WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team returns home for their first NSIC weekend of the New Year, hosting the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Jan. 6 and Bemidji State University on Saturday, Jan. 7. The Warriors will tip off at 7:30 p.m. against the Golden Eagles on Friday and face the Beavers at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Winona State is 8-5 on the year and will be looking to extend a two-game winning streak, having recently beaten Augustana (82-79) and Upper Iowa (81-68), with both wins coming on the road.
Minnesota-Crookston owns a 1-13 regular season mark and are winless in NSIC play. On Saturday, head coach
Todd Eisner and WSU will see a Bemidji State team that enters the weekend 9-5 overall and 4-4 in league action. BSU will play at Upper Iowa on Saturday before facing Winona State on Friday.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats & stream for the game are available at the links above and on the WSU Men's Basketball schedule page.
- Both contests will take place in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- Winona State enters the weekend 8-4 on the season and 3-5 in the NSIC
- WSU is looking to extend a two-game winning streak.
- WSU averages 70.6 points per game and allows 68.9 points/game.
- Owen King leads the NSIC in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.4.
- Connor Dillon leads WSU and is among the top scorers in the NSIC, averaging 19.2 points per game.
- Luke Martens is WSU's leading rebounder at 7.6 rpg.
- Drew Adams has blocked a team-best seven shots this season.
- Declan Dillon leads Winona State in steals with 18.
- Connor Dillon is the Warriors top 3-point threat, hitting 37-of-107 (34.6%) this year.
- As a team, WSU was 22-of-25 (88.0%) from the free throw line vs. Upper Iowa on Dec. 31
Minnesota Crookston STORYLINES
- The Golden Eagles are 1-13 overall and 0-8 in the NSIC
- Blaize Sagna leads UMC in scoring at 16.2 ppg.
- Dezmond Washington is the top Golden Eagle rebounder at 5.4 rpg.
- Sagna has hit 20-of-47 (42.6%) 3-pointers this season.
- Sagna also leads the Golden Eagles in steals with 15.
- Minnesota Crookston has a 4-32 record vs. WSU over the last 36 games.
- Since Jan. 7, 2000, the Golden Eagles have not won a game in McCown Gymnasium.
- UMC's four-point loss to UMary on Sat., Dec. 31 was their closest NSIC game to date.
- Head coach Bryan Beamish is in his first season at Minnesota Crookston.
Bemidji State STORYLINES
- The Beavers enter the weekend at 9-5 overall and 4-4 in the NSIC
- John Sutherland leads BSU in scoring at 19.6 ppg.
- Sutherland is also the top Beaver rebounder at 8.5 rpg.
- Jayce Lowman has hit 20-of-50 (40.0%) 3-pointers this season.
- Brandon Christlieb is also a 3-point threat, hitting 19-of-43 (44.2%).
- Mohamed Kone also leads the Beavers in steals with 14.
- Bemidji State has a 57-80 record vs. WSU dating back to 1950.
- Since March 2, 2013, the Beavers have not won a game in McCown Gymnasium.
- BSU last beat Winona State on Dec. 31, 2017, downing the Warriors, 62-59
- Head coach Mike Boschee is in his 11th season at BSU.
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.
