WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University showed its endurance Saturday night, coming off a triple overtime loss on Friday to defeat Augustana University, 79-65. The Vikings also played bonus basketball on Friday night, falling to Upper Iowa in overtime, but appeared to be worse for the wear as the Warriors' stout defense limited the opposition to a 34 percent shooting performance.
WSU shot 48 percent in the victory, including a 40 percent clip from downtown, and was led by Andrea Lo Biondo who netted four three-pointers en route to a game-high 19 points. The junior transfer averaged 21 points over the weekend.
Winona State returns to the .500 mark at 8-8 (5-5 NSIC) after splitting the season series with Augie while the Vikings fall to 11-5 (6-4 NSIC) with their third straight setback.
The Warriors suffered a 91-78 loss on Augustana earlier this season in which the Vikings owned a 51-33 rebounding advantage. Winona State significantly closed the gap on the boards Friday night as Augie recorded just a 38-35 edge.
Winona State never trailed in the contest after Lo Biondo connected from beyond the arc at the 14:57 mark of the first half. That bucket gave the Warriors a 7-5 lead as the home team turned up the defensive pressure from there. WSU limited Augie to just two field goals over the first 12 minutes of the frame while the offense built an 18-6 advantage on a layup by Caleb Wagner.
A triple by the Vikings cut the Warrior lead to 29-23 at the 3:14 mark of the opening half before Dalante Peyton struck from downtown and Wagner followed it up with a steal and coast-to-coast layup for an 11-point lead.
After taking a 36-26 lead into halftime, the Warrior lead remained at double-digits for all but one possession in the second half.
A three-pointer by Lo Biondo at the 11:31 mark sparked a seven-point run that ended on a jumper by Kevion Taylor to give Winona State a 20-point lead – its largest of the night.
Taylor and Wagner combined for 29 points with the senior dishing out four assists and the junior pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. Alec Rosner chipped in six points and seven boards.
The Warriors continue their current homestand next weekend with games against Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State beginning on Friday night against the Golden Eagles. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. inside McCown Gymnasium.
