TJ Leverentz/Winonan

The Winona State University men’s basketball team tipped off their season far away from the Northern Sun Intercollege Conference, with the first three games of the season in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Forward Kyle Bauman said, “I was so happy to see games in Puerto Rico on the schedule. Basketball and nice weather—it doesn’t get much better than that.”

Following two exhibition games at home, Winona State played three games in five days in Puerto Rico, an early conditioning test for the Warriors.

Shooting guard Corey Jeffs said, “With that many games we had to be well-rested and well-conditioned.”

The regular season began Nov. 8 when the Warriors took on American University. Bauman’s 13 points and 6 rebounds led the Warriors to a 67-56 victory.

Kellen Taylor posted a double-double in the winning effort with 11 points and 10 rebounds.  Taylor Cameron also scored in double figures with 10 points. The Warriors out-rebounded American by a count of 41-31.

After a two-day break, the Warriors returned to action on Nov. 11 to face the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon.

Cameron led the way with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Taylor was the other Warrior to reach double figures with 11 points and three rebounds. The Warriors were able to out rebound their opponent, grabbing 32 boards to Puerto Rico-Bayamon’s 24, on the way to the 65-43 victory.

“It was good to be able to consistently out-rebound our opponent’s in back-to-back games,” Jeffs said.

The Warriors ended their Puerto Rico series by scoring the most points in a game since January of last season against the University of Puerto Rico-Piedras.

Four Warriors scored in double figures to propel the Warriors to an 80-48 victory. Mark Blacklock led the Warriors with 20 points, Nick Arenz followed with 12 points, and Cameron and Skyler O’Laughlin each posted 10 points.

For the third game in the row, the Warriors won the rebounding battle by a mark of 38-20.

“Seeing as we scored 80 points on the back half of a back-to-back, I’d say we are pretty well-conditioned,” Jeffs said.

After recording victories in each of the games played in Puerto Rico, the players returned home.

“It was a cool experience. They are very enthusiastic down there, and they know their basketball,” Blacklock said.

The Warriors entered the season ranked 20th in the NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Warriors are the second highest ranked team in the NSIC.

The University of Minnesota State-Mankato received a preseason ranking of fifth, the highest in school history.

The Warriors will travel to Mankato to face Minnesota State on Dec. 7.

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