Box Score WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University Warriors used a strong second half and unforced errors from the University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles to defeat UMC 64-53 Saturday night at McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minn. The Golden Eagles put up a great first half leading by as many as six and going into the half down only three to a strong Warrior team but were unable to put together two halves as they fell for the 12th time in NSIC play this season. UMC is now 3-13 (0-12 NSIC) while Winona State improves to 16-3 (10-2 NSIC).
 
The Golden Eagles were paced by Ashton Harrell (Jr., G, Houston, Texas) who had 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting including going 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Almir Krdzalic (Sr., G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) each chipped in nine points for the Golden Eagles. UMC shot 20-of-53 for 37.7 percent from the field and were 6-of-17 for 35.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles out-rebounded Winona State 39-29 on the game led by 10 boards from Abdou Niang (Sr., F, Dakar, Senegal) and eight rebounds from James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.).
 
Winona State was paced by 21 points from Clayton Vette, an Iowa State University transfer, who was 7-of-9 from the field. Xavier Humphrey and Taylor Cameron each added 10 points. The Warriors finished the game shooting 21-of-50 for 42.0 percent from the field and were 8-of-22 for 36.4 percent from three.
 
The Winona State Warriors started the first half on a 6-0 run. However, UMC was quickly able to combat the early run to obtain a 9-8 lead following a Burns jumper, Sparkman lay-in, Niang trey and Harrell lay-up. Winona State then went on its own run again to make it 17-9 on a three from Taylor Cameron.
 
Harrell then ignited a 14-0 run for the Golden Eagles that would see UMC go ahead of the Warriors 23-17 with 8:30 remaining in the first half. Harrell was responsible for nine of the 14 points during the run. After a bit of back-and-forth action, Winona State would knot the game at 28-28 following a Grant Johnson lay-in. UMC would take the lead back (30-28) on a Krdzalic jumper but the Warriors would get the lead back after Humphrey nailed a three to make it 33-30. That would be the score heading into the break.
 
Harrell paced the Golden Eagles in the opening period with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. Burns added five points while Parker came off the bench for four points. UMC shot 12-of-31 for 38.7 percent in the first half and were 4-of-9 for 44.4 percent from beyond the arc. They out-rebounded the Warriors 20-16 led by five rebounds from Sparkman.
 
Winona State was led by Vette's 12 points on 3-of-3 shooting in the first half while Cameron added seven points. The Warriors shot 12-of-28 for 42.9 percent in the first half and were 4-of-13 for 30.8 percent from three.
 
The Warriors would out-score the Golden Eagles 31-16 in the first 15 minutes of the second half, stepping up their defense against UMC. The Golden Eagles would make a last ditch comeback attempt after being down 64-46 with 4:11 remaining. UMC would cut the Winona State advantage to 64-53 with just over a minute left in the game but that would be as close as the Golden Eagles would come. Vette paced Winona State with nine points in the second half.
 
The Golden Eagles will host Northern State University and Minnesota State University, Moorhead next weekend at Lysaker Gymnasium.
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).