Winona, Minn. - The Winona State men's basketball team saved their best for last on Saturday, putting together a dominating performance in a 90-67 win over Upper Iowa. The win over the Peacocks was the first loss for UIU since January 22, and third time in four tries that WSU defeated their rivals from Fayette.
The Warriors were 35-of-66 from the floor as a team and pulled away in the second half, thanks in large part to
Andrea Lo Biondo's work on the boards (14) and the reliable scoring touch of
Kevion Taylor, who hit for 22 points on the day.
Luke Martens scored 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds and was active around the basket, going 9-of-10 from the floor on an offensive night featuring several driving layups.
Alec Rosner put together his best scoring output of the season as well, notching 14 points in 16 minutes of time on the floor.
As a team, the hot-shooting Warriors held the lead at the break, 43-29, and did not let up in the second half, stretching their lead to 28 points at one stage late in the contest. Bench points were a big factor in the game, as the WSU reserves tallied 42 points compared to UIU's 16, and Winona State owned the lanes as well, outscoring the Peacocks 52-24 in the paint.
Upper Iowa (10-6 / 8-4 NSIC) was led by Lucas Duax with 19 points and eight rebounds, both top marks for UIU. Jareese Williams scored 16 for the Peacocks and Joe Smoldt added 13. With other NSIC contests yet to occur this weekend, final playoff placements have yet to be announced but UIU will advance to the NSIC post-season, despite the loss to WSU.
For two Warrior student-athletes -
Alier Riak and
Dalante Peyton - the win over Upper Iowa represented their last game for Winona State. Both seniors will move on next year and will be missed by head coach
Todd Eisner and his staff. Winona State concludes the 2020-21 campaign at 5-5 in the NSIC South and 7-6 overall.
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.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
