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Warriors Knock Off UMD Bulldogs

Story by: Winona State Sports Information Office


WINONA, MN -- A late rally and a key defensive play at the end of the game helped No. 5-ranked Winona State University knock off the University of Minnesota-Duluth 63-62 in a knock-down, drag-it-out nonconference battle in McCown Gymnasium.

The Warriors staged a 9-2 run during a five-plus minute stretch in the second half to turn a 58-52 deficit into a 61-60 lead. From there David Johnson came up with the game-winning basket that proved to be the final score with 21 seconds left. Johnson's field goal from the right side of the lane after UMD took back the lead at 62-61 with 1:38 left to play.

The action still was not over as UMD came down and got a layup attempt, but had it blocked by the Warriors' Jonte Flowers. WSU then moved down the court where Quincy Henderson was fouled and stepped to the line for a one-and-one free throw situation with four seconds left to play. Henderson missed the front end of the free throw opportunity and UMD's Brian Sykora grabbed the rebound, only to have Flowers stripped him of the ball and the clock ran out in regulation play.

The game was a back-and-forth affair with the the game tied once and the lead changed seven times in the second half, while in the first 20 minutes of play the game was tied six times and the lead changed six times.

In the first half WSU's biggest lead with 11-6 with 14:02 left in the period. From there UMD went on to take its biggest lead of the game at 24-17 with 6:40 left in the half. That all led to a 34-31 UM-Duluth lead at the halftime intermission.

In the second half UMD led by six twice, 56-50 and 58-52, while the largest Warrior lead was thee points, 37-34, with 16:47 left to play.

John Smith led he Warriors with 22 points and Flowers came up with 19 points, 12 coming in the second half.

WSU held a slim 39-37 lead on the boards, but forced the Bulldogs into 15 turnovers.

(Boxscore)

Last Modified: Thursday, December 06, 2007 11:27 by Michael Herzberg