WINONA, Minn. – Riding a four-game winning streak, Winona State University welcomes Augustana University and Wayne State College to McCown Gymnasium this weekend. The Warriors and Vikings tip off on Friday at 7:30 p.m. followed by Saturday's finale at 5:30 p.m.
The Warrior defense has been lights out over its last four games after dropping two in a row to begin the season, and has deployed a balanced offensive attacked over its current hot streak. WSU has four games remaining in the 2018 calendar year after this weekend, all on the road, including its final non-conference tilt at Michigan Tech slated for December 19.
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SCOUTING AUGIE: The Vikings (3-3) enter Friday's tilt on a two-game skid with losses to Black Hills State and Wayne State. Those losses came by a combined four points, and Augustana's three total losses have been by 10 combined points. The Vikings rank 14th in the NSIC in scoring (70.2 ppg) and are ninth in scoring defense (66.7 ppg). Augie ranks last in the league in overall field goal percentage (40.6%) while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc. Four Vikings are averaging double digits in scoring led by Tyler Riemersma (15.2 ppg). The post is shooting 53 percent from the field and leads the team with 8.3 rebounds/game. A.J. Plitzuweit and Michael Schaefer are averaging 12.2 ppg. Augustana has won six of the last seven meetings with WSU.
SCOUTING WAYNE STATE: The Wildcats (6-1) travel to Upper Iowa Friday before Saturday's matchup with the Warriors. Wayne State enters the weekend on a five-game winning streak. The Wildcats lone loss this year came at Central Missouri, 73-67. Wayne State ranks seventh in the NSIC in scoring (82 ppg) while ranking fifth in scoring defense (63.3 ppg). The Wildcats have forced the third-most turnovers in the league this season on the defensive side of the ball (114). Collectively, the Wildcats are shooting nearly 50 percent from the field, but have struggled from beyond the arc through seven games (31.6%). Kendall Jacks, Trevin Joseph and Vance Janssen are each averaging at least 13 ppg. WSU has won four of the past seven meetings with Wayne State.
LOCKDOWN D: The Warriors enter the weekend with the second-best scoring defense in the NSIC (62 ppg). Over its four-game winning streak, Winona State has allowed just 55.75 ppg. The Warriors held Upper Iowa to 50 points last Saturday, marking WSU's first occurrence of holding a conference foe to 50 points or less since Dec. 11, 2015 at CSP. Amid their current stretch, the Warriors held Waldorf to just nine points in the second half of a game last month and forced a season-high 19 turnovers against Viterbo. Winona State ranked fourth in the NSIC last season in scoring defense (72.5 ppg).
INSIDE-OUT: The Warriors have shown the ability to score both in the paint and beyond the three-point arc through six outings. While WSU's three-point shot has not found the level of consistency it enjoyed last year (40%), the Warriors are creating plenty of good looks and launched an eye-popping 41 three-point attempts vs. Viterbo. WSU knocked down a season-best 16 treys vs. Waldorf. Inside the arc, the Warriors are shooting 54 percent on the year. Against Upper Iowa last Saturday, WSU owned a commanding 48-22 scoring advantage in the lane.
BALL CONTROL: Winona State enters the weekend ranked second in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (1.58) and third in turnover margin (+4.178). The Warriors have committed the second-fewest turnovers in the league (55) and rank sixth in assists/game (14.5). Devin Whitelow (5.0) and Caleb Wagner (4.4) rank first and second, respectively, in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio.
SEASON OF GIVING: Winona State is shooting a league-best 82.5 percent (80-97) from the charity stripe this season. Kevion Taylor (11 attempts), Mason Domask (7) and Nick Klug (5) are each perfect on the year from the free throw line. Max Miller is shooting 83 percent with a team-high 18 attempts. The Warriors got to the free throw line 35 times at Saint Mary's last month, and went 22-23 from the line vs. Viterbo.
