WINONA, Minn. -- The Winona State men's basketball team built a big lead, saw it evaporate, then used clutch plays to hang on and beat Southwest Minnesota State 73-68 Saturday night in front of 1,459 fans in McCown Gymnasium.
The latest edition of the rivalry – the 101st meeting all-time – was another typical, physical battle between the two NSIC South Division foes. The Warriors took good care of the basketball, committing just seven turnovers while forcing 15 from the Mustangs. The Mustangs' road woes in McCown Gym continued, as SMSU has not won in Winona since 2003.
Of the Warriors' seven turnovers, just one came in a very solid first half for the Warriors as it built a 12-point halftime lead.
Kyle Bauman and Conrad Masberg, but it would be back-and-forth affair from there as an MJ Delmore 3-pointer for SMSU tied it at 8-8. Redshirt freshman Tim Wagner hit a 3-pointer to put WSU back up 13-12, then hit another one a few minutes later to put WSU up 20-19 with 10 minutes to play in the half.
In a first half that saw the lead change hands 14 times, the back-and-forth theme would continue until a Nick Arenz lay-in tied the game up at 30-30 with 4:50 to play. From that point, WSU would go on a late-half surge, outscoring the Mustangs 15-3. Isaiah Gray hit a 3-pointer followed by a basket on a goaltend to put WSU up 35-30. Riley Bambenek then nail back-to-back triples to increase the lead to 41-33 with 1:38 to play in the half. Conrad Masberg then picked the Mustangs' pocket, resulting in a fast break layup for Gray. By the time Bambenek had a block that resulted in a Wagner basket, the Warriors saw their lead grow to 45-33 at the break.
The Warrior defense was stifling in the first half, which resulted in an 18-3 advantage in points off turnovers. Every Warrior that saw action in the first half scored at least one point.
The Mustangs hit a 3-pointer to get things going in the second half, but Masberg quickly answered with one of his own. After a Mark Blacklock lay-in, the Warriors had their largest lead of the game at 53-36 and seemingly had the game well in-hand.
After a Corey Jeffs 3-pointer made it 58-45 with 11:23 to play, Southwest Minnesota State began to mount a furious rally, scoring nine unanswered points to close it to 58-54. WSU countered with a quick 4-0 spurt to make it 62-54, but after the Mustangs hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cap off an 18-5 run, the score was tied 63-63.
The Warriors shut the door from that point forward, never giving SMSU the lead. Masberg converted a big three-point play that put WSU up by three, and after trading baskets it was 68-65 with 3:08 to play. That score would remain for more than two minutes, when the Warriors came up with a crucial charge call on a Mustang drive to get possession with 1:04 to play. The Mustangs were then unable to capitalize on a Gray turnover, and fouled him on the following WSU possession. Gray, as well as Masberg, would make both free throws to seal the deal and earn the important 73-68 win.
Gray led the Warriors with 22 points – one shy of a game high – on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting, along with a career-high five assists and two steals in a career-most 36 minutes played. His nine made field goals also was a career best for the sophomore.
Masberg also turned in a fine performance, scoring 14 points with a pair of 3-pointers. The junior also picked up a game-high three steals.
For the game, the Warriors held a slight shooting edge, finishing at 44.4 percent while the Mustangs shot 42.1 percent.
Winona State (7-7, 4-6 NSIC) continues its four-game homestand next weekend when it welcomes the University of Mary to McCown Gym Friday at 8 p.m. before hosting Minot State Saturday at 6 p.m.
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