WAYNE, Neb. – The Winona State Warriors (11-15, 8-14) traveled to Nebraska to take on the Wayne State Wildcats (10-18, 8-14) for the final game of the regular season. The Warriors were unable to overcome the first half deficit as they fell 74-59.
 
The Warriors got off to a hot start as Riley Bambenek scored the first five points of the contest. Winona State went up 10-2 five minutes in. Wayne State went on a 9-2 run over the next five minutes reducing the Warrior advantage to one point as the first half reach the midway point.
 
Mason Domask's layup put Winona State back up one a minute later before a three-pointer from the Wildcats' Matt Thomas gave Wayne State a lead that they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the game. The three started a 7-0 run before Tommy Gathje made a layup ending the streak. The Wildcats closed out the final three and a half minutes on a 10-0 run and went into the break with a 36-20 advantage.  
 
Bambenek was the only Warrior to score more than once in the half with his seven points leading WSU. Gray followed with three points, while Josh Mongan led with four rebounds. Winona State shot poorly in the first half, shooting 31.8 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from beyond the arc compared to Wildcats' 45.2 and 27.3 percent. The Warriors struggled across the board to open play as they were out rebounded 19-13. Wayne State also held advantages in turnovers at 8-4, bench scoring 21-6 and points in the paint with 18 compared to WSU's 10.
 
The Wildcats' Jordan Cornelius knocked down a triple to cap off a 10-2 run three minutes into the second half. Gray answered moments later as he found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc. The three-point trend continued as Matt Thomas of Wayne State knocked down his shot on the next possession. A layup from Gray sparked an 8-0 Warrior run where Bambenek and Connor Flack both connected from beyond the arc reducing the WSC advantage to 16. With the final half reaching the ten-minute mark Kyle Bauman and Mongan both connected from deep cutting the deficit to ten.
 
Mongan once again found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc with seven minutes reaming with the Warriors still trailing by ten. Wayne State closed out the final five minutes narrowly outscoring Winona State 11-10 as they ended up victorious 74-59.
 
Quick Hitters:
Bambenek led WSU in scoring with 12 points; he was followed by Gray who had nine.
Mongan led the way with seven rebounds while tying with three others, Bambenek, Gray, and Flack for the lead with four assists.
Winona State struggled from the field shooting 38.2 percent while having a good night from beyond the arc shooting 39.1 percent compared to WSC's 49.1 and 42.1 percent.
Wayne State held the advantage on the boards 34-28, while having big advantages in bench scoring 28-18 and points in the paint at 32-20.
 
Winona State is the seventh seed in the NSIC South and will take on Northern State on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in the NSIC First Round.
 
By: Jake Thiede