WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University men's basketball team continues its three-game stretch of conference road games with weekend with contests at Augustana University on Friday and Wayne State on Saturday.
The Warriors (3-4, 0-1 NSIC) had their three-game winning streak snapped last weekend in their NSIC opener at Upper Iowa, 84-79. WSU wiped out a 10-point halftime deficit but couldn't cool off a hot-shooting Peacocks team in the setback. Kevion Taylor recorded his first double-double of the year with 25 points and a career-best 17 rebounds. He also matched a career high with seven assists.
Taylor has scored at least 25 points in three of the last five games and leads Winona State in scoring (16.9 ppg) while ranking second in rebounding (7.3). Andrea Lo Biondo has a team-high 7.9 rebounds/game.
Caleb Wagner is averaging 16.3 ppg after dropping a career-best 35 points two weeks ago in a win vs. Bethany Lutheran. Alec Rosner is averaging 9.3 ppg and Luke Martens (7.7) has been the Warriors' sixth man off the bench.
After an 0-3 start to the season where the Warriors struggled to shoot the ball, WSU has shot over 40% in each of its last four games, including a pair of games shooting better than 43% from downtown. Overall, Winona State is shooting just 38.2% from the field and 33.1% from beyond the arc.
The Warriors are averaging 69.4 ppg while allowing 71.9 ppg. Winona State ranks second in the league in assist/turnover ratio (1.39) and fourth in turnover margin (2.00).
Following this road trip, the Warriors return to McCown Gymnasium for a three-game homestand beginning Dec. 13-14.
Scouting Augustana
The Vikings (6-1, 1-0 NSIC) won their conference opener over Wayne State last weekend, 75-66. Augie had a dominant 54-36 advantage in rebounds in that victory. Through six games, the Vikings had pulled down a league-leading 110 offensive rebounds.
Augie ranks third in the NSIC in scoring (84.7 ppg) and is 12th in scoring defense (72.3). The Vikings are shooting at a 44% clip from the field and 35.2% from downtown. The Vikings defend the three-point line well (32.9% opponents), but can be vulnerable inside (44%).
Matt Cartwright ranks fifth in the league in scoring (19.6 ppg) while Tyler Riemersma is sixth in rebounding (9.4). Riemersma scored 20 against Wayne State and is averaging 10.7 ppg.
The Warriors and Vikings split the 2018-19 series with both sides winning on the road.
Scouting Wayne State
The Wildcats (3-6, 0-1 NSIC) had their three-game winning streak snapped by Augie last weekend. Wayne hosts Upper Iowa on Friday prior to Saturday's finale vs. Winona State. The Wildcats won both meetings against the Warriors last season, including an overtime victory in Winona.
Wayne State is averaging 73.1 ppg while ranking 15th in the league in scoring defense (76.8). The Wildcats are shooting 44% from the field and allowing a 45% effort from their opponents. Wayne has struggled to shoot the ball from downtown, currently recording just a 32.5% clip.
Jordan Janssen leads the team and ranks eighth in the NSIC in scoring (17.9 ppg) with Nick Ferrarini averaging 14.4 ppg. Al'Tavius Jackson (11.1) and Nate Mohr (11.0) round out the scoring leaders. Janssen also leads the way with 10.6 rebounds/game.
