Former Madison La Follette athlete Jonte Flowers scored 30 points and ignited a second-half comeback as Winona (Minn.) State rallied from 16 points down to beat Augusta (Ga.) State 87-76 and win its second NCAA Division II national title in three seasons Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Mass.

Flowers, who was 11-for-22 from the field, scored 25 points in the second half as the Warriors (38-1) rallied from a halftime deficit for the third time in as many Elite Eight games at the MassMutual Center. Flowers was named the tournament's outstanding player.

Augusta State led 44-32 at halftime and extended it to 53-37 at one point in the second half before the Warriors (38-1)  rallied to raise another national championship banner in the nationally televised game and celebration on CBS.

``It's a dream come true,'' said Flowers, whose team won the 2006 title before losing a seven-point lead in the final 45 seconds of the 2007 national title game against Barton (N.C.). ``It's a blessing.''

Warriors coach Mike Leaf said of Flowers: ``That guy, he's never denied anything. He's just a big winner.''

A Flowers jumper with 10:10 to play tied the game for the first time since early in the first half at 58. Flowers tied the game again at 61 on a 3-pointer before a John Smith 3-pointer gave the Warriors their first lead of the second half 65-63 with 7:40 left and a layup by former Wausau East standout Ben Fischer with 5:50 to go gave Winona State the lead for good at 67-65.

Smith, a 6-foot-9 post player and the two-time NCAA Division II player of the year, went 4-for-4 from 3-point range and added 18 points for Winona State. Senior Quincy Henderson, another former La Follette athlete, added 10 points -- including a 3-pointer ahead of the halftime buzzer -- and 10 rebounds for the Warriors.

It was also the second national title for former La Follette player Curtrell Robinson, a junior guard, and Oregon native Brent Riese, a senior guard.

Check back here late for more coverage from our sister paper the Winona (Minn.) Daily News or pick up the Sunday edition of the Wisconsin State Journal.