The Winona State University men’s basketball team won a match against Augustana University by seven points in the McCown Gymnasium. This Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) match took place on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at 5:30 pm.
The first half began with the Warriors scoring two points at the hands of fourth-year player Connor Drew. However, Augustana University followed with an equalizer just 20 seconds later.
Things got interesting when Tyler Mason and Isaiah Thompson began scoring three pointers alongside Drew for the Warriors. Augustana University attempted multiple times to increase their lead but due to the fast-paced nature of the attack by the Warriors, they could not hold it down.
“It felt good to see some of my shots going, but it was also good to see our other guys make some shots, and down the stretch, we are going to need that of everyone,” Drew said.
Augustana University was able to maintain a steady point gain by utilizing free throws in the first half, successfully making four out of their four free throws. On the other hand, Winona State managed to score just three out of their five free throws.
The Warriors were primarily looking for 3-pointers. They managed to score 10 out of 17 shots they took. Augustana could not keep up, scoring only seven of the 3-pointers they attempted.
The first half ended at 49-43 points. The Warriors have a strong streak of winning their game if they obtain the lead in the first half, providing optimism to the team as they headed into the locker rooms.
In the second half, Augustana focused on scoring points more than defending. They went for 3-pointers 17 times. On the other hand, the Warriors tried 15 and missed just 11 times.
The scores remained similar to the first half. Winona State maintained the lead for the entire time and sealed the game with 90-83 points.
Drew made a massive comeback in his performance by scoring 27 points in this match. Thompson and Luke Haertle supported him with 16 and 19 points each.
This match was important for Winona State as they are fighting to be in the top four on the points table. The Warriors have just five matches left and among the five opponents, three of them are table toppers and holding a spot above the Warriors.
Winona State head coach Todd Eisner knows how to handle things with a calm mind. He noted that he recognizes that they have to face the table toppers in the next two weeks but he is going to focus on one game at a time and attempt to ensure that they win all of them.
The race for the top four spots in the NSIC table is complex as multiple teams can take the fourth position. If Winona State wins four out of their five matches, they may end up finishing in the top three. If they win three games among the five, it will be tougher for them. In that case, they must defeat St. Cloud State University and Minot State University to balance their losses.
The Warriors will have two more matches at home where they will face the University of Mary on Valentine’s day. The match will begin at 5:30 pm on Friday, Feb. 14. The next day they will face Minot State at 3:30 pm.
