Box Score Box Score

DENVER - No. 10 Metro State hit 6-of-6 at the free throw line in the final 25 seconds to hold on for a 73-69 victory over Winona State (Minn.) on Saturday night at home. The win was important as both teams are expected to compete for the top spot in the Central Region this season. Metro State improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Warriors, who just missed a spot in the top 25 by coming in at No. 26, dropped to 1-1.

Demetrius Miller (Flint, Mich./Flint Central H.S.) came up clutch for Metro State, hitting four free throws in the final 25 seconds, and hitting a 3-pointer to tie the game with 2:52 left. He finished with 16 points, including 6-of-6 at the line.

Reggie Evans (Aurora, Colo./Rangeview H.S.) scored a game-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting, while adding five rebounds and four assists.

Jonathan Morse (Boulder, Colo./Fairview H.S.) contributed with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to go with three assists, two blocked shots and a steal. He hit 5-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line.

Paul Brotherson (Sydney, Australia/Westfields Sports High), returning from an injury, scored nine points and had eight rebounds. Brandon Jefferson (Flower Mound, Texas/Lewisville H.S.) chipped in with five points, four steals and three assists.

The Roadrunners forced 17 turnovers and shot 44.2 percent from the floor. They also made 24-of-32 at the line, but shot just 23.1 percent from the outside.

In a tight battle, neither team led by more than six points the entire game, that being Metro State with a 21-15 lead 10 minutes into the first half. The Warriors led 29-28 with 3:32 left, but Metro State closed the half with four straight points on a jumper by Evans and two free throws by Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College).

WSU built a 48-43 lead with 9:56 to go in the game, but Metro State came back with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a fadeaway jumper from the right wing by Evans on a fastbreak, for a 51-48 lead with 8:40 left.

Xavier Humphrey buried a 3-pointer for the Warriors with 3:11 left to go up by three points, but Miller struck back on the ensuing Metro State possession, answering with a 3-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 62-62 with 2:52 left.

With the score tied 64-64, the Roadrunners scored the next five points to take a 69-64 lead with 25 seconds left as Jefferson made 1-of-2 at the line at 1:46, Evans hit a floater in the lane with 1:01 to play and Miller made two free throws.

Jefferson hit a pair of free throws with 15.6 seconds on the clock and Miller made two more with 8.2 to play to seal the win.

Metro State will host South Dakota Mines at 7 p.m. on Friday in its next game.