Winona, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston trailed by just a bucket at the halftime break, but Winona State would outscore the Golden Eagles by double-figures, earning the 80-64 win on Friday night in Winona.
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-12 (2-7 NSIC).
 
The Warriors started red hot, burying their first three shots from behind the arc for a 9-4 lead, but Jordan Mitchell (R-Sr., F, Columbus, Ohio) and Chandler Meeks (R-So., G, Omaha, Neb.) would score five straight point, tying the game up at four.
 
WSU would take an 18-13 lead, but Ben Hoverson (Sr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) would bury a long two from the corner, cutting the lead to just three.
 
Trailing 27-23, Minnesota Crookston would tie the game up at 27, following back-to-back buckets from Andrew Stokes (Jr., F, Westchester, Ill.) and Brayden Carlson (Fr., F, Woodbury, Minn.).
 
Christian Bowen-Webb (Jr., G, Atchison, Kan.) would give the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game with a bucket in the paint at 34-33.
 
Leading by two at the break, WSU would go on a 13-2 run coming out of the halftime break, but Mitchell would halt the run with a bucket in the paint.
 
Minnesota Crookston would cut the lead to 11 on two separate occasions, but the Warriors would hold off the maroon and gold for the 16 point win.
 
The Golden Eagles were led by Mitchell and Stokes, who each finished with 12 points. Micah Garrett (Jr., G, Portland, Ore.) and Bowen-Webb each added 11, while Reid Grant (Sr., G, Johnston, Iowa) scored seven points and pulled down eight rebounds. Landon Dimler (Fr., F, Mankato, Minn.) finished with five points in his first career start.
 
Minnesota Crookston outscored Winona State in the paint by 12, but the Warriors were in could not miss mode from behind the arc, shooting 13-33 from long range.
 
What's Next
It's a date with the defending National Champions, as Minnesota Crookston travels to Minnesota State to take on the Mavericks for a 5:30 P.M., tip-off.