Reid Peters / Winonan

A weekend split concluded the Winona State University men’s basketball team’s regular season on the road against Wayne State College and Augustana University.

The Warriors finished the season third in the NSIC South Division behind Minnesota State University Mankato and Augustana.

In the opening minutes, senior guard Conrad Masberg scored the first five points for the Warriors, putting them up 5-3.

The Wildcats answered a few minutes later with a run to take a 12-5 lead.

Masberg and junior guard Riley Bambenek hit consecutive threes, which put the Warriors up 26-19 with 8:03 to play in the half.

The Warriors went up 35-25 after a layup from senior forward Nick Arenz before a jumper by Bauman gave Winona State a 40-27 advantage at the half.

Throughout the second half, the Warriors maintained their lead as the Wildcats never reached within single digits the rest of the game.

Junior guard Isaiah Gray hit a three with 13:24 left on the clock to put the Warriors up 20 points. With the Warrior lead 54-34, the Wildcats cut the deficit 62-52 with 5:24 to go, but the Warriors would eventually coast to a 75-62 victory.

“We’re working hard and being rewarded for it,” Winona State head coach Todd Eisner said.

Gray and Masberg led the Warriors with 15 points apiece, while Bambenek chipped in 13 and Bauman netted 11.

Bauman said each player on the team is capable of having a good game.

“The best part about out team is, you don’t know who is going to have a good night,” Bauman said.

The Warriors wrapped up the regular season with a 66-55 loss to No. 5 Augustana on Saturday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Vikings began the game with a 13-4 run in the first three and a half minutes. Three minutes later, Winona State was down 24-9.

The Warriors sparked a 13-0 run which brought the score to 24-22 with 8:28 on the clock before the Vikings entered halftime with a 33-29 lead.

Augustana took advantage of the Warriors’ 28 percent shooting in the second half to double-digits 41-31 with four minutes remaining.

Senior forward Mark Blacklock hit a three, which narrowed the lead to nine before Arenz connected on a three of his own to bring the score 57-49 with 4:03 to play. Augustana, however, would control the lead for the rest of the game and eventually come away with a 66-55 win.

Blacklock led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Bambenek said the team’s goal looking forward is just to win.

“We control our own destiny,” Bambenek said.

Winona State (14-12, 13-9 NSIC) will host Minot State University on Wednesday at 8 p.m. to begin the NSIC South Division tournament. The Warriors lost to Minot State earlier in the year on the road by a score of 63-46.