WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team will host Southwest Minnesota State on Friday, Dec. 1, and the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Dec. 2 in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.

The Warriors will start at 5:30 p.m. Friday against the Mustangs and will take on the Cougars at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Winona State is 4-0 on the season and coming off a break over Thanksgiving break.  Most recently, WSU captured a win against Concordia University, St. Paul, downing the Golden Bears 75-69 last Tuesday to open NSIC play for the year.

SMSU enters their NSIC weekend at 3-2 on the season, 0-1 in NSIC play. USF is 3-3 on the year and 1-0 in NSIC action. The University of Sioux Falls will play at Minnesota State in Mankato on Friday before their Saturday matchup in McCown. 

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 

• WSU is 4-0 on the year, with wins over Arkansas Monticello (62-46), Southern Arkansas (68-62), Missouri St. Louis (74-67) and Concordia-St. Paul (75-69) 
• Connor Dillon was tabbed the WSU Player-to-Watch in the 2023-24 NSIC Coaches' Poll. 
• Dillon delivered 25 points in the win over UMSL, and previously produced 24 points in 35 minutes in the win versus Southern Arkansas. 
• Connor Drew produced a career-high 27 points and five rebounds in the win against Concordia-St. Paul 
• WSU won the last meeting against Southwest Minnesota State 72-68 and holds a 16-11 record dating back to Jan. 8, 2010. 
• Winona State was the NCAA Division II National Champion in 2006 and 2008; WSU was runner-up in 2007.  
• WSU had never faced off against Arkansas Monticello or Southern Arkansas in the NCAA DII era. 
• The Warriors added two assistant coaches for the 2023-24 campaign; Devin Whitelow and Cole Rabedeaux are both in their 1st year on the Warrior sideline. 
• Whitelow was the 2020-21 NSIC Don Olson Award honoree as a senior point guard for Winona State.  
• Rabedeaux was a standout player at UW-Eau Claire and had an assistant coaching stint with NCAA Division I University of Houston.  
• Head coach Todd Eisner is embarking on his 9th season with the Warriors and 26th overall as a college head coach.  
• Heading into the season, Eisner's all-time coaching record stands at 531-263 including a 115-97 Winona State ledger. 

Southwest Minnesota State STORYLINES. 

• Southwest Minnesota State holds a 3-2 record on the year 

• SMSU's Jake Phipps was the NSIC preseason player to watch.  

• Phipps is averaging 14.6 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and just under two assists per game 

• SMSU is averaging 71.8 ppg while holding their opponents to 70.2 ppg. 

• SMSU's Cliff Cofield put up an impressive 31 points against their last opponent Truman State. 

• Southwest Minnesota State lost to former NSIC foe and travel partner to Winona State, Upper Iowa (85-83). 

• SMSU has won three of the last four matchups against the Warriors, 

• Head coach Brad Bigler is in his 15th season as head coach for the Mustangs 

University of Sioux Falls STORYLINES 

• The Cougars are 3-3 this season and 2-1 in the NSIC.  

• The Cougars have won three straight games, beating Stanislaus State, Augustana, Chadron State. 

• Sioux Falls averages 74.3 points/game and allows an average of 67.8 ppg for a 6.5 scoring margin. 

• Jack Thompson averages 13.8 ppg to lead the Cougars. 

• Thompson also averages a team-high of 4.67 assists per game. 

• USF has four players who average more than 10 ppg so far on the year. 

• Creighton Morisch leads the team in rebounds averaging 9.5 rebounds per game 

• Chris Johnson is in his 16th season at the helm for USF men's basketball. 
   

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.

Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu