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SPRINGFIELD, Mass.-Trailing by 16 early in the second half, Winona State went on a 21-5 run to pull even and then pulled away late to earn the 2008 NCAA, Division II Men's Basketball Championship with an 87-76 victory over Augusta State Saturday, March 29 at the Mass Mutual Center.
Ben Fisher scored two baskets on putbacks with just over five minutes left, breaking a 65-all tie and putting Winona State ahead for good. The baskets sparked the Warriors on a 22-11 run to close out the contest and win their second national championship in three seasons. Winona State has played in the title game three straight seasons.
Rebounding and inside play were among the big keys during the second half comeback. Augusta State held a 28-4 scoring advantage in the paint in the first half, and out-rebounded Winona State 19-10 at the same time. After intermission, Winona flipped that completely. The Warriors held a 29-11 rebounding advantage. Both teams scored 22 points in the paint after intermision.
Jonte Flowers led Winona State with a game-high 30 points, including 25 in the second half. John Smith added 18. Travis Whipple scored 13 points. Quincy Henderson added 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out five assists. Fisher scored just eight points, but had nine rebounds (six offensive).
A.J. Bowman scored 26 points to lead Augusta, but was saddled with foul trouble midway through the second half and was on the bench with four during a key 10-3 Winona run. Ben Madgen and Garret Siler scored 20 each. Madgen had five assists. Demetrius Howard grabbed 10 rebounds.
Winona State closed the season 38-1 and established an NCAA, Division II record for single season victories. The Warriors won 32 straight.
Augusta State finished 27-7. | 
