BEMIDJI, Minn. – Sophomore Kevion Taylor's career-high 25 points were not enough Friday night in a Warrior loss at Minnesota Crookston. On Saturday, he upped the ante with 32 points, including 20 in the second half, to lift Winona State University to an 87-59 triumph at Bemidji State University.
Fellow sophomore Dalante Peyton also netted a career high with 18 points to help WSU avoid a road trip sweep. Peyton's eight buckets were also a new career mark while Taylor matched his career best with four three-pointers made in a 13-19 effort from the field.
A night after shooting under 40 percent from the field and enduring an 8-30 clip from three-point range, the Warriors shot nearly 52 percent overall and 54 percent from downtown. Taylor was a perfect 8-8 from the field and drained both of his three-point attempts in the second half of play against the Beavers.
Winona State hung with Bemidji State in the first half by knocking down 5-10 three-point attempts, but still trailed the home team at the break, 38-36, as the Beavers were equally hot from beyond the arc at a 10-17 clip.
The Warriors cranked up the intensity on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball in the second half of action, and proceeded to outscore the Beavers by 30 points.
Bemidji State padded its lead to six points early in the second period before Taylor began his torrid half with a three-pointer to make it a 44-41 affair. A Beaver offensive foul on the ensuing possession preceded a jumper by Mason Domask to make it a one-point game, and Taylor fittingly point WSU in front for good by completing the old-fashion three-point play for a 46-44 lead at the 16:20 mark.
That spurt sparked a 24-2 Warrior run over the first eight minutes of the second half and was naturally bookended by another three-pointer from Taylor. Four different WSU players scored during the outburst that also include buckets from downtown by Domask and Devin Whitelow. The Warriors also forced four Beaver turnovers amidst the frenzy.
Peyton got going midway through the second frame that saw the guard score nine of his 18 points in the half. Caleb Wagner, Luke Martens and Nick Klug each joined the three-point shooting spree with deep baskets over the waning minutes before the final whistled sounded on a Warrior win.
The Winona defense created its second-most turnovers of the season with 18 compared to just two by the offense. The Warriors in-turn outscored Bemidji in points off turnovers, 25-0.
Taylor pulled down a team-high eight rebounds that saw WSU win the battle of the boards on both the offensive and defensive ends. Wagner chipped in seven rebounds and Whitelow dished out six assists on the night.
Winona State improves to 7-11 (4-8 NSIC) while Bemidji State falls to 5-11 (2-10 NSIC) with its fifth home loss of the year.
The Warriors return home to McCown Gymnasium next weekend for NSIC South action against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls on January 25-26.
