WINONA, Minn. – Upper Iowa (8-4, 5-1 NSIC) heated up midway through the first half, handing Winona State (5-4, 2-4 NSIC) a 95-82 loss on Monday night in McCown Gymnasium.
Kyle Bauman and
Isaiah Gray each reached 1,000 career points on the night. The Warriors now have three 1,000-point scorers on the same team for the first time since 2007.
The game began with the Warriors jumping out 17-7;
Corey Jeffs had six points during the run to open the game. Past the midway point of the half the Warriors led 24-16 but then Carson Parker went to work for Upper Iowa. Parker scored 11 of the Peacocks next 12 points, pulling Upper Iowa to within one at 26-25. The Peacocks tied the game at 31 and took their first lead of the game on a three by Josh Weber with 3:21 left in half.
Upper Iowa kept hitting from the outside and pushed their lead to five with 2:17 left.
Josh Mongan hit a layup before the first half ended and both teams left the court with the scoreboard reading 40-37 in favor of Upper Iowa.
In the last nine minutes of the first half Upper Iowa would hit seven jumpers from behind the arc. Prior to that they were cold from behind the arc, failing to make a shot.
Tommy Gathje and
Corey Jeffs each had nine first half points for Winona State. The Warriors were 16-31 from the field in the first half. Winona Sate outscored Upper Iowa 26-12 in the paint in the first.
Winona State's
Kyle Bauman entered the 1,000-point club just past the midway point of the first half.
The Peacocks scored the first 12 points of the second half, catapulting to a 15-point lead. The Warriors scored the game's next six points but then traded baskets for the nest four minutes. Down 67-53, Winona State quickly put together an 8-0 run, getting within two possessions with 10:30 left on the clock.
Unfortunately, the Peacocks responded and built their lead back to double-digits just a few minutes later. The next time the Warriors got the deficit back under ten was at 90-82; however, the clock now had 53 seconds left. Upper Iowa was able to salt the game away and left with a 13-point win.
Both teams shot the ball well Monday; Winona State finished the game 31-65 from the field while Upper Iowa was 33-66. The two teams combined for 27 three-point field goals; the most combined three's in a WSU game since the Warriors and Minot State combined for 27 on Nov. 19, 2011. Winona State hit 18 threes' in that game.
Isaiah Gray reached 1,000 points with a three late in the second half. Gray finished the game with 15 points and four assists.
Gathje had another career night; leading Winona State with 21 points. He also earned the Warriors first double-double of the year after grabbing 11 rebounds. On the night Gathje shot 9-11 from the field while making two shot from deep.
Corey Jeffs just missed a double-double, finishing the night with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Riley Bambenek poured in 18 points.
