MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Winona State University men’s basketball team played against Minnesota State University Moorhead but lost the game 71-57.
Luke Haertle was the standout for the Warriors, scoring 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds, along with three assists.
Game Recap:
The game started with Logan Kinsey hitting a three-pointer for MSU Moorhead, assisted by Carson Johnson. Winona State’s Jhei-R Jones quickly answered with a three of his own. The Warriors found their groove and took a 20-13 lead, thanks to baskets from Haertle and Connor Drew. They held on to their lead until a layup from Shaun Wysocki gave Moorhead a narrow 34-32 advantage at halftime.
The second half began with another three-pointer from Kinsey, boosting the Dragons’ momentum. Both teams exchanged points, but Moorhead’s lead stayed below six points. Drew and Haertle kept pushing, making tough shots to stay competitive. After a brief scoring drought for both teams, Drew scored to cut the deficit to 48-46. Nevertheless, the Dragons launched a crucial run, extending their lead to 61-51 before the final media timeout.
With just over two minutes left, Haertle hit a tough three-pointer, bringing the score to 66-57. But MSU Moorhead responded with key baskets, sealing their victory at 71-57.
Key Players:
- Luke Haertle: 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
- Connor Drew: 19 points, 5 rebounds
- Same Hastreiter (Dragons): 19 points, 9 rebounds
- Isaiah Thompson and Jhei-R Jones each with 8 rebounds
Quick Stats:
- MSU Moorhead had four players in double figures, while Winona State had two.
- The Warriors shot 36.2% from the field and 28.6% from three-point range. The Dragons shot 44.1% and 39.3% respectively.
- Both teams secured 38 rebounds.
- Winona State recorded eight assists, while Moorhead had 14.
Winona State’s next game is on Saturday, February 22, at 3:30 PM, where they will face St. Cloud State University in their last NSIC regular-season matchup.
