Winona, Minn. -- The Winona State University men's basketball team will travel to Upper Iowa University for a pair of contests on January 16-17.  Both games will tipoff at 2pm in Fayette.

The Warriors will adapt to a shifting schedule after a pause in team activities due to COVID-19 protocols. Winona State had to cancel their second contest of the year at Minnesota Duluth and the subsequent series Southwest Minnesota State on Jan. 8-9.  The University of Sioux Falls men's basketball team entered COVID protocols earlier this week, canceling the series set for January 15-16 in Winona.

However, head coach Todd Eisner and his team were able to match up schedule openings with Upper Iowa, after the Peacocks had their two-game series with Southwest Minnesota State canceled yesterday, January 14.

The Warriors (0-1 / 0-0 South) will look to get back on track against the Peacocks (2-2 / 0-2 NSIC South) in a pair of games which will count in the overall records of both teams but not NSIC South Division standings.  Upper Iowa and Winona State are scheduled to conclude their regular season NSIC South schedules on February 19-20 in Winona.

Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Player of the Year honoree Kevion Taylor put up a solid effort in the season opener against the Bulldogs, scoring 23 points and hauling in 5 rebounds.  Taylor will look to continue his strong start against UIU, who enjoyed a sweep of St. Cloud State and had a pair of losses to No. 25 University of Sioux Falls.  

The Peacock-Warrior two-game series presents highly touted transfer Owen King a chance to to compete close to home.  After two years at NCAA Division I South Dakota State and an outstanding prep career at Caledonia High School, the versatile King will suit up for the second time this season for WSU. King was the MSHSL football player of the year while at Caledonia, along with earning First Team All-State status in basketball.

Joining King on the court will be Devin Whitelow, a senior point guard who serves as the catalyst of the Warrior offense.  Whitelow had five assists and a steal in 32 minutes of action against UMD.  Dalante Peyton added 11 against Minnesota Duluth as well, playing 29 minutes, while Luke Martens logged 28 minutes, scoring seven points and notching a steal.

The Upper Iowa series should be a good test for the Warriors, as the two teams typically combine for close contests.  Winona State has a 6-4 mark in the last ten meetings of the two squads.

Read on for the tale of the tape between Upper Iowa and Winona State, who will square off in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 16 and Sunday, Jan. 17 in Fayette, Iowa.
   
Split Decision… The two teams battled twice in 2019-20, with UIU beating Winona State, 84-79 in Fayette in late November. The Warriors returned the favor three weeks later, capturing a hard-fought OT win over the Peacocks 85-80 in OT on Dec. 19 in Winona.

Right in our Backyard… Geographically speaking, Upper Iowa is the closest NSIC school to Winona State, sitting just 100 miles to the south.  The Peacocks and Warriors have competed against each other 24 times, beginning on January 31, 2009.  Since that time, WSU has gone 17-7 vs. the Peacocks.

Quarter for Your Thoughts… Both Winona State and UIU bowed out of the 2019-20 NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament in the quarterfinal round last year, with Upper Iowa falling to Minnesota State Moorhead, 82-66 and Winona State suffering a 76-72 setback to Minnesota Duluth to end their season.
 
Watching Williams… The Peacocks' Jareese Williams - one of Upper Iowa's leading scorers - was named the UIU Player to Watch in the NSIC season preview and has lived up to his billing to far this year. 

Not My Job… At 5'9", Winona State point guard Devin Whitelow led WSU in rebounding in their only outing this season, hauling in six boards vs. UMD on Jan. 02.

Feeling Charitable… In their lone game this season against Minnesota Duluth, Winona State was 11-of-14 as team. Nick Klug (2-for-2), Dalante Peyton (4-for-5) and Kevion Taylor (5-for-6) accounted for the Warrior efforts from the charity stripe that day.

One-one-One, Aussie Rules... Both Winona State and Upper Iowa have an Australian player on the roster - WSU's Alier Riak hails from Perth, Western Australia, while UIU's Sean Biernacki is a product of Camberwell, Australia.

Making the Most of It… Playing in his first collegiate game, Declan Dillon was 2-for-2 from three-point range vs. Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 02.

Turn of the Century… Upper Iowa is second in the NSIC in points per game (87.0) and have surpassed the 100-point mark twice in four games. UIU beat St. Cloud State 107-84 on Jan. 02 and 110-106 in OT on Jan. 03.

Why (not) 2K?... Winona State has scored 1,904 points against Upper Iowa all-time, putting the Warriors in position to pass the 2,000-point plateau this weekend. 

Slim Margins... In their last ten matchups, WSU holds a slight edge, earning a 6-4 record vs. UIU. 

How's the Weather Up There… For the Warriors, 6'9" Andrea Lo Biondo and 6'8" Alier Riak will look to measure up with the UIU post players down low, including 6'9" Kiks Rosengarten and 6'8" Cade Moritz.

COVID Considerations… The weekend series marks a 2020-21 first for the Warriors, as Upper Iowa attendance policies allows for a limited number of invite-only fans in their venues.  Games involving Winona State up to this point have prohibited spectators in the gym, per institutional policies.

Clipboard Comments… At 495-235 over 22 collegiate seasons, Winona State's Todd Eisner is five wins away from the 500-win club.

The Other McCown/McKowen... UIU bench boss Brooks McKowen has led his team to .500 or better records in five of his seven seasons at the helm.

Alma Mater Matters... Both Winona State and Upper Iowa feature associate head coaches who also played at their respective schools.  UIU's Trevor Hook played for the Peacocks between 2010-14 and Winona State's own Zach Malvik was a key player on the NCAA record-setting squads in the mid-2000's. 

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.

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About Winona State University Athletics: 

The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.  

Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.

Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu