The final leg of a four-season trip came to an end for the Winona State University seniors, as they made their last stop by defeating Augusta State University, GA 87-76 in the championship game of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournament held at the MassMutual Center.

It is the second time the Warriors have come away from a trip to the MassMutual Center with the DII title trophy in their hands and only a last second lapse kept the Warriors from three straight Division II titles.

But as they have over their four-year trip the Warriors had to climb mountain after mountain to reach the peak of Division II basketball. Just as the Warriors did in the quarterfinal game against Grand Valley State University, MI and in the semifinal game against Bentley College, MA, the Warriors trailed at half. But this time is was by 12 points and not like the five against GVSU and the six against BC.

Also this time around the Warriors did not come out with thier quick return to the lead in the second half. WSU trailed by 12 at the halftime break and saw that deficit enlarged to 16, 53-37, with 17:25 left. But just in the previous two games of the tournament, the Warriors reached down deep and came back for the win.

As the four-year trip for the WSU seniors came to an end they had made their travels by playing in 146 games and posting a 129-17 record.

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–Excerpt courtesy Winona State Sports Information Office