WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University men's basketball team looks to extend its three-game winning streak this weekend with games against NSIC North opponents Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Duluth with the finale set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday against the Huskies.
Winona State (9-11, 6-8 NSIC) has won four of its last five games after producing its first weekend sweep of the season last week. The Warriors took out a pair of teams in front of them in the NSIC South standings in SMSU and Sioux Falls. WSU shot the ball extremely well in both victories, including a season-best 17 three-pointers against USF. The Warriors shot 51.7% (30-58) from downtown last weekend.
Despite shooting just 43.8% from the field this year, WSU has shot over 43% in five of its last six games, including at least a 50% clip in three of those. The Warriors' improved shooting percentage has also extended beyond the arc with at least a 40% effort in four of their last five outings. Defensively, Winona State ranks sixth in the league (71.3 ppg). The Warriors also continue to be one of the best free throw shooting teams in the league at 77.8%.
Winona State leads the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (1.69) and ranks second in turnover margin (+3.45). The Warriors' 162 team turnovers are the fewest in the league. Devin Whitelow leads all Division II players with a 5.87 turnover/assist ratio. The sophomore guard leads the team in assists (88) and ranks fifth in the conference in assist/game (4.4).
The reigning NSIC South Player of the Week, Kevion Taylor, leads WSU and ranks 12th in the NSIC in scoring (16.8 ppg). Taylor averaged 25 points, nine rebounds and 3.5 assists in last weekend's sweep. He has netted four straight games with at least 20 points and averaged 24.2 ppg in six January games. Taylor also leads the Warriors with 6.5 rebounds/game.
Caleb Wagner (11.8 ppg), Whitelow (8.9) and Tommy Gathje (8.9) round out the scoring leaders.
The Warriors return home next weekend for games against Minot State and UMary for their second-to-last homestand of the season.
Scouting Duluth
The Bulldogs (11-7, 8-6 NSIC) have also won four of their last five games entering the weekend, including an impressive 76-70 win over Northern State. Friday will mark the 100th meeting between Duluth and WSU with the Bulldogs owning a 63-36 series advantage. The Warriors decisively won last year's regular season matchup, 71-52, but the Bulldogs bounced WSU from the postseason tournament with an 89-77 overtime win.
The Duluth defense is fifth in the league (70.7 ppg) while the offense ranks 13th (77.3). The Bulldogs also protect the ball well and rank just behind WSU with 187 turnovers on the year. Duluth ranks fifth in the league with 3.67 blocks/game.
Brandon Myer leads the team and ranks fifth in the NSIC in scoring (21.2 ppg). Winona State held him to just four points during last year's regular season matchup before he scored 17 in the playoff game. Sean Burns (14.7 ppg/60.1%) and Logan Rohrscheib (11.2) round out the scoring leaders. Myer also leads the league in rebounding (9.8) and has a team-high 53 assists.
Scouting St. Cloud
The Huskies (14-6, 9-5 NSIC) are 6-3 at home this season and host Upper Iowa prior to Saturday's meeting with WSU. The Warriors won a thrilling 102-100 overtime game at home against the Huskies last year. WSU knocked down 17 three-pointers in that victory. The Huskies lead the all-time series, 99-51, with the teams splitting the last four matchups.
Gage Davis scored 29 points in last year's overtime loss and ranks second in the NSIC in scoring this season (23.4 ppg). He also leads the Huskies in rebounding (7.8). Sean Smith (14.6 ppg) and Brindley Theisen (14.1) round out St. Cloud's high-scoring offense. Brindley is shooting 47.5% from downtown and leads the league with 3.4 three-pointers/game.
The Huskies rank third in the NSIC in scoring offense (81.5 ppg) and are 10th in scoring defense (75.5). St. Cloud has a league-best 5.85 blocked shots/game. Smith has swatted a conference-leading 76 shots.
