Kansas City, Mo. – Henderson State Men's Basketball earns first win of 2024-25 campaign with a 74-69 victory versus Winona State on the second day of the 2024 Central Region Challenge.
 
Led in part by a balanced scoring attack the Reddies continued their hard-nosed defense, forcing 16 turnovers while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.
 
The Reddies took advantage early, taking a 14-5 lead thanks to two early threes from senior Tim McDonald. McDonald finished the first half with eight points and connected on two of his three shots from behind the arc. McDonald finished the game with 14 points and his eight rebounds led all players. The Reddies led for all but 30 seconds in the first half.
 
Off the bench Deazhon Perkins led all scorers in the first half with 11. Perkins connected on five-of-six shots from the field in the first half and connected on his one and only free-throw. Perkins finished the game with a team high 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting.
 
The Reddies headed into halftime with a 39-30 lead thanks to a McDonald floater with 49 seconds left.
 
 After the halftime break the Reddies stayed in control and extended their lead to 13 points early in the half.
 
Winona State battled back from down 13 to trail by just three with 57 seconds left in the game before a Chase Farmer layup with 28 seconds secured the win for the Reddies.
 
Nehikhare Igiehon logged 10 of his 14 points in the second half and the highest plus/minus of the game at +13 to go along with six rebounds.
 
The Reddies led the Wazoo's by 12 on points off turnovers, 26-14, by 12 on points in the paint, 42-30, by 10 on fastbreak points, 16-6, and by 20 on points off the bench, 32-12.
 
Top Performers:
 
Deazhon Perkins: 21 pts, 4 stls., and 10-12 FG.
Nehikhare Igiehon: 14 pts., 6 rbs., and 6-7 FG.
Tim McDonald: 14 pts., 8 rbs., and 2 stls.
 
The Reddies make their season debut on their home court Tuesday, November 12 at 7 p.m. versus Champion Christian in the Duke Wells Center.