Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Clayton Vette recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds as six-seed Winona State earned a 64-53 victory over third-seed St. Cloud State in the opening round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.

The Warriors will now play Southwest Minnesota State in the semifinals of the conference tournament in Rochester, Minn. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm Saturday. SMSU recorded a 99-92 win over Minnesota Duluth tonight.

Winona State closed the game on a 19-5 run over the final 7:38 to put away the win. WSU took a 47-46 lead on a Vette jumper with 5:27 to play, a lead they would not give up. Zander Culver and CJ Erickson each hit 3-pointers in the span of three possessions to push the Warrior advantage to seven with 3:40 left.

Erickson scored 12 points on the night and grabbed nine rebounds while Taylor Cameron scored ten with six rebounds and four assists.

Vette was 9-of-18 from the floor on the night in recording his third consecutive 20 point game. It was his sixth double-double of the season as well.

Winona State (25-4 overall) has now won eight consecutive games against St. Cloud State and has beaten the Huskies in the NSIC Tournament for the second consecutive season.

The game was a defensive struggle throughout with the Warriors shooting 38 percent for the game and SCSU shooting just 30 percent.