The Winona State University men's basketball team closes the regular season on the road and looks to secure a first round home game in the NSIC Tournament beginning Wednesday, February 26. The Warriors travel to Concordia-St. Paul Friday and conclude the trip with a pivotal game at Minnesota State Mankato. The Mavericks are sitting just behind the Warriors in the NSIC South standings.
The Warriors split their final home games of the regular season last weekend, falling to (RV) Sioux Falls, 51-49, before rallying to a 68-56 victory over SMSU.
Caleb Wagner scored 29 points on Senior Day to help lead the WSU comeback against SMSU. Wagner ranks fourth in the NSIC in scoring (20.5 ppg) which is a new career high. Kevion Taylor ranks seventh in the league ins coring (19.7). Taylor also ranks eighth in rebounding (7.6).
Andrea Lo Biondo (8.8) and Alec Rosner (8.3) round out the Warriors' scoring leaders.
Winona State failed to record 10 three-pointers in both contests last weekend, marking the first time that's happened in back-to-back games this season. The Warriors shot a season-worst 3-28 from downtown in the loss to Sioux Falls.
Despite last week's struggles, Winona State remains one of the most lethal teams from three-point land in the country. Collectively, the Warriors are shooting 36.7% from downtown and are averaging 11.2 three-pointers/game.
Winona State's 8.9 turnovers/game are the lowest number of any team in NCAA Division II. Devin Whitelow ranks second nationally in assist/turnover ratio (5.06). The junior has dished out 91 assists compared to just 18 turnovers.
Scouting CSP
The Golden Bears (8-16, 6-14 NSIC) have lost nine of their last 11 games and are 6-5 at home this year. WSU held on for a 79-77 win over CSP earlier this season in a game that saw Wagner score 23 points, leading a quartet of Warriors who score in double figures.
CSP ranks 10th in the league in scoring offense (74.4 ppg) and is last in scoring defense (79.8). The Golden Bears have the second-most turnovers in the league (371) which could prove the difference against the stout WSU defense. Jordan Coblin (16.5) leads CSP in scoring, followed by Cody Carlson (12.6) and Lee Higgins (12.6).
Scouting Mankato
The Mavericks (14-12, 12-8 NSIC) will host Upper Iowa on Friday as they square off against two teams ahead of them in the South division. Mankato is 9-2 at home this season. Wagner and Taylor each scored 25 last time out against Mankato in a 78-62 victory.
Cameron Kirksey (17.0) leads the team and ranks 10th in the NSIC in scoring. Kelby Kramer (9.7) ranks third in the conference in rebounding as the Mavericks are one of the top rebounding teams in the NSIC. Ryland Holt is averaging 14.0 ppg, followed by Kevin Krieger (11.5) and Corvon Seales (10.2).
