FAYETTE, Iowa - The Winona State University men's basketball team will close out 2022 on the road at Upper Iowa University, taking on the Peacocks in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31.
The New Year's Eve matchup will give Winona State a chance to maintain their momentum following a last-second double-overtime 82-79 victory over Augustana University on Sunday, Dec. 18. WSU will also be looking to avenge a loss to UIU that occurred in similar, but reverse, fashion on Tuesday, Nov. 22 when Upper Iowa's Jake Hilmer hit a half-court heave as time ran out to give the Peacocks at 82-81 win.
Upper Iowa enters today's game at 7-6 overall and 4-3 in NSIC play, while Winona State sits at 7-5 overall and 2-5 in league action. Dating back to Jan. 17, 2021, neither team has won more than one game in a row over the other, with the Warriors and Peacocks deadlocked 3-3 over their last six contents. WSU owns a 21-10 advantage over the last 31 matchups.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats & stream for the game are available at the links above and on the WSU Men's Basketball schedule page.
- Saturday's contest will take place in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Upper Iowa University.
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- Winona State is 7-5 this season and 2-5 in the NSIC
- WSU is looking to build a win streak heading in January, having beat Augustana 82-79 in double-overtime on Dec. 18.
- WSU is 6-1 in away games this season.
- Luke Martens scored a career-high 31 points and hit game-tying (regulation) and game-winning (2nd OT) 3-pointers vs. the Vikings at Augustana.
- WSU averages 69.8 points per game and allows 69.0 points/game.
- Connor Dillon leads WSU and is among the top scorers in the NSIC, averaging 19.0 points/game.
- Luke Martens pulls in 7.8 boards per game, good for a top-10 mark in the conference.
- Declan Dillon leads the Warriors in steals with 17.
- Connor Drew scores 10.7 ppg and adds 5.0 rebounds/game as the big man down low.
- Head coach Todd Eisner is in his eighth year at WSU and 25th year overall as a collegiate head coach.
Upper Iowa STORYLINES
- The Peacocks were in first place in the NSIC South at 4-1 prior to their most recent action, but have dropped their two most recent games.
- Upper Iowa is 3-0 at home this year.
- For the season, Upper Iowa is averaging 80.5 points per game.
- UIU is hitting at a 44.5% clip from the floor and 34.2% from 3-point territory.
- The Peacocks are successful 76.0% from the free throw line.
- UIU has turned the ball over thirty fewer times than their opponents so far this year.
- Brooks McKowen is in his 10th season at Upper Iowa.
WARRIOR NOTABLES
- The Warriors were selected 10th overall and seventh in the NSIC South by coaches around the league.
- Former Warrior standout Caleb Wagner joined Eisner's staff in the off-season.
- The Warriors won the 2005-06 and 2007-08 NCAA Division II National Championships.
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.Me
