MANKATO, Minn. – Winona State (4-3, 1-2 NSIC) shot a scorching 72.0% from the field on Friday night, beating Minnesota State 89-64. The Warriors field goal percentage is the highest in team history since joining the Northern Sun, and the highest known mark in program history.
The Warriors shoot 69.8% from the field against Minnesota State-Mankato on January 27, 2011. The NSIC record is held by MSU-Moorhead, who shot 76.5% from the field against UMD in 1985. The Warriors mark is highest in the NSIC dating back to the 1998-99 season. Bemidji State shot 71.2% against Augustana in 2014 and Wayne State shot 71.7% against Mary in 2010.
Winona State quickly jumped on Minnesota State (5-3, 1-2 NSIC), scoring 12 of the first 16 points in the game.
Corey Jeffs had six of the Warriors points during the 12-4 run.
Isaiah Gray would give Winona State their first double digit lead of the game converting a layup with 8:38 on the clock.
Connor Flack scored on a layup with 4:52 left in the half, propelling the Warriors to a 15-point lead, their largest lead until a last second layup from Gray put Winona State up 45-29 at the half.
In the first half Winona State went 20-26 from the field, making nearly 77% of their shots. Gray was a perfect 5-5 in the first half, scoring 11 points. Jeffs netted ten points in the opening half of 4-5 shooting. The Mavericks had just five defensive rebounds in the first half.
The Mavericks began the second half on a 10-4 run, cutting the Warriors lead to ten. Minnesota State would not get any closer. An 11-2 run by the Warriors pushed their lead to twenty points with 12:43 left. An 8-0 run to end the game allowed the Warriors to win by a final score of 89-64.
The 25-point win is the largest margin of victory since the opening game of last season against Wisconsin Lutheran. On January 16, 2015 the Warriors beat Mary by 26 points, which is the last time the Warriors won by a larger margin in Northern Sun play.
Gray scored 15 points in the second half to give him 26 in the game, three shy of his career high.
Kyle Bauman poured in ten points in the half and finished with 16 overall.
The Warriors out-rebounded the Mavericks 34-26 and held a 50-26 advantage in points in the paint. Winona State scored 17 points off Minnesota State turnovers.
Tomorrow evening the Warriors take on Concordia St. Paul (3-6, 0-3 NSIC) at 6 p.m. as they try to even up their NSIC record,
