Winona State University embarks on the last two weeks of the regular season with the Warriors' final home games inside McCown Gymnasium. WSU hosts the NSIC South-leading Sioux Falls Cougars on Friday before their regular season home finale against SMSU on Saturday. The Warriors will honor senior Caleb Wagner prior to Saturday's Senior Day tipoff.
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SCOUTING USF: The Cougars (15-3, 19-5 NSIC) have won five straight and currently have the best overall NSIC record. USF is 9-1 against NSIC South competition. Sioux Falls is receiving votes in the NABC Top 25 Poll. The Cougars excel on the defensive end of the court, leading the NSIC and ranking 22nd in the country in scoring defense (67.1 ppg). Sioux Falls ranks 14th in the NSIC in scoring offense (71.2). In their last meeting, the Cougars outlasted the Warriors in overtime, 87-75. Winona State's 85 points are the second-most allowed by USF this year. The Warriors shot 55.2% from the field and 56.5% (13-23) from downtown in the loss. On the season, USF is holding opponents to 43.2% from the field and 36.4% from three-point land. The Cougars own the best rebounding defense (29.2) in the conference and rank second on the offensive boards with 11.7/game. USF has a balanced scoring attack with five players averaging at lest 8.0 ppg. Chase Grinde leads the way (12.4) followed by Teathloach Pal (10.8) and Jack Thompson (10.6). Pal and Devin Green scored 18 points apiece in the last meeting with WSU. Pal is the Cougars' leading rebounder with 9.0/game which ranks fifth in the NSIC.
SCOUTING SMSU: The Mustangs (7-17, 4-14 NSIC) enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak and travel to Upper Iowa on Friday. SMSU is 4-9 away from home this season. The Mustangs are last in the NSIC in scoring offense (65.6 ppg) but also own a solid defense, ranking third in scoring defense (69.8). The Warriors will look to utilize their three-point shooting ability (37.8%) against the Mustangs who are allowing teams to shoot 40% from downtown. Another key to victory will be Winona State's ability to force turnovers against a Mustang squad that ranks fourth in the league in miscues (306). Kenny Byers leads SMSU and ranks 10th in the NSIC in scoring (17.3). Byers scored 17 against WSU last time out, but the Warriors completely shut down the rest of the Mustang offense to the tune of 55 points. Nick Dufault (12.2) is SMSU's next leading scorer.
TRENDING UPWARD: Entering the weekend, Winona State has won 11 of its last 15 games and seven of its last 10. Over the last 10 tilts, all three WSU losses have come in overtime – including a triple OT setback to Wayne State. The Warriors have lost back-to-back games just once dating back to Dec. 13th. WSU is currently tied for third in the NSIC South and in prime position for an opening round NSIC Tournament home game on Wednesday, Feb. 26th.
OUT ON A HIGH NOTE: Winona State's lone senior, Caleb Wagner, has saved his best for last during the 2019-20 campaign. Wagner currently leads the team and ranks fourth in the NSIC with a career-best 20.4 ppg. Against Sioux Falls last month, Wagner scored a career-high 47 points which is tied for the second-highest single-game point total in WSU history. He enters the weekend ranked 19th in program history with 1,313 career points.
MAKE IT RAIN: It's no secret the bulk of the Warrior offense comes from behind the three-point line. WSU has converted at least 10 triples in 23 of 24 contests this season. Over their last nine games, the Warriors have shot 40% or better eight times from downtown. WSU enters the weekend ranked sixth in the country in three-point attempts (741) and three-pointers made (280). Kevion Taylor leads the NSIC and ranks seventh nationally with 3.71 threes made/game. Taylor is averaging a career-best 20.0 ppg this season which ranks sixth in the NSIC. Devin Whitelow is shooting a career-high 46.9% from beyond the arc and Andrea Lo Biondo is also at a 40% clip from downtown.
NO FREEBIES: The Warriors rank second in the country in fewest turnovers/game (9.0) and seventh in total turnovers (215). WSU ranks second in the NSIC in turnover margin (+2.83) while forcing 283 opponent miscues. The Warriors are also second in team assist/turnover ratio (1.53). The NCAA-record holder in that category, Devin Whitelow, currently ranks second in the country this year (5.31). The junior guard has dished out 85 assists while committing just 16 turnovers. Last season, Whitelow recorded 137 assists compared to just 23 turnovers (5.96).
