WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University men's basketball team opens a four-game road stretch this weekend against two of the top teams in the NSIC South in Wayne State and Augustana University. The Warriors and Wildcats tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Friday with the finale against the Vikings slated for Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
The Warriors (5-9, 2-6 NSIC) are currently mired in a four-game skid and have lost seven of their last eight outings. Included in that span are overtime losses to Wayne State and Upper Iowa. Wayne State stunned WSU at home last month by knocking down an improbable buzzer-beater in regulation before holding on for an 82-80 OT victory.
Kevion Taylor recorded a season-high 24 points in the Warriors' loss to Wayne earlier this season. The sophomore leads WSU in scoring (13.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.4) this year. Caleb Wagner (11.3 ppg), Devin Whitelow (9.6) and Tommy Gathje (8.9) round out the scoring leaders. Whitelow has dished out a team-best 3.8 assists/game and leads the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (4.1). That mark ranks fourth among all DII players.
Winona State's recent offensive struggles have been a key factor in the Warriors' current losing streak. WSU ranks 14th in the NSIC in scoring offense (73.2 ppg) and last in field goal shooting (42%). The Warriors' 35.2% clip from downtown ranks 10th in the league. During their four-game skid, the Warriors have failed to shoot over 40% from the field and are shooting 31.6% (36-114) from beyond the arc.
Defensively, the Warriors rank sixth in the conference in scoring defense (70.3 ppg). Winona State has committed the fewest turnovers in the NSIC (119) and ranks third in turnover margin (+3.64). WSU shares the league lead in assist/turnover ratio (1.53).
Next weekend the Warriors will travel to Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State before returning to McCown Gymnasium to host Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls on January 25-26.
Scouting Wayne State
The Wildcats (11-3, 6-2 NSIC) are off to one of their best starts in recent history and own 6-1 record at home. Wayne State suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season against Augustana and Sioux Falls earlier this month – dropping those contests by a combined seven points. Winona State leads the all-time series over Wayne State, 35-16, but the teams have split their last four meetings.
Wayne State leads the NSIC in scoring defense (64.8 ppg) and has forced a league-best 226 opponent turnovers. The Wildcats lead the league in opponent field goal shooting (41.2%) and rank second in three-point defense (32.3%). In their last meeting, the Warriors did shoot 52.9% (9-17) from downtown.
Trevin Joseph leads the Wildcats and ranks 12th in the NSIC in scoring (16.8 ppg) followed by Kendall Jacks (15.3). Vance Janssen (12.1) rounds out the scoring leaders while Jordan Janssen has averaged a team-best 7.0 rebounds/game. V. Janssen scored 25 in the Wildcats' win at WSU earlier this season. Ben Dentlinger is fourth in the NSIC with 2.0 blocked shots/game.
Scouting Augustana
The Vikings (10-4, 6-2 NSIC) host Upper Iowa Friday night before welcoming the Warriors to town. Augie has won seven of its last eight games, a stretch that began with an 88-80 victory at Winona State. The Vikings overcame a 38-32 halftime deficit to outscore the Warriors 56-42 in the second half of their win. Augie shot 55.2% in the game, including a 10-20 clip from downtown, as Matt Cartwright and Tyler Riemersma combined for 40 points. Whitelow dished out an eye-pooping 12 assists in the loss for WSU.
Riemersma ranks 10th in the NSIC in scoring (17.3 ppg) followed by Cartwright (15.8) who ranks 14th in the league. A.J. Plitzuweit (12.4), Michael Schaefer (11.8) and Dylan LeBrun (10.3) are all averaging double digits in the scoring column this year. Riemersma's 9.5 rebounds/game rank second in the NSIC.
Augustana is one of the best rebounding teams in the conference on both ends of the court. The Vikings rank second in the league in offensive boards/game (12.0) and are sixth in defense boards (27.2). Augie owned a 35-30 rebounding edge in its earlier win over WSU.
The Vikings lead the all-time series, 16-13, including wins in seven of the last eight meetings.
