Winona, Minn. - The UW-La Crosse men's basketball team opened its 2009-10 season with a 82-77 exhibition victory at NCAA Division II Winona State Unviersity Monday night in McCown Gymnasium.  

The Eagles finished 10-15 last season and return four starters this year. The Warriors finished 24-9 last season. Winona State is ranked 15th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll, 16th in the Basketball Times NCAA III Top-20 Preseason Poll and 20th in the NABC/Division II Preseason Poll.

Trevor Stratton led UW-L with 31 points, going 19-of-20 at the free throw line. He was five-of-12 from the field, including two-of-five from three-point range. Stratton also grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Tony Mane added 22 points for the Eagles, finishing six-of-17 from the field, including two-of-six from beyond the arc. He hit all eight of his free throw attempts. 

UW-L was 40-of-44 (90.9%) at the line for the game, including 30-of-34 (88.2%) in the second half. 

The Eagles shot 33.3% (18-of-54) from the field, including 30.0% (six-of-20) from three-point range. 

Jeff Heiden added seven points for UW-L while Alex Milsap had six and Kurt Kincaid five. 

Clayton Vette led Winona State with 26 points while CJ Erickson finished with 14 and David Johnson 13. The Warriors shot 42.6% from the field, including 40.9% (nine-of-22) from three-point range. The team was 22-of-30 (73.3%) at the line.

The teams combined to finish 62-of-74 at the line and 52 fouls.

UW-L opens its regular season Monday, Nov. 16 hosting Wisconsin Lutheran College at 7 p.m.