MOOREHEAD, Minn. – After a successful two-win weekend at home, the upset minded Winona State Warriors (10-11, 7-10 NSIC) hit the road to take on the NSIC North leading Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons (19-4, 14-3 NSIC). The Dragons successful night shooting lead them to a 85-63 victory at home as they extended their lead in the NSIC North.
 
Moorhead didn't waste any time putting the first two points in the board as Aaron Lien knocked down a jumper ten seconds into the contest. The Dragons fast start didn't stop there as a three-pointer and a dunk contributed to a 9-0 lead before a Warrior timeout. The timeout didn't stop the Dragon run as they knocked down two straight shots from beyond the arc extending the advantage to 15. Winona State used their second timeout in the first five minutes, this time with more success as Mason Domask knocked down a triple following the pause in action. Domask gave the Warriors a spark from beyond the arc as Caleb Wagner's three was followed with two straight triples form Corey Jeffs reducing the Moorhead edge to six. The Dragons responded to the Warriors run with a 10-0 run to extend their advantage to 16 with then minutes remaining in the first half.
 
Riley Bambenek continued the three-point trend for Winona State as he found the bottom of the net from beyond the arc to begin the final ten minutes of the half. The Dragons were quick to counter as Evan Hines hit a three on the ensuing possession. Kyle Bauman and Josh Mongan teamed up in an attempt to reduce the Moorhead lead as a jumper and a three reduced the Dragon edge to 13 with just over two minutes remaining to play in the half. The Warriors were unable to get any closer; however, as Moorhead ended the half with five straight points and entered the half on top 46-30.
 
Minnesota State Moorhead's first half success was due in large part to their shooting efficiency as they shot 51.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc compared to Winona States 37.5 and 33.3 percent. The Dragons also held the advantage on the glass out-rebounding the Warriors 22-15. Tommy Gathje and Jeffs tied for the team lead with six points apiece while Bauman and Mongan both had three rebounds. Caleb Wagner had four assists for Winona State.
 
MSU Moorhead would push their lead to 23 before the Warriors attempted to get back into the game with back-to-back three point plays. The three-point contributions came from Connor Flack who found the bottom of the net from range and Gathje, who made a layup and followed with a free throw reducing the edge to 18 with 12 minutes remaining in play.
 
A jumper from Bambenek along with a layup from Bauman brought the Warriors within 15, four minutes later. An 8-0 run from the Dragons spanned two minutes as the game reached the two-and-a-half-minute mark with MSU-Moorhead up 26. Winona State would go on to win by a final score of 85-63.
 
Quick Hitters:
MSU Moorhead outshout WSU 47.4-40.3 percent from the field and 45.2-31.3 percent from beyond the arc.
MSUM held the rebounding advantage as well, 36-32.
Winona State trailed in second chance points 12-7; while leading in bench scoring 29-24.
Gathje and Flack tied for the team lead with 11 points aside.
Bauman lead WSU with eight rebounds while adding eight points.
Wagner couldn't add to his first half assist total as he tied Jeffs with four.
Winona State travels to play Northern State Saturday, tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
By: Jake Thiede