HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Winona State University men's basketball team received another impressive scoring outing by
Connor Dillon in their non-conference matchup at Michigan Tech University on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Dillon delivered a 33-point performance for the Warriors against Michigan Tech, a tally which pushed him past the 1,000 points scored mark in his WSU career.
However, the host Huskies were able to slip past the Warriors in a narrow 73-72 victory.
Dillon scored 33 points for the second time this season, having first poured in 33 against the University of Sioux Falls on Dec. 2, and now sits at 1,008 points total in his career. Unfortunately for Winona State, a trio of made free throws by MTU's Marcus Tomashek provided just enough for the Huskies to escape with the win. Winona State (7-4, 4-3 NSIC) led by one at the break, 27-26, and the back-and-forth affair proved to be a nail-biter through the second half.
Key Details:
Final Score: Michigan Tech 73, Winona State 72
Attendance: 704
How It Happened
Devon Fielding and
Connor Drew delivered the first points of the Warrior effort on the afternoon, with Fielding connecting on a pair of three-pointers as well as a mid-range jumper and Drew adding a triple as well, allowing WSU to own an 11-10 lead with just under 14 minutes to play in the first half.
A short while later,
Connor Dillon scored the first points of what would be an impressive outing for the Peoria, Ill. product, followed quickly by buckets from
Brock Voigt and
Jordan Wilkins. Wilkins' effort came from behind the arc and Voigt add a pair of free throws to give WSU a five point lead at 22-17, the largest margin that either team would claim in the first half.
Michigan Tech would cut into the Warrior lead late in the stanza, with a basket in the paint and a made free throw to produce the 27-26 Winona State lead as the teams headed to the locker room.
At The Half: Winona State 27, Michigan Tech 26
In the final 20 minutes, both teams opened up with dialed-in deliveries as Winona State's
Connor Dillon heated up from all parts of the floor.
After
Drew Adams hit the opening bucket of the second for WSU, Dillon would account for the following four Warrior scores.
Drew Adams connected again at 12:48 to interrupt Dillon's scoring spree and gave the Warriors a six-point lead at 43-37.
The home-side Huskies would chip away at the WSU six-point lead and close the gap to just one point at 70-69 with just over one minute remaining.
Connor Dillon would score a key basket in the lane with 45 seconds to go to give Winona State a 72-70 lead late in the game. However, MTU's Marcus Tomashek would be awarded three free throws with 33 seconds to go and was successful with the trio of foul shots, giving Michigan Tech the 73-72 home-court victory.
WSU Stat Standouts
Connor Dillon 33 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal, 14-of-26 overall from the floor
Devon Fielding 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2-of-3 from behind the arc.
Brock Voigt 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4-of-5 from the free throw line
Team Stats Comparables
Michigan Tech attempted 31 free throws, hitting 24 on the afternoon. WSU went to the line 14 times, connecting eight times.
In the final 3:30 of the second half, MTU had 10 free throw attempts, while WSU's last free throw opportunity came at the 4:43 mark of the half.
Winona State edged Michigan Tech in steals, 5-4, but Huskies had a slight advantage in rebounds, 31-28.
Beyond the Box Score
Connor Dillon became the 42nd Warrior player ever to surpass the 1,000 point mark. The next most recent was current Warrior assistant coach Devin Whitelow, who finished with 1,026.
Dillon has had two 33-point games in 2023 and had a 40-point night, setting a career single-game high, in a 90-83 overtime win at Wayne State on Friday, Dec. 8.
Through Wednesday, Dec. 20,
Connor Dillon is ninth in the NCAA Division II ranks in points per game (23.3) and fourth in made field goals (100).
Up Next
Winona State (7-4, 4-3 NSIC) will host the University of Wisconsin Parkside on Sunday, Dec. 31. The Warriors and Rangers will tip off at 2 p.m. in McCown Gymasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
