This Week's Men's Basketball Storylines:

BACK IN McCOWN: After three straight road matchups, the Winona State men's basketball team is back in the friendly confines of McCown Gymnasium for the first time in nearly a month this weekend when it plays the first two games of a four-game homestand. The Warriors, who have seen all five of their wins come at home, will entertain Sioux Falls at 8 p.m. Friday before taking on Southwest Minnesota State at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

FAMILIAR FOES: The Warriors are no stranger to this weekend's opponents, having matched up against the Cougars and Mustangs just last month on the team's first conference road trip of the season. The Warriors came up empty on the trip, falling to Southwest Minnesota State 61-60 before losing to Sioux Falls 76-54.

SIOUX FALLS STRUGGLE: The Warriors will look to rebound Friday from statistically its worst performance of the season in their meeting against Sioux Falls. WSU was held to a season-low 27 percent shooting (17-of-63) while the Cougars' 57 percent shooting (24-of-42) was the highest percentage the Warriors have allowed all season. The Warriors also were outrebounded 42-27, but did manage to commit just five turnovers, a season best.

SMSU SLUGFEST: The Warriors' first matchup with Southwest Minnesota State this year was a typical, physical battle between the two South Division rivals. The score was tied six times and the lead switched hands on 10 different occasions. The Warriors had the ball with time ticking down and a chance to win, but Riley Bambenek had the ball stripped by SMSU's Turner Moen as time expired to preserve the one-point win. Kyle Bauman and Conrad Masberg led all scorers with 11 points apiece in the matchup.

USF SERIES HISTORY: The Warriors and Cougars will be matching up for just the seventh time overall dating back to 1969 and sixth meeting since USF joined the NSIC in 2012. The Warriors hold a 4-2 series lead, with WSU winning the first four and USF claiming the past two.

SMSU SERIES HISTORY: The Warriors and Mustangs will be meeting for the 101st time in series history Saturday night. WSU holds a 65-35 series lead dating back to 1968, including winning 22 of the last 26 meetings. The Mustangs have won the last two matchups in the series, however, with both wins coming in Marshall. SMSU has not beaten the Warriors in McCown Gymnasium since 2003 when the Mustangs beat WSU 77-72 in overtime.

SCOUTING THE COUGARS: Sioux Falls comes into McCown Gym with a record of 7-7 overall, with a 4-4 mark in NSIC play. The Cougars have won five of their last seven games and three of the past four. Guard Charles Ward has scored at least 20 points in three of the past four games and is third in the NSIC with 17.6 points per game. Guard Mack Johnson ranks 10^th in the NSIC in scoring
at 15.1 points per game as part of USF's one-two-punch and was 5-of-5 from 3-point range in last Saturday's win over Wayne State.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: Southwest Minnesota State enters the weekend with a 9-5 record, including a 5-3 mark in league play. The Mustangs have three players averaging double figures, led by Joey Bartlett's 14.6 points per game. Mitch Weg is second on the squad in scoring with 12.1 points per game, while Cole Martin chips in 11.6 points per game. The Mustangs have proved to be an efficient-shooting team thus far, making over 50 percent of their shots in eight of their 14 games this season. SMSU has also only trailed at halftime in three games this season.

GRAY CONSISTENCY: In splitting time as both a starter and a reserve for the Warriors this season, sophomore guard Isaiah Gray has been a model of consistency that WSU can rely upon for double-digit scoring. Isaiah Gray is second on the team averaging 13.2 points per game overall, but a team-leading 14.9 points per game in conference play while starting just four of the eight games. Gray has failed to reach double-digits in just one conference game (9 points vs. SMSU) and has scored between 12 and 15 points in the past six games, while opening NSIC play with a career-high 29 points against Upper Iowa.