WINONA, MINN. – Matt Cartwright scored 22 points and led four players in double-digits but the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (11-11, 7-9 NSIC) dropped a heartbreaker in the final seconds to Winona State, 76-75, on Friday (Feb. 11).

WSU had a game-winning lay-up from Devin Whitelow as time expired to lift WSU to the win. USF dropped to 7-9 in the NSIC South and sit in seventh place. WSU improved to 10-7 and sit in third in the NSIC South. Overall, the Cougars sit at 11-11 and split the season series with the Warriors. However, the setback hurt as USF battles for a spot in the NSIC Postseason Tourney (top six in each division, based on winning percentage).

"We played really hard but had it go against us at the end," said USF Head Coach Chris Johnson. "Our guys working really hard and give the Warriors credit as they made some big plays down the stretch," added Johnson, whose team will travel to meet No. 19 Upper Iowa on Saturday (5:30 pm) in Fayette, Iowa.

Cartwright scored 20 points or more for the second straight game and the 10^th time this season. Cartwright scored 22 and surpassed 1,200 career points (1,205 points) with his 17^th double-digit scoring game of the season and 54^th of his career. Cartwright hit 8-of-17 shots from the floor and 4-of-9 from three-point range while grabbing two rebounds and adding a pair of assists.

Sophomore guard Jack Thompson supplied 16 points and seven rebounds with three assists and two blocked shots. As he scored double-digits for the 33rd time of his career, Thompson hit on 7-of-12 field goals along with 2-of-3 from three-point range. USF reaching double-digits was junior guard Chase Grinde, who did it for the 50^th time in his career. With 11 points, as well as two rebounds and two assists, Grinde now has 979 career points as he moves closer to 1,000 career points. Sophomore guard Jake Kettner had 12 points and six rebounds with two blocks. Kettner hit 2-of-5 from three-point range. In addition, Noah Puetz had eight points and a career-high nine rebounds.

USF, which was outscored 32-to-20, in the paint, had a 38-to-24 rebound edge which accounted for a 12-to-5 margin in second chance points.

Scoring Recap - 

This was certainly a game of runs as the Cougars opened on a 20-2 opening run and led 26-5 with 12:53 to play in the first half. However, WSU closed to 43-38 at halftime and then after trailing, 73-65 with five minutes to play had a 11-2 closing run. Down the stretch, WSU had that closed run capped by Whitelow's big basket as USF hit just one of its final nine shots as they lost a tightly contested NSIC South contest.

Overall, USF was 28-of-62 from the field for 45.2 percent, including 10-of-26 from three-point range for 38.5 percent. USF was 9-of-11 from the free throw line but committed 12 turnovers to just five for WSU. The Cougars also had a season-high seven blocked shots and recorded 13 assists on its 28 made baskets.

WSU, which had a game-high 25 points from Alec Rosner, hit 27-of-65 field goals for 41.5 percent. They were 9-of-23 from three-point range for 39.1 percent and knocked down 13-of-15 free throws. WSU had six steals and 11 assists.

In the opening half, USF hit on 16-of-33 field goals for 48.5 percent and made a season high 8-of-18 from three-point range. The Cougars then hit 12-of-29 shots in the second half and only 2-of-8 from three-point range to finish at 45.2 percent for the game. WSU was 14-of-30 from the field in the opening half for 46.7 percent and hit on 5-of-12 from three-point range for 42 percent. The Warriors then hit 13-of-35 shots for 37.14 percent in the second half with 4-of-11 from three-point range.

With three-pointers from Thompson and Cartwright the Cougars jumped to a 12-0 lead at the 17:13 mark of the opening half. Another three from Cartwright gave USF a 17-0 lead and then led, 20-2, after a triple from Kettner with 15:27 to play. After USF led 26-5 (12:32), WSU started to turn things around. With a 14-6 run, WSU cut the deficit to 32-19 after a free throw by Whitelow. USF led, 37-24, after a three from Thompson, and the Warriors answered again. Over the final four minutes of the half, they had another run of 14-to-7 to draw within five of USF at 43-38.

WSU eventually tied the game at 45 when Whitelow hammered home a triple with 18:13 to play. Alec Rosner's basket at 16:54 gave WSU its first lead at 47-45. USF responded and retook the lead at 50-47 and 54-52 when Cartwright had a basket at the 14:01 mark. USF had a 13-to-7 run for a 67-59 advantage with 8:30 to play. After two foul shots by Cartwright at the 4:59 mark, USF led, 73-65.  But WSU rallied and eventually took the lead on a lay-up by Luke Martens with 47 seconds to play.

Thompson responded by scoring on a lay-up with 25 seconds to play. Then, WSU ran the clock down and Whitelow's basket in the paint gave the dramatic win to WSU.