WINONA, Minn. - The University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball team fought tooth and nail on Saturday night at McCown Gymnasium, but fell 91–77 to Winona State in NSIC action. Playing without leading scorer Taylen Ashley, the Cougars refused to back down, scrapping and clawing throughout the night before ultimately running out of steam against a hot-shooting Warriors squad.
Game Summary
Winona State came out firing, torching the nets at a blistering 56.7 percent clip in the first half while building a commanding 46–31 cushion at the break. The Warriors connected on seven triples before halftime and feasted in the paint, forcing the shorthanded Cougars to chase from the opening tip.
USF answered with a grittier second half, matching Winona State nearly bucket-for-bucket while attacking downhill and living at the charity stripe. The Cougars sliced the lead down to just five points late, but every time they threatened to complete the comeback, the Warriors had an answer—draining timely buckets and knocking down free throws to keep USF at arm's length down the stretch.
Sioux Falls shot 23-of-61 from the field and 6-of-24 from deep, but made their presence felt by attacking the basket relentlessly—earning 34 free-throw attempts and converting 25. Despite forcing 10 turnovers and holding the edge in transition, the Cougars couldn't overcome Winona State's sharpshooting and dominance on the glass.
How It Happened
First Half
The Warriors owned the opening 20 minutes behind scorching shooting and contributions across the roster, draining 17-of-30 from the floor and 7-of-14 from three-point range. USF stayed aggressive, drawing contact and getting to the line 15 times while converting 10, but couldn't find any offensive flow as Winona State took a comfortable 46–31 advantage into the locker room.
Second Half
The Cougars came out of halftime with renewed purpose, shooting a respectable 43.8 percent and punishing the paint with 20 points in close. USF attacked the rim wave after wave, cashing in at the free-throw line and methodically chipping away at the deficit until they pulled within striking distance in the final minutes. But Winona State refused to crack, answering every punch with interior finishes and clutch free throws to close the door and seal the 91–77 victory.
Coach's Corner
"Everything needs to be improved on defense. We just aren't defending at all level that even gives us a chance at success. We tried to push a couple times in the second half but just didn't make enough ft's and couldn't get enough stops."
- Head Coach Chris Johnson
Key Coo
Key Team Stats
- Free-Throw Pressure: USF attempted 34 free throws and converted 25, consistently attacking the rim throughout the night.
- Paint Production: The Cougars scored 32 points in the paint, keeping pressure on Winona State's interior defense.
- Second-Half Response: USF outscored the Warriors 46–45 after halftime and held them to one made three in the second half.
- Turnovers: Sioux Falls forced 10 turnovers and turned them into 14 points.
- Rebounding: Winona State held a 38–34 edge on the glass, including key offensive rebounds late.
Up Next
The Cougars head north for their Sunday afternoon matchup with Concordia-St. Paul at 2:00 p.m. inside Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn.
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