>Box Score

WINONA, Minn. — Winona State forced Southwest Minnesota State to commit 15 turnovers as the Warriors defeated the Mustangs, 73-68 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball on Saturday night in the McCown Gymnasium.
 
SMSU (9-7, 5-5 NSIC) finished shooting 42 percent from the floor and 42 percent from behind the arc. The Mustangs were led by Mitch Weg as he scored a career-high 23 points—15 coming in the first half. MJ Delmore made his mark as he scored 15 points and a career-high 3-pointers with five as he went a perfect five-for-five from downtown. Carter Kirk controlled the boards as he recorded seven rebounds while Joey Bartlett grabbed six.
 
WSU (7-7, 4-6 NSIC) was led by Isaiah Gray with 22 points including five rebounds and five assists. Conrad Masberg also contributed 14 points in the win. Riley Bambenek and Mark Blacklock both tallied five boards each. The Warriors finished shooting 44 percent from the floor and 40 percent from behind the arc.
 
Winona State converted on SMSU's 15 turnovers as the Warriors cashed in for 23 points. WSU also controlled the paint as it held a 39-24 point advantage down low.
 
Both teams started the game shooting the ball efficiently as both teams were shooting 50 percent or better going into the first media timeout. SMSU took a one-point lead at 13:00 left in the first at 16-15.
 
SMSU lead by as many as four with 6:01 left in the half but a 9-0 run by the Warriors gave them a 35-30 led, their largest of the half, with 3:59 left to play.
 
MJ Delmore scored from downtown to pull the Mustangs within two but Riley Bambenek cashed in a three on the ensuing series to give Winona State a five-point lead with 2:23 left to play in the half. The Warriors wouldn't stop there as they pushed the lead to 12 with 27 seconds left.
 
Winona State ended the half on a 19-3 run that started with 6:01 left in the half and would lead, 45-33 going into halftime.
 
Both teams fought to take the lead though the first 20 minutes, as there were 14 lead changes and four ties.
 
In the second half, Winona State came out in full control and pushed its lead to 16 with 16:57 left in the game. WSU would continue to lead but the Mustangs would try and crawl back and would pull within four with 9:11 left to play.
 
SMSU would go on to pull within two points at 6:16 as Travis Meinders cashed a three in transition but Meinders wouldn't stop there as the senior scored another three on the following possession to tie the game up at 63-63 with 5:29 left to play.
 
The Mustangs would have an opportunity to tie the game back up with 34.1 seconds left but fail to convert. WSU would go ahead 70-65 with 23 seconds left and finished the game shooting free-throws winning, 73-68.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will return to the R/A Facility next weekend as they play Northern State on Friday, Jan 16 before taking on MSU Moorhead on Saturday.