Reid Peters / Winonan

The Winona State University men’s basketball team extended its winning streak to five with two home wins last week against St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth.

The Warriors sit at third in the NSIC South Division behind Augustana University and Minnesota State University.

“I’m very pleased with our effort lately,” Winona State head coach Todd Eisner said. “Our success has been based on our defending.”

Winona State defeated St. Cloud State Friday night 96-78 at McCown Gymnasium.

The Warrior’s 96 points marked the most they have scored in a game since they defeated Minot State 98-76 on November 19, 2011.

The Warriors jumped out to a quick start which included hitting their first six shots from the field. Winona State shot 38-of-63 from the field (60.3 percent), marking their best performance of the season.

After the Warriors 10-2 lead to begin the game, the Huskies rallied back. A Corey Jeffs 3-pointer started an 8-0 lead for the Warriors. Junior guard Riley Bambenek connected on a 3-pointer which made it 30-23 in favor of the Warriors with 8:22 to go in the first half.

Isaiah Gray and senior forward Mark Blacklock connected on a pair of 3-pointers to maintain a first-half lead, but the Huskies tied things up at 44 points by halftime.

St. Cloud State went on an early run in the second half to put them ahead 53-49, but a 21-4 Warrior run reclaimed a lead that they would never give back. St. Cloud State didn’t cut the deficit any more than nine points throughout the rest of the game and the Warriors claimed a 96-78 victory.

Gray led the Warriors with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Bambenek netted 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting with five rebounds and four assists.

Junior forward Kyle Bauman scored 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting with six rebounds, while Blacklock finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Warriors out-rebounded the Huskies by a figure of 35-24, with each team collecting nine turnovers.

The Warriors beat Minnesota Duluth at home on Saturday night with a score of 81-60.

Bauman led the Warriors in scoring with 19 points of 7-of-10 shooting to go with eight rebounds and two blocks.

Eisner said Bauman has been fighting the flu all week, despite the statistics he contributed.

“I wasn’t as tired as I thought I’d be with the flu,” Bauman said.

Bauman opened up the game with a 3-pointer in the first possession for the Warriors.

After ensuing 3-pointers from Masberg, Blacklock and Bambenek, the Warriors were off to a 14-4 lead, forcing a Bulldog timeout.

Consecutive Bambenek 3-pointers followed shortly after to extend the Warrior lead 24-13.

A 15-4 Warrior run was capped off after a Blacklock 3-point-play and a couple of Bauman free throws. Winona State headed to the locker room with a 41-24 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs cut the Warrior lead to 11 after a run at the beginning of the second half, but Bambenek regained the lead for the Warriors after connecting on a 3-pointer which sparked a 9-2 Warrior run with 12:20 to go in the game.

Another Bambenek 3-pointer increased the Warrior lead to 20, and Winona State eventually won 81-60.

“That was a complete performance,” Bambenek said. “That was the first time we have been locked in on both ends.”

Bambenek scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from behind the arc along with a game-high six assists.

Blacklock had 10 points with seven rebounds.

The Warriors posted with a season-high 22 assists on 29 made buckets, while Duluth threw out four assists total. Winona State out-rebounded the Bulldogs by a mark of 39-27.

Winona State (12-10, 11-6 NSIC) plays its last regular season home games next weekend beginning with Minnesota State on Friday, followed by Concordia-St. Paul University on Saturday.