WINONA, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon men's basketball team got their first win over a nationally ranked opponent under head coach Chad Walthall, Saturday night, against the No.21 Winona State University Warriors on the road.
The Warriors only led one time in the game against the Dragons, coming at the 19:09 mark in the first half on a Ben Fischer three-pointer, 3-2. From that moment on, it was all MSUM.
The Dragons would hold on to an eight point lead at the 7:38 mark in the first half before Winona's Clayton Vette hit a layup to cut the dragon lead to six, 22-28.
The Warriors would be held scoreless the rest of the first half, allowing the Dragons to finish the half on a 17-0 run, which was ended with a never-before-seen Alex Novak three-pointer as time expired to go to halftime with a score of 45-22. It was Novak's first shot of his collegiate career from long-range.
The Warriors would come out firing in the second half, going on a 7-0 run to cut the Dragon lead to 16 at the 18:43 mark.
The Dragons would bounce back to increase their lead to as much as 25 points after a DJ Hamilton layup with 15:12 left in the game.
The Warriors would slowly start to creep back into the game, cutting the Dragon lead to seven after a CJ Erickson three-pointer with 0:48 left in the game.
The Dragons would hang on to the lead, scoring their highest point total this season, 95-87, and defeat nationally ranked No.21 Winona State University.
Novak had a career night, scoring 18 points and ripping down a career-high 21 rebounds. He also recorded two blocked shots in the game, moving him into second place all-time in the Dragon record books, in career blocked shots with 99 in 42 games.
Hamilton also recorded his career-high in points with 19. Charlie Chapman produced 22 points, Jake Driscoll put up 16 points and Dennis Williamson scored 10 points to round out the Dragons in double-figures.
The Dragons will return home on Alumni Night, Jan. 21 against Concordia, St. Paul at 8 p.m. All Dragon alumni wearing a red t-shirt will receive a $1 admission for showing their Dragon pride.
