BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team travels Bemidji State University on Friday, January 7 for the first Warrior road contest of 2022.
The Warriors (7-4, 3-3 NSIC) will take on the Beavers (6-6, 3-5 NSIC) for the first time in over two years as they head into inter-divisional play against the North Division. Head coach
Todd Eisner and Winona State are coming off an exciting 73-68 overtime win over nationally-ranked #13 Upper Iowa this past Sunday, Jan. 2 in their first action of 2022.
Read on for more regarding the Winona State men's basketball team as they travel to Bemidji State on Friday, Jan. 7.
Who: Winona State University vs. Bemidji State University
What: The Warriors (7-4, 3-3 NSIC) will face the Beavers (6-6, 3-5 NSIC)
When: Friday, Jan. 7 with a 5:30 pm CST start.
Where: Bemidji State University, BSU Gymnasium
Winona State - Bemidji State MBB Notables:
Don't Forget the Handwarmers!
The Winona State - Bemidji State contest is the first action against a North Division foe this year that will impact the NSIC standings. WSU played MSU-Moorhead and the University of Mary in non-conference contests earlier this year, falling to the Dragons 76-67 and beating the UMary Beavers, 86-70.
The Beavers and the Warriors have not played each other in 720 days, due to the Covid-altered schedule of 2020-21.
The NSIC will have cross-division matchups for four straight weekends before returning to division play.
Winona State & Bemidji State did not play during the 2020-21 season, but WSU has had the upper hand winning six of the last seven meetings dating back to 2014. The two squads last met on Jan. 18. 2020 when the Warriors defeated the Beavers 82-74 in McCown.
Both WSU and BSU avenged losses to start the 2022 portion of their schedule. The Beavers took down Minnesota Crookston in convincing fashion, by a score of 70-46 last Sunday. Winona State defeated #13 Upper Iowa in overtime to earn their second win against ranked opponents this season.
In last weekend's overtime victory over #13 Upper Iowa, four Warriors played at least 35 minutes, including Rosner and Whitelow who were on the floor for over 40 minutes each.
Winona State holds a 7-4 overall record and is 3-3 within the jampacked NSIC South Division.
The Warriors defeated #13 Upper Iowa to ring in the 2022 portion of their schedule, 73-68 in overtime. It was the second top-25 victory for WSU this season, who also defeated #17 Minnesota State in early December.
WSU has the second-best defense in the NSIC, allowing just 66.2 points/game to their opponents this season.
The Warriors average 71.5 points/game on the offensive end and hold a 5.4 point scoring margin over their opponents.
The Warriors average the fifth-most threes in the NSIC with 8.4 three pointers per game at a .350 percentage.
Devin Whitelow is found in the top-10 in the NSIC in assists (4.1/game), assist/turnover ratio (2.0), and steals (1.5).
Alec Rosner leads the Warriors with 16.1 points/game and 35.2 min/game, both in the top-12 within the NSIC.
Luke Martens leads Winona State in rebounds (8.1/game), which is good for sixth within the conference. He also adds 10.0 points/game.
After the Warriors travel to Bemidji, Minn. to take on the Beavers on Friday evening, they will head on to Crookston, Minn. to take on the Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon.
'Bout those Bemidji State Beavers:
The Beavers are 6-6 overall and 3-5 within the NSIC, including 3-3 at home heading into the weekend.
BSU opened the 2022 portion of their season with a win over Minnesota Crookston on Jan. 2 by a score of 70-46 at home.
Bemidji State is averaging 73.2 points/game while giving up 67.7 points/game for a margin of +5.5.
Within the NSIC, BSU is third in scoring defense (67.7 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (37.9%), and fifth in rebounding margin (4.3).
BSU has shown their capability to put up points this season, scoring 110 points against Northland and 97 points at SCSU.
Travis Bianco leads the Beavers with 14 points/game, while Mohamed Kone (11.2 ppg) and John Sutherland (10.9 ppg) also score in double-figures.
Kone is leading Bemidji State with 4.7 assists/game, a mark that is third-best in the NSIC.
Bianco leads BSU in rebounds (5.7/game), field goals (4.9/game), three-point field goals (1.8/game).
Derek Thompson averages 9.9 points/game and had a season-high 33 points on 13 of 19 shooting at St. Cloud State.
After taking on the Warriors, Bemidji State will host Upper Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 8.
For the most up-to-date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
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
