WINONA, Minn. – Five Winona State Warriors scored in double digits Friday night inside McCown Gymnasium as the home team's collective effort outweighed the one-man show that was Southwest Minnesota State's Ryan Bruggeman in a decisive 85-67 victory.
Sophomore Kevion Taylor (23) led the offensive assault for WSU with his third straight game with at least 20 points. He also pulled down a team-best nine boards; falling just shy of his fifth double-double of the season. The Warriors' leading scorer this season at 16.2 points per contest, Taylor is averaging 22 points over six games in January.
For the Mustangs, Bruggeman tallied 22 of the team's 29 first half points. The senior scored 14-straight to open the contest, 18 of their first 20 points, and 20 of their first 25.
Winona State had little trouble matching the up-tempo rhythm deployed by SMSU in the first half of action as Warrior senior Mason Domask netted five-straight points on the other end of the court. The Warriors trailed by five at the 11:08 mark before Charlie Koontz snapped a nearly three-minute drought by either side with a layup to make it a one-possession game.
That basket sparked a nine-point run, highlighted on a Caleb Wagner three-pointer to give the Warriors the lead for good. Winona State outscored SMSU over the final 11 minutes of the first half, 20-6, to carry a 38-29 lead into the break.
The Warriors limited Bruggeman to just seven points in the second half, and the rout was on from the opening whistle as WSU led by double figures for all but one possession. A three-pointer by Koontz late in the ballgame staked the Warriors to a 22-point lead – their largest of the night.
Three-pointers by Domask, Taylor and Dalante Peyton were all part of a 16-8 run over the first seven minutes of the frame as the Warriors continued to spread the offensive wealth. That spurt was kept alive on a hustle-play by Taylor who corralled a loose ball, when it was a 10-point game, and knocked down the three before the shot clock expired. He went on to score six straight points.
Winona State has shot at least 46 percent from beyond the arc in three of its last four games – each resulting in wins. Collectively, the Warriors shot 55.6 percent from the field Friday for their second-best effort of the season. Winona State's impressive shooting performance was aided by 19 total assists. Devin Whitelow dished out seven assists with adding six rebounds, a pair of steals, and 15 points.
Wagner stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, five assists, and six boards.
Winners of back-to-back games for the first time in over a month, Winona State has now won three of its last four outings and improves to 8-11 (5-8 NSIC). SMSU falls to 10-9 (5-8 NSIC).
The Warriors close out the homestand in search of their first three-game win streak since late November against the University of Sioux Falls. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
