BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Winona State rallied from a nine-point deficit with 1:22 left in regulation to send the game into overtime and then used clutch 3-point shooting in both overtime periods to earn a thrilling 87-81 double overtime victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night.

WSU (14-5, 10-5 NSIC), ranked sixth in the NCAA region rankings, connected on 14 3-point field goals in the game on 44 attempts, while SMSU finished the game making just three 3-pointers on 23 attempts.

Ben Fischer led the Warriors with 19 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Anthony Tucker scored 17 points, including nine in the overtime periods.

SMSU (9-10, 6-9 NSIC) had five players score in double figures with Lavione West and Vinard Birch each finishing with 14 points. Jordan Miller added 12 points, but was just 3 of 19 from the field, including 1 of 14 from 3-point range. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for SMSU.

SMSU held a 59-47 lead with 7:10 left in regulation following a three-point play by Vinard Birch. SMSU would not make a field goal the remainder of regulation and allowed WSU to rally and tie the game following some missed free throws by SMSU.  SMSU missed seven free throws in the final 6:31 of regulation.  WSU connected on a pair of 3-point field goals and one three-point play in the final 57 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime.

SMSU held a 68-61 lead with 51 seconds left in regulation following a pair of free throws by Birch. WSU would answer with a Tucker 3-pointer with 46 seconds left to cut the lead to 68-64. On the ensuing in-bounds pass, WSU forced a turnover with Taylor Cameron stealing a pass and then scoring as he was fouled with 41 seconds left to cut the lead to 68-67 following a made free throw.

Lavione West hit one of two free throws with 35 seconds remaining to give SMSU a 69-67 lead, but the Warriors rallied as Kellen Taylor tied the game with 26 seconds on the clock with a field goal following his own missed shot.

SMSU had a chance to win in regulation by Birch's shot attempt in the final seconds was blocked. SMSU had one more chance with 0.7 seconds left, but Miller's 3-point field goal missed and the game moved to overtime.

The Mustangs build a pair of three-point leads in overtime, including 76-73 with 1:24 remaining on a 3-pointer by Trent Carlson. WSU would answer on its next possession as Tucker missed a 3-point field attempt, but he picked up the rebound and then drilled the game-tying 3-pointer with 57 seconds on the clock.

Both teams missed shots in the final 28 seconds to move the game into a second overtime.

SMSU scored the first points of the second overtime on a layup by Taylor Huseby, but would not score four nearly four minutes as WSU regained the lead and built a four-point lead at 82-78 with 1:02 remaining on a Clayton Vette 3-pointer, his only 3-point attempt of the game.

WSU would hit free throws down the stretch to seal the victory and earn its eighth straight victory over SMSU in Marshall.

SMSU led for a majority of the opening half in building a 33-27 halftime lead, despite missing all eight 3-point field goal attempts.

WSU held a 14-13 lead with 10:52 remaining in the opening half, before SMSU used a 10-0 run over the next two and a half minutes, capped by back-to-back layups by Matt Zager and a free throw by Jordan Miller, to take a 23-14 lead.

SMSU pushed the lead to 33-21 late in the half until WSU rallied to score the final six points of the half to trim the deficit to six points.

Southwest Minnesota State will return to the road next weekend with a pair of conference games. The Mustangs will take on Wayne State on Friday, Feb. 4 and Augustana on Saturday, Feb. 5.