Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ó Jonte Flowers scored 25 of his 30 points in the second half and Winona State erased a 16-point deficit to win its second NCAA Division II championship in three years with an 87-76 win over Augusta State on Saturday.
Flowers was named tournament most valuable player.
John Smith scored 18 points for Winona State (38-1), while Travis Whipple had 10 and Quincy Henderson scored 10 points with 10 rebounds.
A.J. Bowman scored 26 points to lead Augusta State (27-7), which was playing in the title game for the first time. He made 12 of 15 shots (80 percent) to set a record for the championship game.
Garret Siler and Ben Madgen scored 20 points each for the Jaguars.
Augusta State led 53-37 with 17:25 left in the game before Winona State’s defensive pressure sparked a rally that brought the Warriors back. Flowers’ basket tied the game at 58 with 10 minutes left.
Augusta State coach Dip Metress has local ties. He was the roommate and teammate of West Rowan coach Mike Gurley during their playing days at Belmont Abbey.