WINONA, Minn. – Winners of four of their last five, and six straight at home, the Winona State University Warriors return to McCown Gymnasium for the first time in 2020 for a weekend doubleheader against Wayne State College and Augustana University.
Tipoff against the Wildcats is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Friday with the Saturday finale vs. the Augustana Vikings set for 5:30 p.m.
The Warriors opened the New Year with a decisive 89-77 victory at MSU Moorhead before dropping a closely-contested affair at Northern State last Saturday, 72-68. Winona State's next four games will be played at home beginning with Friday's tilt vs. Wayne State.
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SCOUTING WAYNE STATE: The Wildcats (5-12, 2-6 NSIC) enter Friday's contest looking to snap a six-game losing streak. Wayne State ranks 14th in the league in both scoring offense (71.5 ppg) and scoring defense (76.2). The Wildcats are shooting the ball at a 44% clip and have struggled from beyond the arc (32.5%). Wayne State leads the league in team turnovers (229) and opponent turnovers (226). The Wildcats rank fourth in the NSIC in blocked shots/game (4.24). Jordan Janssen leads the Wayne State offense and ranks eighth in the conference in scoring with 17.9 ppg while shooting over 51%. WSU limited Janssen to 12.0 points last year in a pair of Wildcat wins. Janssen is also the top rebounder in the NSIC (10.2) and ranks fifth in blocked shots/game (1.5). Nick Ferrarini (13.4), Nate Mohr (11.2) and Al'Tavius Jackson (10.4) round out the Wildcat scoring leaders. Mohr (38%) and Ferrarini (34%) are Wayne State's threats from downtown.
SCOUTING AUGIE: The Vikings (11-3, 6-2 NSIC) travel to Upper Iowa on Friday before Saturday's weekend finale in Winona. Augie and WSU split last season's series, each winning on the road. The Warrior defense (73.7 ppg) will look to slow the Vikings' third-ranked scoring offense (81.5). Augustana ranks sixth in the league in scoring defense (70.3). The Vikings shoot the ball at a 43.7% clip and are shooting 37.6% from three-point land. Augustana has dominated the boards on both ends this season, and leads the NSIC in offensive rebounds/game (14.4). Augie owned a 51-33 rebounding edge over WSU in the last meeting. The Vikings have a balanced scoring attack with five players averaging at least eight points/game. Matt Todd leads the way with 13.9 ppg, followed by Tyler Riemersma (11.2) and Michael Schaefer (10.6). Riemersma scored 20 against WSU in an Augie win earlier this season. The junior also leads the team and ranks fifth in the NSIC in rebounds/game (9.1).
PROTECT THIS HOUSE: After a disappointing loss to Clarke University (NAIA) to begin the 2019-20 campaign inside McCown Gymnasium, the Warriors have rattled off six consecutive victories since then on their home court. Included in that stretch is a trio of NSIC wins with an 85-80 OT victory over Upper Iowa most recently. In total, WSU is averaging 77.9 ppg at home on 44% shooting (39% 3-point) with a +45 scoring margin.
1,000-POINT CLUB: Junior Kevion Taylor joined an exclusive group prior to the New Year when he eclipsed 1,000 career points on December 21st. Taylor became the second Warrior in as many games (joining Caleb Wagner), and 39th player in Winona State's storied 105-year history to join the 1,000 point club. Taylor ranks sixth in the NSIC in scoring (19.1) and 10th in rebounding (7.2) this season – leading WSU in both categories which are career highs. He has scored at least 25 points six times this season, producing a career-best 27 points on two occasions.
SENIOR SZN: Winona State's lone senior, Caleb Wagner, appears to have saved his best for last. The Muskego, Wisconsin native is averaging a career-high 17.7 ppg which ranks 10th in the conference. Wagner exploded for a career-best 35 points earlier this season vs. Bethany Lutheran and has scored at least 20 points in six outings. He also leads the team in steals (18) and ranks second in assists (45).
SUPPORTING CAST: The Warriors' recent string of success has seen Taylor and Wagner continue to carry the offense, but also a number of complimentary pieces start to emerge on the roster. Sophomore Alec Rosner has started all 14 games and is averaging a career-best 9.5 ppg. Andrea Lo Biondo has scored at least 10 points in three of his last four games and junior Devin Whitelow once against leads the nation in assist/turnover ratio (5.33). Sophomore Luke Martens has turned into a valuable sixth-man off the bench, playing wherever he is asked, appearing in all 14 games and averaging 7.1 ppg.
