Dillon Hogan/Winonan

With the first week of the new semester completed, the Winona State University men’s basketball team lost an eleven game winning streak with a rare two-game skid against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls.

The first game of the Warriors’ weeklong road trip saw them travel to Marshall, Minn. to take on Southwest Minnesota State and to lose a closely contested game in dramatic fashion.

The Warriors, who came into the week ranked No. 16 nationally, missed a potentially game-winning 3-pointer at the end of regulation to give Southwest State the win.

The Warriors were in control of the game as late as the second half by keeping a nine point lead over the Mustangs. That would be the largest lead for the Warriors, as Southwest State fought back to take the lead 49-48 at the 13-minute mark.

Winona State showed their resolve as well and took back the lead shortly thereafter only for the Mustangs to again jump ahead 58-57, a lead they would not give up.

With under a minute to play, Southwest State hit a free throw to give them a two-point lead. The Warriors drove down the court and Taylor Cameron took a shot to win the game for the Warriors, but the shot was off the mark and sealed the loss for the Warriors.

The Warriors had four players reach double figures, Cameron scoring a team high 17 points and securing seven rebounds and six assists. Riley Bambenek added 14 points and five assists; Kellen Taylor put up 15 points and five rebounds; and Skyler O’Laughlin scoring 13 points to round out the Warriors scoring threats.

As a team, the Warriors shot 28-56 for a respectable 50 percent from the floor. From behind the arc, the team was only 4-14 for a shooting percentage of 28.

The defense was paced by seven blocked shots by the Warriors. Kyle Bauman had three and O’Laughlin posted two shots away.

The Warriors didn’t have time to dwell on their loss as they traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota the very next day. Unlike the season’s earlier game against Souix Falls, the Warriors found themselves down at halftime and had to work to eliminate the eight point hole they found themselves in.

With 13:45 remaining, the Warriors tied the game at 45. The game went back and forth with the lead changing from team to team five times with the Warriors leading by three with 1:50 left. Sioux Falls rallied from there and scored the next eight points to take a six point lead en route to the 76-69 victory over the Warriors.

Cameron had his first double-double of the season with 24 points and 11 rebounds leading the Warriors. Cameron was also 3-4 from behind the arc.

Joining Cameron with double-figure scoring were Kellen Taylor’s 16 points and Isaiah Gray putting up ten points.

The Warriors showed struggles shooting against Sioux Falls going 20-55, good enough for 36 percent.

Defensively the Warriors forced Sioux Falls into 17 turnovers led by Taylor’s four steals and Cameron’s three. Taylor was also responsible for four of the seven total blocked shots by the Warriors.

Winona State is now 15-4 overall on the season and has a 10-2 record in the NSIC. The Warriors return back to Winona for a duo of home games against Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 respectively.

Contact Dillon at [email protected]