Dillon Hogan/Winonan

The Winona State University men’s basketball team started the first two games of a four game road trip competing against Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D. Jan. 31 and Minnesota State Moorhead Feb. 1.

In the first game of the weekend, the Warriors used a fast start from redshirt freshman Riley Bambenek to jump ahead of Northern State. Bambenek was able to score 13 of the first 17 points for Winona State and finish the half with 18 points for the Warriors.

Bambenek was 10 of 15 from the field for the night for 29 points in the game, enough to lead the Warriors in scoring. The Warriors, behind Bambenek’s outpouring of points, were leading Northern State 34-22 at the half.

In the second half, the Warriors were again in control taking the lead by as much as 18 points. Despite Northern State’s attempt to make a comeback, the Warriors kept them at bay. With just under three minutes left and the Warriors only ahead by five, Winona State scored the next six points to bring their lead to double digits with less than one minute of game time left. The Warriors kept the lead for the remainder of the game to take the victory 64-53 over Northern State.

Offensively the Warriors used Bambenek’s sixth game of at least 20 points to pace the team. Taylor Cameron put up 12 points for the Warriors to join Bambenek with double digit points. Defensively the Warriors held Northern State to 37.2 percent shooting in the game and 31.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors, who boast the top scoring defense in the NSIC, had their fifth game of holding an opponent to 55 points or fewer. Winona State is now 18-4 overall on the season and now 13-2 in the NSIC.

The Warriors played a much closer and much higher scoring affair against MSU Moorhead, resulting in an 80-82 loss.

The Warriors again took an early lead in the game with a nine-point halftime lead that would be extended to as much as 13 in the second half. An 8-0 run by Moorhead shortened the Warrior lead to just one point at 72-71 with less than five minutes left in regulation.

The game was tied at 80 after Cameron hit one of two free throws after being fouled with 19 seconds. Moorhead then charged down the court and scored with two seconds left in the game to take the victory over the Warriors.

The Warriors offense was paced again by Bambenek for the second night in a row. His 26 points were enough to top the Warriors and was followed by Mark Blacklock’s 14 points and four rebounds. Rounding out the four WSU players in double digits were Skyler O’Laughlin and Kyle Bauman with 10 points each.

As a team, the Warriors shot very well from the field. The team was 30-57 on field goals for a 52.6 shooting percentage. From beyond the arc the Warriors made 11 three pointers, good enough for a 57.9 shooting percentage. The three Warriors who connected on three point shots were Josh Mongan, Blacklock, and Bambenek.

Winona State is now 18-5 overall and is tied for first place with Minnesota State in the NSIC at a 13-3 conference record. The Warriors will wrap up their four-game road trip next weekend at Augustana Feb. 7 and Wayne State Feb. 8.