CROOKSTON, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team travels to the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, January 8 looking to wrap up the first Warrior road trip of 2022.
The Warriors (8-4, 4-3 NSIC) will take on the Golden Eagles (4-11, 1-8 NSIC) for the first time in over two years as they continue inter-divisional play against the North Division. Head coach
Todd Eisner and Winona State are coming off an important win over Bemidji State on Friday, 79-74, to move above .500 in NSIC play.
Read on for more regarding the Winona State men's basketball team as they travel to Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Jan. 8.
Who: Winona State University vs. Minnesota Crookston
What: The Warriors (8-4, 4-3 NSIC) will face the Golden Eagles (4-11, 1-8 NSIC)
When: Saturday, Jan. 8 with a 3:30 pm CST start.
Where: Lysaker Gymnasium, on the campus of Minnesota Crookston
Winona State - UMC MBB Notables:
Baby, it's cold outside
This weekend will be the first time WSU faces NSIC North Division foes in conference action. The NSIC will have cross-division matchups for four straight weekends before returning to division play.
WSU and UMC also did not play during the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season but faced off twice during 2019-20. The Warriors defeated the Golden Eagles both times that season, including in the NSIC Tournament where Winona State won 88-57.
Minnesota Crookston is on a current eight-game losing streak. UMC's only conference win came against Bemidji State in November, at home.
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.
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 66.8 points/game to their opponents this season.
The Warriors average 72.2 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 8.3 three pointers per game at a .343 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 15.7 points/game and 35.3 min/game, both in the top-12 within the NSIC.
Luke Martens leads Winona State in rebounds (8.4/game), which is good for sixth within the conference. He also adds 10.9 points/game.
Going over the Golden Eagles:
The Golden Eagles are 4-11 this season, and just 1-8 within the NSIC.
UMC's lone conference win came at home against Bemidji State on Nov. 23 by a score of 67-57.
Three of Minnesota Crookston's conference losses have come by less than 10 points, all on the road.
The Golden Eagles are averaging 65.0 points/game and give up an average of 72.0 points/game, for a margin of -6.7.
UMC is fourth in the NSIC in blocked shots, averaging 3.6 blocks/game, and hold opponents to a field goal percentage of 42.5%.
Ethan Channel (12.6 ppg), Leonard Dixon (12.1 ppg), and Uzo Dibiamaka (10.3 ppg) lead Minnesota Crookston in scoring.
Dixon is in the top-15 in the NSIC in three-point field goals (2.4/game) and steals (1.4/game). He also leads UMC with 6.7 rebounds/game.
Dibiamaka leads the Golden Eagles with 3.3 assists per game and 34.8 minutes/game.
Minnesota Crookston lost to Upper Iowa 74-63 on Friday night before hosting the Warriors Saturday afternoon.
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.
