WAYNE, Neb. - The Winona State University men's basketball team will travel to Wayne State on Friday, Dec. 8, and Augustana University on Saturday, Dec. 9, taking part in an NSIC road trip for the first time this season. 

The Warriors will start at 5:30 p.m. Friday against the Wildcats and will take on the Vikings at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Winona State is 5-1 on the season and coming off a weekend split at home against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls.  Most recently, WSU captured a win against Sioux Falls, downing the Cougars 81-66 last Saturday to earn a split on the weekend; WSU fell to SMSU 78-65 on Friday, suffering their first loss of the year. 

Wayne State enters their NSIC weekend at 7-2 on the season, 1-2 in NSIC play. Augustana is 5-3 on the year and 1-2 in NSIC action. Augustana will play Minnesota State on Friday before their Saturday matchup at the Sanford Pentagon with the Warriors. 

GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live stats & stream for the game are available at the links above and on the WSU Men's Basketball schedule page.  
• Friday's contest will take place in Rice Auditorium on the campus of Wayne State College. 
• Saturday's game will be at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

WINONA STATE STORYLINES 

• WSU is 5-1 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), Sioux Falls (81-66).
• Connor Dillon was tabbed the WSU Player-to-Watch in the 2023-24 NSIC Coaches' Poll and scored a career-high 33 last Saturday against USF.
• 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 
• Carson Arenz recorded a double-double vs. USF last weekend, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. 
• Winona State was the NCAA Division II National Champion in 2006 and 2008; WSU was runner-up in 2007.  
• Prior to this season, 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. 

WAYNE STATE STORYLINES

• Wayne State holds a 7-2 record on the year 
• WSC's Alec Millender was the NSIC preseason player to watch.  
• Trey Deveaux is averaging 14.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and just under two assists per game.
• WSC is averaging 78.0 ppg while holding their opponents to 60.6 ppg. 
• WSC's Trey Deveaux in their last matchup vs. CSP had an impressive 16 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
• Wayne State lost two straight games in conference against UMD and CSP.
• WSC holds a 1-4 record in the last five games against the Warriors.
• Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his 8th season as head coach for the Wildcats.

AUGUSTANA STORYLINES 

• The Vikings are 5-3 this season and 1-2 in the NSIC.  
• The Vikings are 2-2 in their last four matchups beating Concordia St. Paul and Grand View. 
• Augustana averages 80.4 points/game and allows an average of 77.6 ppg for a 2.8 scoring margin. 
• Isaac Fink averages 20.5 ppg to lead the Vikings.
• Fink also averages 5.8 rebounds/game, good for second on the team behind Brady Helgren (5.9 rpg). 
• AU has three players who average more than 10 ppg so far on the year. 
• Jadan Graves leads the team in assists with 3.5 per game.
• Tom Billeter is in his 21st season at the helm for AU 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