WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University men's basketball team travels to Wayne State College and Augustana University this weekend to open a four-game road trip. The Warriors have played nine of their last 11 games at home.
WSU hits the road with a four-game winning streak intact, and has won eight of its last 10 overall. The Warriors have enjoyed a pair of four-game win streaks this year, a first since the 2013-14 campaign.
Winona is coming off a thrilling 102-100 overtime win at home against St. Cloud last Saturday. Corey Jeffs' career-high 33 points helped the Warriors overcome deficits of 19 points in the first half and 15 points late in the second half.
Jeffs, Winona's lone senior, leads the team in scoring (12.6 ppg) and rebounding (5.2 rpg).
Tommy Gathje (12.1), Mason Domask (11.4) and Devin Whitelow (10.1) round out the scoring leaders. Kevion Taylor, a freshman like Whitelow, is averaging 13.8 points over his last five games, including a career-best 21 points versus SMSU.
Winona ranks third in the NSIC as a team in three-point shooting (41%). WSU drilled a season-best 17 three-pointers against St. Cloud last weekend. However, the Warriors have struggled on the road this season, shooting just 36% from downtown away from home. WSU is also averaging more than 10 points less offensively in road games this year compared to home contests.
Scouting Wayne State
The Wildcats (10-10, 5-7 NSIC) have lost three straight, and six of their last eight overall. Winona owns the all-time series lead, 34-14, but has dropped two straight to Wayne State. Prior to being swept in last season's series, the Warriors had won 21 of the last 22 meetings.
Despite their .500 record entering the weekend, the Wildcats rank third in the NSIC in scoring defense (70.6 ppg). Winona will look to exploit the Wildcats' on the glass, as Wayne State ranks near the bottom of the league in rebounding offense and defense.
Wayne State has forced a league-leading 278 opponent turnovers and leads the NSIC in turnover margin (+3.2).
Kendall Jacks leads the Wildcats in scoring (13.7) and rebounding (4.3) while shooting 51% from the field.
Scouting Augustana
The Vikings (11-7, 6-6 NSIC) host Upper Iowa on Friday before concluding the weekend against Winona State. Augustana leads the all-time series, 15-11, having won five straight and seven of the last eight meetings with the Warriors.
The Vikings play in a lot of high-scoring affairs as they lead the NSIC in scoring offense (84.7), but rank 12th in scoring defense (77.4). Augustana ranks just ahead of Winona in three-point shooting at 41.6%.
Jordan Spencer leads the Vikings in scoring, and ranks eighth in the NSIC, (16.2), followed by John Warren (14.1). Steven Schaefer is averaging 13.7 points per contest on 53% shooting, including a 40-for-81 mark from beyond the arc. Marcus Asmus is averaging 11 points and ranks fourth in the league in rebounding (7.4).
