm debut.
 
Robert Briley came off the bench to turn in a double-digit debut of his own, finishing with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
 
Leslie finished the contest with a double-double by hauling in a game-high 10 rebounds, while Clouet picked up seven boards, with Burns and Briley pulling down five apiece.
 
Burns dished out a game-best five assists for the Storm with Al Ervin next in line with three.
 
Southeastern hit 48.5 percent overall in the first half and lifted that mark to 65.4 percent in the second to finish the contest shooting 55.9 percent overall while hitting 19-of-20 at the free throw line.
 
The Storm would take an early lead and by the 13:22 mark would push that lead out to five points when Briley connected on a jumper to take a 15-10 lead.
 
WSC would answer with six-straight to take a brief one-point lead before Southeastern again answered with a run, this one going 10-1 and capped by a Burns fastbreak pull up jumper to go ahead 25-17.
 
The Wildcats would close the gap to one point three times over the final eight minutes of the half but SE would hang on to the lead and take a 41-36 lead into the break.
 
Southeastern would extend the lead early in the second half, with a Sternberger bucket pushing the advantage out to 54-42.
 
The Storm lead would grow as large as 17 points at 63-46 on a pair of Sternberger free throws with 12:41 to play.
 
WSC would get as close as seven points with 7:59 to play, but when Briley hit a put-back layup with 5:42 remaining, the lead would go back to double-digits where it would stay as Southeastern pulled away for the 91-78 victory.