PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Winona State University men's basketball team opens the 2022-23 Warrior season on the road at the Central Region Challenge, one of the top early-season NCAA Division II showcase tournaments in men's basketball.
The Warriors will take on the host school, Pittsburg State University at 7 p.m. (CST) on Friday, November 11 and will then face Missouri Southern on Saturday at 5 p.m. (CST)
All games at the Central Region Challenge, including both Warrior contests, are available on live stats. The Friday contest versus Pittsburg State will also have a radio feed from
ESPN 100.7.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats for both games and radio broadcast for Friday's game are available at the links above and on the WSU Basketball schedule page.
- Both contests will take place in the historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- WSU has yet to play a regular season contest this year but defeated cross-town Saint Mary's, 81-50 on Nov. 11.
- Winona State went 2-0 at the same event last year.
- WSU beat host Pitt State 79-68 and Henderson State 79-62 on back-to-back nights.
- Winona State's win over Pittsburg State was the first meeting of the two schools, as was the match up with Henderson State.
- Luke Martens was named the WSU Player to Watch in the 2022-23 NSIC Coaches' Poll and season preview.
- The Warriors were selected 10th overall and 7th in the NSIC South by coaches around the league.
- Against Saint Mary's, WSU had three players in double digits for scoring; Drew Adams (12), James Kelley (11) and Carson Arenz (10)
- Fifteen different players took the floor for WSU against SMU, with 12 players scoring.
- Head coach Todd Eisner has earned a record of 516-251 (.673) over 25 seasons.
Pitt State STORYLINES
- Pitt State took on the University of Kansas on Nov. 3, falling 94-63 to the J-Hawks.
- The Gorillas were 8-20 overall last season.
- PSU was 7-15 in league play last year, dropping their final two games of the season.
- The Gorillas have a new head coach in Jeff Boschee.
- Pitt State returns one starter from last year, Quentin Hardrict Jr.
- The Gorillas have four letters winners from last season on this year's roster.
- Hardict scored an average of 8.8 points per game last year while dishing out 2.3 assists per game.
- Jeff Boschee.was previously the head coach at Missouri Southern, where he had a 151-86 record.
Missouri Southern STORYLINES
- Winona State has played MSSU only once, losing 71-50 to the Lions on Nov. 8, 2019.
- The Lions will face Minnesota State, Mankato on Friday before taking on WSU on Saturday.
- MSSU's contests versus both NSIC schools will be their first official action of the season.
- The Lions were picked to finish eighth in the MIAA by the league's coaches.
- In the MIAA media poll, the Lions did one better, as they were selected 7th overall.
- In 2021-22, Missouri Southern was 14-15 and 11-11 in the league.
- Sam McMahon is in his first season with the Lions.
WARRIOR NOTABLES
- Winona State has won two NCAA Division II championships, in 2006 and 2008.
- Head coach Todd Eisner reached the 500 win mark on Feb. 13, 2021 in a 77-58 victory over Concordia, St. Paul.
- The Winona State - Pittsburg State matchup on Friday will cap a full day of five games at the historic Municipal Auditorium.
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.
