WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team will host a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) first round playoff game against Northern State University on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
Fans, please note NSIC Tournament ticket prices are as follows: $10 General Admission, $2 Students, Children under 5 are free. Ticket prices are set by the NSIC and regular season passes do not apply to NSIC Tournament contests. The first 200 Winona State students with a valid ID shall receive admission thanks to interim president Dr. Ken Janz and the Winona State University Foundation.
Northern State and Winona State have faced off on two occasions already this season. The Warriors were defeated by the Wolves at home 77-75 on a last second shot on Jan. 6. However, WSU traveled to Aberdeen, S.D. on Feb. 16, and beat the Wolves 80-79, with Connor Dillon scoring a buzzer-beater off the glass from 45 feet for the 80-79 Warrior win.
Within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) postseason picture, the winner of Wednesday's contest will move on to the quarterfinal round at the Sanford Pentagon. There, Minnesota State University Moorhead awaits, having earned the first-round bye. MSUM will face the winner of WSU and NSU at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday March 3.
Postseason Prognostications:
Survive and advance ... It is officially postseason play and the NSIC Tournament is a single-elimination bracket, so each game could potentially be the last. The winner between the Warriors and Wolves will advance to take on Minnesota State University Moorhead at 1:30pm on Sunday, March. 3 in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
NSIC Tournament history ... Winona State has won five NSIC Tournament championships ('01, '06, '07, '08, '11). They last played in the NSIC Tournament in 2022, when they fell in the first round to the University of Mary. The Warriors are 11-2 in NSIC Tournament first round games at home, with their only loss being to UMD in 2018 and UMary in 2022.
Home sweet home ... Winona State is 11-3 at home this year with their only losses coming from nationally ranked Minnesota State Mankato, Southwest Minnesota State and Northern State.
Familiar Foe ... Winona State and Northern State have faced off twice this season. WSU dropped the first match-up, at home on a last second shot 77-75. The Warriors later defeated the Wolves on Feb. 16 on a half-court heave by Connor Dillon as time expired, stunning the crowd in Aberdeen, 80-79.
Dillon's Dominance ... Connor Dillon has been a key part of the Warriors offense this season, averaging 21.4 ppg good for third in the conference. Dillon is shooting 48.6% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.
Nifty Five-Fifty... WSU head coach Todd Eisner hit 550 career wins on Saturday with the 63-40 Warrior win over Minnesota Crookston. Eisner's all-time college record sits at 550-272 heading into the postseason.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
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WSU is 19-9 on the year, 14-8 in NSIC play.
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Connor Dillon hit a game winning shot as time expired against Northern State to take an 80-79 win in Aberdeen.
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WSU is shooting an impressive 46.0% as a team from the floor.
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The Warriors are averaging 72.0 points/game and conceding 70.3 points per outing.
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Leading the Warriors on the season is Connor Dillon with 21.4 points per game.
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Olumide Adelodun leads the team in rebounding at 6.7 rpg.
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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.
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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.
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Brock Voigt is shooting an impressive 59.7% from the field on the year, which puts him at top three in the NSIC
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Heading into the season, Eisner's all-time coaching record stands at 531-263, including a 115-97 Winona State ledger.
Northern State STORYLINES
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The Wolves enter the weekend at 10-18 overall and 8-14 in the NSIC.
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Northern State enters the NSIC Tournament as the 11th seed.
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Winona State holds a 7-12 record vs. NSU dating back to January, 2009.
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The Warriors and Wolves hold a 1-1 record on the year with WSU winning the most recent matchup.
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Northern State has lost four straight games going into the postseason.
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The Wolves lost 60-75 against Wayne State in their most recent action.
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As a team, NSU is shooting 44.4% from the floor and 78.3% at the line.
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NSU hits 33.2% of their three-point attempts.
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Jacksen Moni is averaging 21.5 points per game for the Wolves.
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Saul Phillips is in his 5th season as head coach for the Wolves.
Warrior Notables:
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Winona State was the NCAA Division II National Champion in 2006 and 2008; WSU was runner-up in 2007.
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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.
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Whitelow was the 2020-21 NSIC Don Olson Award honoree as a senior point guard for Winona State.
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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
