WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State Warriors (3-3, 0-2 NSIC) weren't successful in their bid to avenge their previous day's loss versus the Sioux Falls Cougars as a tough shooting night was too much to overcome. The Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (7-1, 2-1 NSIC) upended the Warriors 77-61 in McCown Gymnasium.  
 
A pair of threes, one from Isaiah Gray and the other from Kyle Bauman contributed to the Warriors four-point lead to begin the game. Taylor Schafer hit a shot from beyond the arc for the Mustangs before Gray's layup sparked a 13-0 run for Winona State, giving them a 14-point advantage. The run lasted just under four minutes and saw three-point contributions from Riley Bambenek, Corey Jeffs, and Charlie Koontz.
 
A nine-point Mustang deficit was largely erased as a layup by Mitch Weg dwindled the lead to two points. The score was followed by a two-minute scoring drought that was ended with a made free throw by Tommy Gathje. Southwest Minnesota State closed out the final two minutes of the first half with five straight points as the Mustangs took their first lead of the night, entering half time up 33-31.
 
Southwest Minnesota State's success in the first half was due in large part to bench scoring, where they had a 16-4 edge over WSU. Winona State shot 39.3 percent from the field but were able to hold the lead for most of the half as their defense held the Mustangs to 40.6 percent shooting. Bambenek led the Warriors in first half scoring with eight points including three assists. Gray and Bauman followed closely behind with seven points apiece.
 
A layup by Gray to open the half was followed a possession later with a free throw putting Winona State back into the lead to begin the second half. The Mustangs were quick to counter with a six-point run to regain the lead a few moments later. With the half approaching the ten-minute mark Gray hit a jumper prior to a Koontz steal and a field goal of his own reducing the Mustang advantage to three.
 
Southwest Minnesota State ended a two-minute scoring drought with a layup that sparked a 9-0 Mustang run, extending their advantage to 16 with just over three minutes remaining. The stretch was finally brought to an end as a pair of free throws were knocked down by Jeffs for the Warriors first points in seven minutes. The Warriors weren't able to cut further into the Mustang lead as they fell 77-61.
 
Quick Shots:
WSU's defense held SMSU to a 39.7 field goal percentage.
Winona State was held to 30 percent from beyond the arc and 64.3 percent from the charity stripe.
The Mustangs also held the edge in bench scoring at 19-6.
The Warriors were led in scoring by Bambenek who had 18 points accompanied with five assists, one steal and three rebounds.
Bauman and Gray also reached double digits; both scoring 14 points.
Bauman led the way with eight rebounds and was followed by Koontz who had seven.
Koontz also had seven points and three steals.
The Warriors outscored the Mustangs 26-22 in the paint.
Winona State travels to Minnesota State Mankato Friday to take on the Mavericks, tip-off is scheduled for 8 P.M.
 
By: Jake Thiede