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WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University Warriors sank 14 3-pointers in their 86-75 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action on Friday night. The win snapped the Warriors (2-4, 1-1 NSIC) four-game losing streak, while the loss snapped the Mustangs' (4-2, 0-1 NSIC) four-game winning streak dating back to Nov. 14.
The win was WSU's 16th straight over the Mustangs in McCown Gymnasium dating back to the 2001-02 season and it pushed the series record versus the Mustangs at home to 39-10. WSU has now won 24 of the last 28 meetings.
Mitch Weg, SMSU's leading scorer (17.0) and rebounder (9.6) coming into the game, saw his three-game double-double streak end as the Worthington native finished with just three rebounds and six points. Weg's previous lows were 13 points and six rebounds.
Joey Bartlett and
Ryan Bruggeman led the Mustangs with 12 points each, while
Shaun Condon and
Josh Weix each chipped in 10.
Riley Bambenek and Kyle Bauman combined to hit 15 of 24 from the field, including 9 of 13 from deep. The duo finished with 39 points with Bambenek leading the charge with 20 points.
SMSU finished the game shooting 24 of 60 (40%) from the field, including 6 of 24 (25%) behind the arc. On the contrary, WSU connected on 52.5% (31-59) of its shots, including 14 of 25 (56%) from downtown.
WSU's 14 made 3-pointers is the most given up by SMSU this season. SMSU gave up 13 to Northern State in the Mustangs' 111-105 win over the Wolves on Nov. 19, in the R/A Facility.
SMSU's only lead of the game was in the opening minute as Bruggeman hit a jumper to put the Mustangs up 2-0. Conrad Masberg drained one of WSU's 14 3-pointers on the ensuing possession. The bucket was the start to a Warrior 8-0 run. Bruggeman's 3-pointer with 11:36 remaining in the half closed SMSU within one with the score 13-12, but once again the Warriors responded with a run. The Warriors rattled off an 11-2 run to make it a 24-14 game.
The Warriors took a 40-28 lead into the half and never looked back.
SMSU will travel south to take on the Peacocks of Upper Iowa tomorrow night starting at 6 p.m.
