WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team will host Bemidji State University on Friday, February 23, and the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, February 24 in the final regular season action of the 2023-23 season.  

The Warrior-Beaver showdown will start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and the WSU – UMC matchup will see a 5:30 p.m. tip on Saturday.  Both contests are held in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court. 
     
Winona State (17-9, 12-8 NSIC) faces Bemidji State for the second time this year. The Warriors fell earlier this year 93-58. On Saturday, the Warriors will face a Minnesota Crookston team which sits at fourteenth in the conference. BSU enters the weekend winning three of their last four games, while the Golden Eagles have lost six straight and will play the No. 2-ranked Mavericks at home on Friday before the Goldens Eagles make their way to McCown Gymnasium on Saturday.  

Leading the Warriors on the season is Connor Dillon with 21.5 points per game, while also being second on the team in total assists (78) and first in steals (24). Declan Dillon leads the team in assists at 96 on the year (3.7 per game), while also leading the team in rebounds with 135 (5.2 per game). 
  
GAME & FAN INFORMATION     

• Live stats & stream for the game are available at the links above and on the WSU Men's Basketball schedule page.     

WINONA STATE STORYLINES      

• WSU is 17-9 on the year, 12-8 in NSIC play.      

• Last weekend, Connor Dillon hit a game winning shot as time expired against Northern State to take an 80-79 win in Aberdeen. 

• WSU is shooting an impressive 46.0% as a team from the floor.    

• The Warriors are averaging 71.7 points/game and conceding 69.8 points per outing.     

• Leading the Warriors on the season is Connor Dillon with 21.5 points per game.    

• Alumide Odelodun leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 rpg.   

• Brock Voigt became the most recent Winona State player to reach the career 1,000-point mark, scoring 20 points at Minot State to the 1,000-point mark on the dot.   

• Connor Dillon scored 41 points against Concordia St. Paul, marking the second time this season Dillon has hit or eclipsed the 40-point mark in a game.    

• Brock Voigt is shooting an impressive 60.4% from the field on the year, which puts him at first in the conference 

• Winona State has tallied more steals than their opponents - 125 (4.8 pg) for WSU vs. 114 (4.4) for opponents, but the Warriors block fewer shots 69 (2.7) than the competition 76 (2.9)   

• Heading into the season, Eisner's all-time coaching record stands at 531-263, including a 115-97 Winona State ledger.    

Bemidji State STORYLINES 

• The Beavers enter the weekend at 13-13 overall and 9-11 in the NSIC.    

• Bemidji State enters the weekend ranked just two spots below the Warriors in the NSIC standings.   

• Winona State holds a 14-9 record vs. USF dating back to December, 1986. 

• BSU defeated WSU earlier this year 93-58, back in January.     

• Bemidji State has won three of their last four games.     

• The Beavers lost 56-63 against Southwest Minnesota State in their most recent action.      

• As a team, BSU is shooting 46.2% from the floor and 69.6% at the line.      

• BSU hits 32.8% of their three-point attempts.     

• John Sutherland is averaging 21.0 points per game for the Beavers.     

• Mike Boschee is in his 12th season as head coach for the Beavers.    

Minnesota Crookston STORYLINES     

• The Golden Eagles enter the weekend 6-20 overall and 3-17 in the NSIC.     

• Winona State holds a 13-4 record against UMC, dating back to Jan. 14, 2011.     

• Winona State dropped to Minnesota Crookston earlier this year, 69-77.     

• UMC has dropped their last six straight games.      

• The Golden Eagles lost to Wayne State 59-74 at home, in their most recent action.      

• As a team, UMC is shooting 42.9% from the floor and 64.7% at the line.      

• UMC hits 33.4% of their three-point attempts.     

• Blaize Sagna leads the team in scoring with 21.3 ppg.     

• Head Coach Brian Beamish is in his 2nd year at UMC.     

Warrior Notables: 

• Winona State was the NCAA Division II National Champion in 2006 and 2008; WSU was runner-up in 2007.     

• The Warriors added two assistant coaches for the 2023-24 campaign; Devin Whitelow and Cole Rabedeaux are both in their first 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.    
  
   

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