SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Matt Cartwright scored 24 points, Chase Grinde had his first career double double (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Luke Healy scored 13 off the bench to lead the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (6-5, 2-3 NSIC) past Winona State (6-4, 2-3 NSIC), 71-57, in NSIC South Division play at the Stewart Center. 

"This was a really nice win for this team as we bounced back with a solid performance," said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson, who earned his 246^th career win. "The difference is this game was our play after halftime. We showed tremendous grit on the boards and won the hustle plays. Give everyone on this team credit, they were all part of it. Chase (Grinde), Austin (Slater), Marco (Coudreau) and Jake (Kettner) battled at the basket. Plus, Matt (Cartwright) hit some really big baskets, inside and outside, plus Luke Healy had an outstanding game in his first time on the floor at USF," added Johnson who won for the 99^th time in NSIC play.  

With the victory, USF improved to 6-5 overall and 2-3 in the league and tied for fourth in the South Division. The Cougars also defeated the Warriors for the fourth straight time and now own a 10-7 series advantage. 

Grinde, a junior guard from Spring Grove, Minn., had a career-high 14 rebounds, including 12 on the defensive glass. On 6-of-11 shooting, including a triple, he had 14 points along with three assists in 31 minutes on the floor.  He now has 41 double-digit scoring games.

Cartwright added another 20-point game to his repertoire, which reads 17 for his career. In his 47^th double-digit scoring game, Cartwright of Sioux Falls, S.D., had 24 points on 9-of-23 shooting from the floor, adding a pair of triples and two assists. 

In his first game for USF, Healy, a freshman from Hudson, Wisc., stepped up. With two starters out, Healy had 13 points and four rebounds with two assists, two steals and a blocked shot. He was 4-of-7 from the floor, including 1-of-2 from three-point range and 4-of-4 at the foul line. USF also had eight points and six rebounds from Jake Kettner plus four points and five rebounds from Austin Slater. 

The Cougars owned a commanding 44-to-30 rebounds margin with 11 off the offensive glass as Slater had three offensive boards. As a result, USF had a 15-to-2 margin in second-chance points. USF, which had a 19-to-3 margin in bench points, also used the break to its advantage to the tune of 9-to-2. 

After trailing by 11 points (23-12) with 10:26 to play in the first half, USF closed on an 18-to-11 run to draw within, 34-30, at the break. Then in the second half, USF dominated the boards to a tune of 29-to-13 and outshot WSU, 42.4 percent (14-of-33), to 31.0 percent (9-of-29) to outscore the Warriors, 41-23. 

For the game, USF was at 41 percent from the field on 25-of-61 shooting but just 4-of-19 from three-point range for 21.1 percent. The Cougars were solid at the foul line by making 17-of-22 for 77.3 percent. For Winona State, Luke Martens had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds while Alex Rosner added 15 points. They hit 22-of-57 field goals for 38.6 percent and were 2-of-15 from three-point range while making 11-of-16 foul shots for 68.8 percent. 
 
SCORING SUMMARY –  

 Winona State was able to take a first-half lead by shooting 46.4 percent on 13-of-28 shooting from the field. They made 6-of-6 from the foul line and a 17-15 rebound edge. USF hit just 11-of-28 field goals, including 2-of-11 from three-point range.  

WSU took a 9-4 lead before Healy entered the game and promptly converted his first shot on a drive to a basket at the 15:50 mark. After USF closed to 11-8, the Warriors had consecutive baskets on drives to the hoop for a 15-8 lead at the 13:02 mark. 

WSU's lead grew to 20-10 with 11 minutes to go. Then, Marko Coudreau, who had four points and three rebounds on the night, knocked in two foul shots to cut USF's deficit to 20-12 at 10:55. But Rosner of WSU answered with a triple to build their largest lead at 23-12 and 10:26 to play. 

USF responded with back-to-back baskets from Cartwright and Grinde to cut the lead to 23-16 at the 8:11 mark. Cartwright hit another jumper and Healy had a pair of foul shots to draw USF within 23-20 (4:48, 1^st half). WSU bounced back with a basket and two foul shots on consecutive possessions by Martens to lead 29-22 with 2:08 on the clock. Then, USF responded by going on an 8-5 run and rallying within 34-30 at the break.  

After half-time, USF seized control of the game. The Cougars opened on a 10-2 run with Cartwright, Grinde and Healy all converting baskets for a 40-36 lead with 17 minutes to play. After a Kettner offensive rebound and put back plus a steal and lay-up by Healy, USF had a 47-40 advantage with 13:13 left. 

USF continued to apply the pressure and on an assist from Cartwright, Slater's basket gave USF a 59-47 advantage with 6:40 left in the game.  

While the Warriors tried to rally, USF was able to grind out baskets inside. With an offensive board and put back from Grinde at 2:49, USF had a 65-53 advantage. After that, WSU drew within 10 points (65-54, 1:54, 2^nd half) but no closer. When Kettner hit a pair of foul shots and Grinde had another basket in the paint, USF's lead was a game-high 14 at 71-57 and the issue was decided.