WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball team will host Augustana University on Friday, February 9, and Wayne State College on Saturday, February 10. The Warrior-Viking showdown will start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and the WSU – WSC matchup will see a 5:30 p.m. tip on Saturday.
Winona State (14-9, 9-8 NSIC) faces a tough Augustana team who ranks just above them in the NSIC standings. On Saturday, the Warriors will face a Wayne State team which sits tenth in the conference. AU enters the weekend winning seven of their last eight games, while Wayne State comes off an overtime loss at home against Minnesota Duluth 78-79 and will play the No. 2-ranked Mavericks at home on Friday before the Warriors make their way to McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court.
Leading the Warriors on the season is Connor Dillon with 21.7 points per game, while also being second on the team in total assists (62) and steals (24). Connor Dillon is coming off an impressive NSIC weekend, leading him to NSIC Shining Five honors announced by the NSIC. Warrior teammate Brock Voigt is second on the squad with 10.5 points per game and leads the team in offensive rebounds (42).
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
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WSU is 14-9 on the year, 9-8 in NSIC play.
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Connor Dillon is coming off an impressive week averaging 23.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 3.3 apg.
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WSU is shooting an impressive 45.6% as a team from the floor.
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The Warriors are averaging 71.0 points/game and conceding 69.8 points per outing.
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Leading the Warriors on the season is Connor Dillon with 21.7 points per game.
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Brock Voigt leads the team in rebounding at 5.4 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 on Tuesday night, marking the second time this season Dillon has hit or eclipsed the 40-point mark in a game.
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Dillon played 38 of the 40 available minutes vs. CSP and was not flagged with a single personal foul. Dillon was 3-of-4 at the free throw line, 8-of-14 from behind the arc and notched ten rebounds in another impressive outing for Winona State.
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Brock Voigt has been a major facet to the Warriors, this past week Voigt averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds per game last weekend.
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Winona State has tallied more steals than their opponents - 117 (5.1 pg) for WSU vs. 104 (4.5) for opponents, but the Warriors block fewer shots 58 (2.5) than the competition 75 (3.3)
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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.
Augustana STORYLINES
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The Vikings enter the weekend at 14-8 overall and 9-7 in the NSIC.
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Augustana enters the weekend ranked just ahead of the Warriors in the NSIC standings.
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Winona State holds a 12-15 record vs. USF dating back to January 17, 2009.
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WSU defeated AU earlier this year 62-58, back in December.
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AU has won seven of their last eight games.
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The Vikings won 92-87 against Concordia St. Paul in their most recent action.
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As a team, AU is shooting 45.7% from the floor and 77.6% at the line.
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AU hits 35.4% of their three-point attempts.
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Isaac Fink is averaging 19.4 points per game for the Vikings.
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Tim Billeter is in his 21st season as head coach for the Vikings.
Wayne State STORYLINES
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The Wildcats enter the weekend 13-10 overall and 6-10 in the NSIC.
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Winona State holds a 10-12 record against WSC, dating back to Jan. 21, 2011.
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Winona State defeated Wayne State in overtime 90-83 earlier this year.
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Wayne State is 5-5 over their last ten games.
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The Wildcats lost to Minnesota Duluth in overtime 78-79 at home, in their most recent action.
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As a team, WSC is shooting 46.7% from the floor and 76.6% at the line.
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WSC hits 35.5% of their three-point attempts.
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Trey Deveaux leads the team in scoring with 15.3 ppg.
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Head Coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his 8th year at WSC.
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
