WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State men's basketball team turned in a hot shooting effort in its exhibition opener, beating Wisconsin-Eau Claire 83-73 Monday night in front of 1,057 fans in McCown Gym.

The Warriors were very efficient from the field, shooting above 60 percent in both halves to finish the game at 64.7 percent (33-of-51).

Four Warriors scored in double-figures to pace a balanced Warrior offensive attack. Junior Mark Blacklock led WSU scorers with 14 points, while sophomores Kyle Bauman and Isaiah Gray added 13 and redshirt freshman Corey Jeffs chipped in 10 points.

Winona State was hot from the start, making five of its first six shots and quickly extending the lead to double digits with a Conrad Masberg three-point shot to open up a 14-4 lead.

At one point the Warriors had sunk 10 of their first 13 shots, but a 9-0 Blugold run cut the WSU lead to just 26-23 but the Warriors turned that into a 12-2 run of their own to make it a 38-25 game and headed into the locker rooms up 45-31. WSU finished the first half shooting 68 percent (17-of-25) while Blacklock scored 11 of his team-high 14 in the opening 20 minutes.

The Warriors kept up their high-percentage offense in the second half and extended its lead to a game-high 23 points, but rebounding and defensive lapses allowed the Blugolds to chip into that lead and at one point used a 10-2 run to cut the Warrior lead to single digits at 72-64. WSU quickly went on another run, however, and led by double digits the rest of the way to the 83-73 victory.

Winona State plays its second and final exhibition game Friday night at 6 p.m. vs. Gustavus in McCown Gym before opening its season on Nov. 15 vs. Wisconsin-La Crosse.