Box Score             Wayne State erased a 15-point second half deficit and took the lead with just over one minute to play, but host Winona State scored seven of the game's final eight points to edge the Wildcats 63-59 Wednesday evening in the opening round of the 2025 Northern Sun Conference Men's Basketball Tournament played at McCown Gymnasium in Winona, Minnesota.  The Warriors advance to the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals in Sioux Falls this weekend with a 20-9 record while WSC ends the season at 16-13.
            The 'Cats got off to a strong start and held the lead for the first 10 minutes, but a Winona State scoring surge gave the Warriors a double-digit lead and momentum for the final 10 minutes of the opening half.
            WSC took an early 8-3 lead on 3-pointers from Sean Stokes and Jay Saunders along with a basket from Cody McCullough. 
            With the 'Cats still leading 13-9 following a pair of JJ Ferrin free throws at the 11:47 mark, Winona State reeled off seven straight points for a 16-13 lead.  After a Ferrin jumper cut the Warrior lead to one at 16-15, Winona State used a 12-2 run over the next 3:05 to grab a 28-17 advantage with 4:48 to play in the half before closing with a 32-25 lead at intermission.
            Early in the second half, WSC closed within five at 34-29.  Winona State then scored 10 straight points in just 2:07 to take a 44-29 lead with 17:00 remaining.
            Winona State still held a 15-point lead at 46-31 with 15:15 to play when the 'Cats made their comeback.  With the Warriors leading 52-41 at the 10:39 mark, Wayne State held Winona State without a point for the next 6:43 and grabbed a 53-52 lead following a Matt Noll layup with 5:45 to go.
            The Warriors used a 3-pointer and free throw to take a 56-53 lead, but Ferrin drilled a 3-pointer to even the score at 56-56 with 1:53 left.  A steal by Stokes led to a fast break layup by Jay Saunders giving WSC their last lead of the night at 58-56 with 1:18 remaining.
            Two Winona State free throws tied the score at 58-58 with a Warrior basket after two offensive rebounds gave Winona State a 60-58 lead with 12.2 seconds left. 
            Senior forward Cody McCullough was fouled on the next WSC possession with 4.3 to play and made one of two free throws to make the score 60-59.  WSC had to foul and Winona State made two free throws with 3.7 left for a 62-59 lead and then the ensuing inbounds pass by WSC was stolen leading to one more Warrior free throw for the final margin of 63-59 in favor of Winona State.
            Ferrin scored a game-high 26 points for Wayne State, going 9 of 18 from the field and 6 for 11 behind the arc.  Saunders added 13 points with Noll scoring 10.
            WSC was 22 of 53 from the field for 41.5 percent, including 9 of 23 from the 3-point line.  The 'Cats were 6 for 8 at the free throw line.
            Connor Drew and Luke Hartle each scored 14 points for Winona State with Isaiah Thompson adding 12 and Jhei-R Jones 10.
            Winona State shot 40 percent making 22 of 55 shots.  The Warriors were 7 of 22 behind the arc and 12 of 16 at the stripe.  WSU won the rebounding battle over Wayne State 37-28 as McCullough grabbed eight caroms for the 'Cats. 
            The game marked the final contest for five Wildcat seniors – Ryan Blum, Noah Erickson, Cody McCullough, Jay Saunders and Sean Stokes.