WINONA, Minn. – Winona State (1-0) took on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils Saturday in their season opener and inaugural game in the renovated McCown Gymnasium. The Warriors dominated the Blue Devils from start to finish winning 76-47.
 
The Warriors got off to a hot start in their home opener as their first four scoring possessions all went for three points, including three from behind the arc from Riley Bambenek giving Winona State an 11-point advantage to begin play.
 
Winona State followed their impressive start with an 8-0 run extending their lead to 15 at the ten-minute mark. Shooting from beyond the arc remained a prominent feature in the Warrior offense as Corey Jeffs drained two, three point shots during the run.
 
A lay-up from Charlie Koontz led to a Josh Mongan three pointer extending the WSU advantage to 20 going into the half. The Warriors shot well as a team at the half way mark going 18-28 from the field and 7-13 from beyond the arc. Winona State's success was due in large part to their three point shooting as well as continually contesting shots on defense holding the Blue Devils to just 29 percent, making nine of 31 shots.
 
Aside from their success beyond the arc, WSU dominated the paint, outscoring Stout 16-2. Bauman led both sides in points at the half with 15, including six rebounds while shooting 5-6 from the charity stripe. Corey Jeffs led WSU with seven rebounds at halftime, he also added eight points while shooting 2-3 from three.
 
Halfway through the second half, a 10-0 Warrior run extended their lead to 27 over the Blue Devils. All ten points came off two point attempts and included four points by Bambenek. The WSU advantage reached new heights with 5:20 remaining in the game, as Bauman hit a free throw to put them up 29.
 
A free throw by Bambenek allowed the WSU lead to surmount the 30-point mark before two Blue Devil jumpers by John Lahti and Sam Ortman brought it back down to 29 near the end of the half. Winona State outshot Stout 53.6%-26.7%, in the 76-47 victory.
 
Quick Hitters:
Jeffs finished with a double-double to begin the new season totaling a game leading 13 rebounds accompanied by ten points.
Bauman led all scorers with 21 points, his stat line included nine rebounds falling just one short of a double-double.
Bauman shot 7-10 from the free throw line and dished out four assists.
Bambenek only missed two shots on the night going 5-7 including three from beyond the arc on his way to 14 points, including an assist, block, and steal.
Other key contributors to the victory were Koontz with 11 points, Isaiah Gray who led with two steals, and Tommy Gathje with six points and six rebounds.
WSU out rebounded Stout 42-33 with the biggest gap being in defensive rebounds where the Warriors had a 36-25 edge.
Winona State dominated in the paint outscoring the Blue Devils 34-8.
The WSU bench outscored Stout's bench 21-15.
The Warriors pushed the tempo scoring six fast break points to Stout's zero.
Winona State takes on the University of St. Mary's (Minn.) Monday Nov. 21 in McCown Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
 
By: Jake Thiede