WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team was hampered by a slow start against the nationally ranked University of Minnesota Duluth, bowing out of the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament on a 90-76 loss to the Bulldogs in the Sanford Pentagon on Monday, March 4.
Winona State (21-9, 14-8 NSIC) saw Minnesota Duluth move out to an 18-3 lead early on and the Warriors could not recapture the comeback karma that had contributed to battle-back efforts earlier this season. On Monday in Sioux Falls, Winona State saw another big scoring outing by Connor Dillon with 27 points, but the Bulldogs' combination of bulk on the block and 3-point range allowed UMD to carve a path to the NSIC Championship game while also ending the Warriors' run.
Dillon's 27-point day marked the 18th time the Peoria, Illinois, product notched 20 or more points in a game for Winona State this season. Brock Voigt (14), Olumide Adelodun (11) and Connor Drew (10) also reached double digits in scoring. Voigt and Adelodun each had seven boards in the contest.
How it Happened:
UMD opened up early and often following the tip while WSU struggled to find a rhythm offensively. When Minnesota Duluth's Charlie Katona scored at the 16:26 mark of the first half and moved the scoreboard to 12-2 UMD, the Bulldogs' owned their first double-digit lead and would maintain that mark the rest of the way.
Brock Voigt did his best to spark WSU with an and-one play six minutes into the contest, knocking down a free throw after scoring in paint and drawing foul. Moments later, Voigt added a dunk followed quickly by a pair of Connor Dillon free throws, but UMD would continue to build their lead throughout the opening 20 minutes.
Jordan Wilkins, Connor Dillon and Voigt helped Winona State close the half with 10-3 run, as Wilkins and Dillon drained three pointers and Voigt added a pair of put-backs, cutting the UMD lead down to 11 at the half-time buzzer.
At the Half: Minnesota Duluth 42, Winona State 31
WSU would connect quickly after the break, with Connor Drew hitting a triple to open the half and Drew added to his effort with a layup on the next Warrior possession.
Brock Voigt added his second dunk of the game at the 18:35 mark, cutting Minnesota Duluth's lead to just six points at 44-38.
Unfortunately for the WSU faithful, the two-possession possibility quickly faded as the Bulldogs embarked on a 10-2 streak to pull away from the Warriors.
Although WSU would see Voigt add a dunk and Connor Dillon score his fifth 3-pointer of the game with 2:30 left, Minnesota Duluth would go on to close out the contest and deal Winona State a 90-76 loss.
WSU Stats Standouts:
Connor Dillon 27 points, 4-of-4 at the line, 2 steals
Brock Voigt 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks
Olumide Adelodun 11 points, 7 rebounds
Connor Drew 10 points, 2 rebounds
Team Stats Comparables:
Winona State was 10-of-13 (76.9%) at the line while Minnesota Duluth was 13-of19 (68.4%) on free throws
WSU was 10-of-23 (43.5%) on 3-pointers and UMD was 9-of-17 (52.7%) on triples
The Bulldogs out-rebounded the Warriors 35-29 overall but WSU had a narrow 8-7 advantage on the offensive glass.
Winona State blocked five Bulldog shots and forced six UMD turnovers.
Beyond the Box Score:
By going three rounds deep in the NSIC postseason, the 2023-24 Warrior squad become just the Xth WSU team mark that achievement.
Following the 2-1 2024 NSIC Tournament run, Winona State now owns a 30-15 all-time NSIC postseason program record.
WSU is the only team so far this year to beat MSU Moorhead twice, but the Bulldogs had the Warriors' number this season, claiming a 2-0 record over Winona State.
Connor Dillon now sits at 1,422 points in his career, 17th all-time in Winona State history.
With the Warrior win over MSU Moorhead on Monday, the 2024 NSIC champion will be new to the role, as Dragons had won the 2022 and 2023 titles.
UMD will face Minnesota State for the 2024 NSIC title on Wednesday; the Mavericks beat Southwest Minnesota State in the 11 a.m. game on Monday.
Winona State entered the 2024 NSIC postseason as the #8 team in the NCAA Division II Central Region.
Up Next:
Winona State (21-10, 14-8 NSIC) will await their fate as determined by the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball committee later this week. The NCAA Division II men's basketball selection show is scheduled for 10 a.m. CST on Sunday, March 10.
