Both teams started 0-0 and ended 0-0, but someone forgot to tell Winona State University's Clayton Vette this was an exhibition game.

It meant more to him.

Vette, a transfer from NCAA Division I Iowa State, turned in a 26-point, seven-rebound performance in his first game as a Warrior on Monday night, but it didn't matter.

What mattered, he said, is that UW-La Crosse - an NCAA Division III school - had knocked off the Warriors 82-77 in a season-opening exhibition game played before 1,032 fans in McCown Gymnasium.

It was the first of three exhibition games the Warriors will play - all at home - in the next 10 days, with the next being Thursday night against UW-Eau Claire.

"I don't really care. We didn't win," Vette said of his individual performance.

"We have to learn to do the little things together. We have to be talking to each other and rebounding. We have to get the rebound every time."

UW-La Crosse used an aggressive and attacking style to jump out front early, then used clutch free-throw shooting to withstand a strong WSU push at the end.

UW-L hit 40 of 44 free throws - Eagles coach Ken Koelbl said he couldn't recall a team he's coached ever having shot, or converting, that many foul shots - to hold off WSU.

The Warriors were 22 of 30 from the line, including 7-for-8 performances from Vette and Ben Fischer.

"We gave up way too many driving lanes to the basket," WSU coach Mike Leaf said. "Defensively, we had some breakdowns and were caught out of position. I would rather we make those mistakes now than when we get into the conference season."

UW-La Crosse's Trevor Stratton and Tony Mane were able to penetrate the lane the entire game and were either fouled or kicked the ball back outside where their teammates had open looks at 3-pointers. The two combined for 53 points.

Stratton, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, scored a game-high 31 points and was 19-for-20 from the free-throw line. Mane, a 6-foot junior guard, added 22 points and nailed all eight of his free throws.

"We were disappointed with how our season went last year. We lost eight or so games by six points or less," Stratton said. "This is a good team we played, but a team is a team. They get scholarships and we don't. They play 40 minutes and so do we."

WSU did fight back to take a 53-51 lead on a 3-pointer by another newcomer, C.J. Erickson, but the Eagles responded with a 17-8 run to take a 68-61 lead with just over 2 minutes remaining.

The Warriors used a full-court press and some inspired defense late to pull within 78-74 with 15.5 seconds left but would get no closer as UW-La Crosse simply didn't miss from the line.

"It's so early in the season. I'm not too worried about this," Vette said. "Now we know what we need to work on."

Erickson, a transfer from the University of Evansville, added 14 points for the Warriors, while David Johnson finished with 13.