WINONA, Minn. - For the first time this season, an opponent topped 65 points against Concordia-St. Paul's league-leading scoring defense (59.0) as Winona State (5-3, 2-2 NSIC) knocked down 15 three-pointers en route to a 75-56 win over the visiting Golden Bears (5-4, 1-2 NSIC) on Friday night at McCown Gymnasium.
The Golden Bears entered play with the second ranked defense in the country, holding teams to 35.0 percent shooting from the floor along with a perimeter defense that held teams to 28.2 percent three-point shooting which led the league and ranked 21st in the land.
Prior to tonight, Concordia hadn't allowed more than nine three-pointers to an opponent and Winona State hadn't made more than nine three-pointers in a game as WSU averaged just over seven made three-pointers per game at a 37.4 percent rate.
Further, the Warriors were coming off a season-low 27.0 percent shooting effort (17-63) in a 22-point loss at Sioux Falls, hitting just 6-of-22 from three-point range (27.3%).
The game started with Concordia flexing its defensive muscles as the Golden Bears jumped out to a 7-0 lead, holding Winona State scoreless through the first media timeout over five minutes into play.
But while the early returns on the scoreboard were promising, the Warriors were gearing up for a big night with four good looks at three-pointers that were off the mark.
Coming out of the media timeout at 14:49, Tim Wagner delivered the first of eight first half three-pointers for the Warriors as WSU made eight of 16 to close out a first half of 20 three-point attempts.
But while Winona State was raining three-point attempts at an alarming rate, Concordia was performing a more physical brand of basketball that led to more free throws and rebounds.
The result of Concordia's physicality was a 35-31 halftime lead for the host Warriors in a hotly contested game of two contrasting styles of play. The Golden Bears converted 8-of-12 at the line in the first half while holding WSU to just two free throw attempts (1-2) and held a 23-18 rebounding margin to keep the game close.
Junior
Mike Yahnke was a force in the first half with all eight of his points along with seven of his game-high nine rebounds.
In the second half, the Warriors remained hot but scored its first three baskets inside the arc before a pair of three-pointers put the Warriors on a 12-2 run just two and a half minutes in for a 47-33 lead.
The 14-point Warrior lead was the largest of the night for either team as Concordia would claw back. A pair of three-pointers from
Cole Olstad followed by a
Shea Mandli jumper brought the margin back to six, 51-45 with 12:23 to play with Concordia gaining possession after a defensive stop.
Olstad led Concordia on the night with 16 points on just 4-13 shooting but he converted 6-7Â at the line and 2-4 from three-point range. Mandli finished with six points and five rebounds off the bench.
But a missed shot in the lane and missed put back attempt allowed the Warriors to extend the lead on the other end and the closest Concordia would come the rest of the way was a pair of six point deficits without a chance to cut into the gap further.
While the team three-point shooting of the Warriors would be the main culprit in the loss for Concordia, it was Isaiah Gray who scored 15 points on 7-14 shooting inside the arc without attempting a three-pointer who led the Warriors on the evening.
Seven different Warriors accounted for their 15 three-pointers in an otherwise balanced offensive evening for the hosts.
Winona State shot 47.3 percent (29-60) from the field, a season-high allowed by Concordia's defense while the Golden Bears only converted 35.7 percent (20-56) on their offensive end.
Concordia will look to get back on track following its first two game skid of the year tomorrow at 6 p.m. against one of the top scoring offenses in the league at Upper Iowa. The Peacocks (6-3, 2-2 NSIC) entered the weekend leading the league in scoring but fell tonight 89-78 at home to #11 Minnesota State at Dorman Gymnasium in Fayette.
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