WINONA, Minn. – Following a close overtime loss, the Winona State Warriors (8-10, 5-9 NSIC) took on the Augustana Vikings (14-6, 9-5 NSIC) looking to end their two game skid in the second matchup of their four game home stand. A big night from Tommy Gathje was not enough as the Warriors came up short at the buzzer for the second straight game, falling 73-71.
 
A three-pointer from Tommy Gathje got the Warriors on the board following a 4-0 Augustana run to begin the game. The Vikings countered with a jumper before Gathje got back on the board, this time with a layup that sparked a 9-0 WSU run giving Winona State a six-point advantage. Both sides traded baskets following the scoring streak before a two-minute dry spell. Mason Domask ended the scoring drought converting a three-point play.
 
A 10-0 Warrior run featuring threes from Caleb Wagner and Riley Bambenek extended the Winona State advantage to 12 with just over three and a half minutes reaming in the opening half. Another make from beyond the arc, this one by Gathje, in addition to a free throw by Connor Flack gave the Warriors a 41-33 advantage at the half.
 
Winona State had a slight edge in the rebounding department at half, leading 17-15. The Warriors held the advantage in steals at 4-0 and a slim 7-6 advantage in overall turnovers. Gathje led all scorers with 14 points at halftime, while Flack led with five rebounds and was second on the Warriors in points with eight. WSU shot 57.1 percent from the field to open play while Augustana was held to a 44.1 shooting percentage.
 
The Warriors put the first five points on the board as play resumed, getting a layup from Bambenek and a three from Gathje. Augustana countered by scoring six straight on three, two-point plays. The Vikings followed their brief run a few moments later with another mini-run, dwindling the Winona State advantage to three points. Flack's jumper resumed the Warriors scoring as play approached the ten-minute mark.
 
A layup from Bambenek extended the WSU lead to six until a three-pointer, paired with two free throws from the Vikings made it a one point ball game. The next six points in the game all came from the charity stripe including four from Isaiah Gray as the Warriors fought to keep the advantage.
 
Augustana kept things interesting with the contest approaching the five-minute mark, as they knocked down three straight shots from beyond the arc giving them their second lead of the night and a four-point advantage. A steal from Gray led to a jumper from Flack to bring the game within two, before Gray knocked down two shots from the line to square things at 67.
 
A Winona State timeout halted a brief four-point Viking run as Josh Mongan found the bottom of the net from three bringing the Warriors within one point with 60 seconds remaining. Augustana was up three with just four seconds remaining as Bambenek drove the down the court and was fouled during his three-point attempt. Bambenek knocked down one of three and the Warriors fell 73-71.
 
Quick Hitters:
WSU held the edge in field goal percentage, shooting 49% while Augustana shot at a 46% clip.
Augustana held the advantage in rebounds 35-29, points in the paint 34-28, points off turnovers 11-9, second chance points 9-2 and in bench scoring at 20-12.
Four Warriors scored in double digits and were led by Gathje who finished with 19. He was followed by Flack who had 14, Gray with 13 and Bambenek who had 10.
Gathje and Flack tied for the team lead with six rebounds apiece.
 
The Warriors play in the third game of their four game home stand Friday versus Minot State, tipoff is set for 8 P.M.
 
By: Jake Thiede