MARSHALL, Minn. - Metro State saw its 19-game winning streak come to an end as defending national champion Winona State posted a 60-59 victory over the Roadrunners in the first-ever postseason meeting between two storied programs.
The Roadrunners, trailing by one with :11 seconds on the clock, had an opportunity to score the game-winning bucket after Winona State's Ben Fischer missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw. Nelson Ekeh grabbed the rebound and hit Marquise Carrington with an outlet pass, and as Carrington raced up the floor and just inside the free throw line his jumper was blocked by David Johnson. Carrington grabbed the rebound, but the official called traveling, turning the ball back to the Warriors.
Metro State won the battle of the boards, 38-25, and connected on 24-of-51 (47.1 percent) field goals for the game. Winona State entered the game among the nation's top 10 for three-point shooting, but only hit six treys vs. Metro State today - the third lowest total from beyond the arc this season for the Warriors.
The Roadrunners wrap up the season at 27-4, while Winona State improved to 24-8. Metro State is now 29-11 all-time in NCAA Tournament play, while Winona State is 17-3 in the NCAA Tournament. Combined the two programs have won 42 NCAA Tournament games and four national championships since 2000. Metro State captured national titles in 2000 and 2002, while Winona State won national championships in 2006 and 2008.
Jesse Wagstaff posted a team-high 15 points for the Roadrunners, while Donte Nicholas added 12 points. Nelson Ekeh was solid in the paint, totaling 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field with a team-high seven rebounds and two blocks.
Johnson led three Warriors in double figures with 15 points. Josh Korth and Joel Armstrong each added 13 points.
Ekeh started Metro State off by scoring six of the first eight Roadrunner points, while Johnson and Armstrong paced the Warriors with two buckets apiece, locking the teams at 8-8 with 13:48 to play in the first half.
Donte Nicholas converted a three-point play after being fouled by Luke Doedens, giving the Roadrunners a 17-16 advantage with 7:26 to play before intermission. The Warriors responded with six straight points and inched away for a 30-27 halftime lead.
The Warriors pushed the lead to 36-29 just 2-1/2 minutes into the second stanza before the Roadrunners began to chip away. Jesse Wagstaff stole the ball and found Marquise Carrington for a layup, and after Wagstaff nailed a three-pointer, Carrington returned the favor as Wagstaff dropped in a layup for a 39-38 lead with 14:00 to play. Carrington added a trey and Daniel Bass added a jumper to push the Metro State lead to 44-38, its largest of the game.
Winona State then outscored the Roadrunners 14-1 over the next five minutes, capped by an Armstrong layup, to post a 52-45 lead. Metro State pulled to within two, 56-58, following Carrington's layup. A Jon Walburg dunk put the Warriors up 60-56. Walburg then fouled Wagstaff on the next Roadrunner possession and he hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe. Ekeh added the final Roadrunner points on a layup with :27 seconds remaining.
