WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University men return home in the New Year to open a four-game homestand with a pair of NSIC South opponents this weekend in McCown Gymnasium.
The Warriors host Southwest Minnesota State on Friday at 8 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. tip against Sioux Falls on Saturday. WSU fell to both opponents on the road earlier this season.
Both weekend games will be aired live on HBC25.
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SCOUTING SMSU: The Mustangs (10-4, 6-1 NSIC) sits two games behind Mankato for first place in the NSIC South (4-2). SMSU has won six of its last seven games. The Mustangs rallied from a halftime deficit to hold off the Warriors in their previous meeting this season, 79-76. WSU shot 55% from downtown in the loss. Ryan Bruggeman led all players with 24 points in the win for SMSU. Bruggeman ranks 10th in the NSIC in scoring this season (16.5 ppg). Carter Kirk is averaging 13.9 ppg and leads the league in rebounding (9.9). As a team, the Mustangs rank second in the NSIC in three-point shooting (42%).
SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS: The Cougars travel to Upper Iowa on Friday before Saturday's tilt in Winona. USF handed the Warriors a 16-point loss in Sioux Falls earlier this season – WSU's second-largest NSIC defeat of the year. The Cougars ran away from the Warriors in the second half of that contest, outscoring WSU, 49-31. Mason Domask scored a career-best 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from downtown in the setback. USF's Drew Guebert led the Cougars with 23 points. Gubert ranks third in the NSIC in scoring (22.1 ppg), followed by Trevon Evans (20.7). USF ranks third in the league in scoring (82.3 ppg) and has the best rebounding offense in the NSIC (40.4). USF out-rebounded Winona, 44-32, in the last meeting.
HOME COOKING: The Warriors have enjoyed a majority of their success at home this season, posting a 6-1 record in McCown Gymnasium. WSU is 2-5 away from home. The Warriors success at home has due in large part to their offense clicking on their home court. WSU is shooting 50% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc in home games, while averaging 84.7 ppg. Away from home, Winona is shooting 42% overall and just 36% from downtown, while averaging 70.1 ppg. Those stats will be put to the test this weekend against two of the top teams in the South.
ON GUARD: Junior shooting guard Mason Domask leads the Warriors in scoring (12.6 ppg) and three-point shooting (53%) this season. Domask is shooting 69% from downtown (20-29) over his last six games. Point guard Caleb Wagner is averaging 14.8 points per contest since being inserted in the starting lineup (6 games). Wagner leads WSU in assists, dishing out 4.6 per game (64 total).
LEAD BY EXAMPLE: Winona's lone senior, Corey Jeffs, ranks third on the team this season in scoring (11.8 ppg). The Melbourne, Australia native has started in all 14 games this season, and leads the Warriors with 5.4 rebounds per contest.
ROOKIE ROUNDUP: Freshman guard Devin Whitelow returned to the floor last weekend after missing three weeks due to injury. The Peoria, Illinois native started the first eight games of the season for WSU, and is averaging 10.1 ppg to go along with a 4.0 assist/turnover ratio. Fellow rookie Kevion Taylor has appeared in all 14 games for the Warriors and is averaging 6.6 ppg. Taylor leads the team with 23 offensive rebounds this year.
