MOORHEAD, Minn. – A strong defensive effort helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team earn a 74-58 win over Winona State in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday night at Nemzek Fieldhouse in Moorhead.
 
MSUM, playing for the first time since Jan. 2, improved to 10-8 overall and 5-4 in the NSIC while Winona State fell to 10-7 overall and 6-5 in the league. It was the Dragons' second win over Winona State this season, the first was a nonconference 76-67 win in November.
 
The Dragons held the Warriors to 37.9 percent (22-of-58) shooting for the game, including 10-of-29 in the first half which saw MSUM build a 14-point lead at one point.
 
Junior guards Gavin Baumgartner and Lorenzo McGhee led the way for the Dragons. Baumgartner had 21 points, two assists and two steals while McGhee had his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
 
MSUM slowly gained control over the final nine minutes of the first half, ending the half on a 22-12 run to build a 35-24 halftime advantage. Baumgartner hit a three with 56 seconds left in the first half to give the Dragons their largest lead of the opening 20 minutes at 35-24.
 
McGhee had nine first-half points while Baumgartner had seven.
 
The Warriors hit a three to climb within 39-30 early in the second half, but that was as close as they'd get. The Dragons would lead by as many as 21 in the second half on their way to the 16-point win.
 
Senior forward Gatdoar Kueth had nine points in 12 minutes for MSUM. Junior guard Bryce Irsfeld had three assists.
 
MSUM hosts No. 13 Upper Iowa at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game
This Dragons win, coupled with their 76-67 victory on Nov. 26, marks the first time the Dragons have beaten Winona State twice in the same season since winning 87-63 on Jan. 27, 1996, then 113-81 four weeks later on Feb. 24.