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Warriors Rally To Beat Dragons

Story by: Winona State Sports Informatin Office


MOORHEAD, MN -- No. 4-ranked Winona State University rallied from a 15-point, second-half deficit, to defeat Minnesota State University Moorhead 64-59 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play a Alex Nemzek Hall.

The win extends the Warriors' NSIC winning streak to 36 games and improved their season winning streak to 11 games.

A cold first-half of shooting (10 of 39 from the field and 0-13 from three-poit field goal range) led to the WSU troubles, as the Warriors scored the first six points of the game only to have MSUM come back and double up the Warriors, 32-16, for a 32-22 halftime lead.

In the second half the Dragons scored the first five points of the period for a 37-22 lead with 18:29 left to play, but then the Warriors began to chip away at the MSUM lead and eventually tied the game 39-39 at the 11:03 mark after a 17-2 run. WSU increased the run to 19-2 on Ben Fischer's jumper that gave the Warriors the lead, 41-39, with 10:36 left to play.

The game would eventually be tied six more times before Jonte Flowers' free throw with 3:05 left gave the Warriors the lead for good. WSU would then hit five of its next eight free throws to lock up the contest.

John Smith kept the Warriors in the game by coming up with 17 rebounds, 12 of which were on the offensive side. Smith completed his double-double with 25 points, which included an 11-14 effort from the fee throw line, and rounded out the game with six blocked shots and one steal.

Curtrel Robinson came off the bench to be the Warriors' only other double-figure scorer with ten points, including a couple of crucial three-point field goals in the stretch that gave the Warriors the lead in the second half.

WSU outrebounded the Dragons 45-41 and forced MSUM into 19 turnovers.

(Boxscore)

Last Modified: Friday, January 11, 2008 23:10 by Michael Herzberg