LIONS FALL TO TOP RANKED WINONA STATE 88-82
AT DISNEY'S DII TIP-OFF CLASSIC
LAKE BUENA VISTA,
Fla (Nov. 9) – The top-ranked
Winona State University Warriors (Winona,
MN) defeated the University of North
Alabama, 88-82, at the 2007 Disney’s
Division II Men’s Tip Off Classic basketball
tournament on Friday evening at Disney’s
Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando,
Fla.
Jonte Flowers
scored 17 of his game-high 21 points (9-15
FG) in the second half to lead Winona State
(1-0). Josh Smith recorded a double-double
with 13 points (2-5 FG, 9-17 FT) and 14
rebounds (11 defensive).
Ben Fischer
came off the bench to add 12 points (4-5 FG)
and a game-high six assists. Quincy
Henderson and David Johnson contributed with
16 and 13 points, respectively.
Quinn Beckwith
led the Lions (0-1) with 19 points 5-of-14
from the field, including 4-of-10 from
beyond the three-point arc. Thomas Fraise
scored 16 points and grabbed 13 points for
the double-double. Kenny Johnson
contributed with 12 points (5-14 FG) and
Casey Holt recorded a double-digit rebound
effort with 10.
Thomas Morris
was the top reserve with 14 points on 5-of-8
shooting and five rebounds.
Trailing by 14
points (39-25), the Lions scored 12 of the
final 16 points in the first half, led by
Quinn Beckwith’s seven points, to trim the
lead to six points heading into the
intermission. Led by Henderson and Flowers,
who combined for 11 points, the Warriors
extended their lead to 12 points (54-42) in
the first four and a half minutes of the
second half. North Alabama chipped away at
the lead and reduced it to four points
(62-58) midway
through the second half, but that was as
close as they would get. Winona State
scored eight of the next 10 to extend the
lead to 70-60 and cruise to the six-point
win. Winona dominated as they outscored the
Lions 22-10 in points off turnovers, 38-24
in points in the paint and shut out North
Alabama in fast break points (9-0).
Winona State
University will next play Philadelphia
University (Philadelphia, PA) on Saturday at
7:30 p.m., while the University of North
Alabama looks to rebound versus Assumption
College (Worcester, MA) at 7:30 p.m.
