WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack to Augustana University, 80-67 Friday evening in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
Winona State (14-8, 9-7 NSIC) saw three Warriors hit double-digits, with Connor Dillon (24), Connor Drew (16) and Devon Fielding (15) each contributing significantly to the Warrior win. Declan Dillon hauled in a team-leading 12 rebounds and had an impressive seven assists in the contest.
Winona State held a 13 point lead at the break and had to snap a Viking rally midway through the second half to secure the key NSIC victory.
How It Happened
A hot start helped Winona State gain control of the contest from the outset, with WSU enjoying a 13-6 lead five minutes into the contest, with both
Devon Fielding and
Connor Dillon hitting triples early on.
Augustana notched a brief one-point lead at 19-18 midway through the half, but Winona State went on a 12-0 run fueled by four 3-pointers to separate as the teams battled towards the halftime buzzer.
Connor Drew would put an exclamation point on the opening 20 mintues for Winona State, draining a three-pointer with three seconds left in the half.
At the break, Winona State led the Vikings 46-33.
At the Half: Winona State 46, Augustana 33
In the second half, Augustana would climb back into the game with a 9-3 run, cutting the Warrior advantage to 51-43.
Declan Dillon delivered a 3-pointer to stop the Augustana run but the visitors from Sioux Falls chipped away at WSU's lead to get within one possession at 54-51 Warriors.
At that point,
Brock Voigt and
Connor Dillon combined for a six-point swing at a crucial time in the game, allowing Winona State to maintain momentum.
Winona State closed out contest with a 80-67 win over Augustana, their sixth win in seven games.
WSU Stats Standouts:
Connor Dillon 24 points, 5 assists 10-of-13 from the floor
Connor Drew 16 points, 3 rebounds
Devon Fielding 15 points, 4 rebounds
Declan Dillon 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 points
Team Stats Comparables:
WSU out-rebounded the Vikings 36-28
Isaac Fink had 33 for Augustana, but no other Viking hit double digits in the game.
With 12 boards, 7 assists and 7 points,
Declan Dillon came the closest to a Warrior triple-double yet this season.
Up Next:
Winona State continues the Warrior home stand, taking on Wayne State College tomorrow, Saturday, February 9. The Warriors and Wildcats will face off at 5:30 p.m. in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
