WINONA, Minn. – The Minnesota State Maverick men's basketball team came into McCown Gymnasium on Saturday, Dec. 4 ranked #17 in the country and owners of a seven game unbeaten streak.
They left with a loss.
The Winona State men's basketball team, led by
Devin Whitelow,
Luke Martens and
Connor Drew, beat MSU-Mankato 72-59 at home, moving the Warriors' record to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC South.
Whitelow - the hero in a Thursday night last-second win over Concordia St. Paul earlier this week - continued his dynamic play, consistently driving the lane against the Mavericks to score or dishing to a teammate when necessary. Whitelow finished the game with 18 points, six assists and drew three trips to the foul line.
Drew, a 6'7" freshman forward from Huxley, Iowa, was second for Winona State in scoring with 17 points on the day and the effort was a key part of a balanced Warriors offense that saw four WSU players reach double digits. For Drew, the season-high 17 came on a 7-of-12 shooting day.
Martens marshaled a Winona State defensive effort that saw him earn a double-double day in McCown, going 3-for-3 from behind the arc and hauling in ten rebounds. The junior from Apple Valley, Minn. was 4-of-7 overall for 11 points and had a steal in the game.
Owen King and Whitelow also had a pair of steals, while helping WSU hold Minnesota State to their lowest point output of the 2021-22 season.
Along with Whitelow,
Carson Arenz was the only other Warrior to earn a trip to the charity stripe, where Arenz was 2-for-2 en route to an eight-point effort overall off the bench. Arenz added four rebounds in nearly 20 minutes of action.
MSU-Mankato was led by Quincy Anderson, who topped all scorers, with 20 points. Brady Williams added 12 to the Mavericks final tally.
Winona State (6-2, 2-1 NSIC South) led 40-32 at the half, highlighted by an
Owen King 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer. WSU shot 46.0% for the game and was 11-of-23 from three-point territory, a 47.8% mark. Winona State attempted five free throws in the game, while the Mavericks (7-1, 2-1 NSIC South) were awarded 12 trips to the foul line.
The Warriors now own a two-game NSIC South wining streak and will travel to Southwest Minnesota State on Friday, Dec. 10 for a 5:30pm game in Marshall, Minn.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please
visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
