SIOUX FALLS S.D. - The Winona State University men's basketball team continues play in the 2024 NSIC Men's Basketball Tournament, taking on the University of Minnesota Duluth in a semifinal round contest today, Monday, March 4.  The Warriors and Bulldogs will tip off at 1:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Winona State (21-9, 14-8 NSIC) beat MSU Moorhead 69-65 in the NSIC Quarterfinals on Sunday, using a resolute defensive effort to defeat the nationally ranked Dragons and continue the impressive WSU postseason run. The Warriors will see a University of Minnesota Duluth (24-5, 18-4 NSIC) side that reached the semifinals by defeating Augustana University 88-74 on Sunday.

Fans, families and followers of Warrior basketball should note that the NSIC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament contests at the Sanford Pentagon will be televised exclusively by Midco Sports. All tournament games are available for viewing behind a paywall; please refer to the NSIC Championship website for all fan resources.

Postseason Prognostications:
Great moments are born from great opportunity, 2.0…After knocking off the 9^th-ranked Dragons on Sunday, Winona State will turn its collective sights to taming the Bulldogs, currently ranked fourth in the Central Region.

Not so whistle-happy… WSU survived a foul-plagued contest against MSUM, with the two teams flagged for 39 fouls in the 40 minutes of play. Three key WSU contributors, Olumide Adelodun, Declan Dillon and Carson Arenz, were dealt four fouls on Sunday. Winona State will look to avoid a repeat against the Bulldogs.

Hit from the stripe… Winona State was an uncharacteristic 13-of-23 (56.%) at the foul line in their quarterfinal match-up. WSU hit nearly 70% of their free throws during the regular season and hope to return to that form versus UMD.

Nothing to lose, everything to gain… The Cinderella season added an important chapter on Sunday with the Warrior win over MSU Moorhead, which greatly enhanced Winona State's NCAA postseason at-large prospects.

About that coaches' poll…Winona State was predicted to finish 10th by coaches around the league in the 2023-24 NSIC Preseason Coaches' poll.  WSU stands as one of four teams left in the NSIC Tournament and is ranked #8 in the latest NCAA DII Central Region Poll.

About that coaches' poll, 2.0… Connor Dillon was named as the WSU Player-to-Watch in the 2023-24 Preseason Poll. Dillon delivered - emphatically - earning NSIC First-Team All-Conference honors, notching a pair of 40-point games, claiming NSIC Player-of-the-Week on multiple occasions, and earning his way onto several post-season watch lists. The former Peoria (Ill.) Notre Dame high school standout is simply one of the best players in one of the best NCAA Division II conferences in the country.

Who is the new kid?...NCAA Division I transfer Olumide Adelodun missed the front half of the Warrior season due to injury but has been a force in the late stages of the WSU campaign. The Calgary, Canada product scored a career-high 31 against Northern State in the first round of the NSIC tournament and was a catalyst in the current Winona State 7-game winning streak.

Purple is the new Blugold… NCAA Division III transfer Brock Voigt has picked big moments for big contributions to head coach Todd Eisner's squad. Voigt turned in his fifth Warrior double-double against the Dragons on Sunday giving WSU a shot-blocking presence and reliable rebounder in clutch situations. He also likes to dunk.

The straw that stirs the drink (& rattles the ice cubes)…Making it all click for Winona State is point guard Declan Dillon, a player who does whatever is needed to win. Dillon, listed at 6'1" on the roster, provided WSU with a tenacious and timely rebounder, attacking the rim with impeccable timing in pursuit of missed shots.  The Peoria, Illinois, product finds the right player at the right time in the right way for Winona State.

Not his first rodeo…Head coach Todd Eisner earned his 550^th career win in the first round of the NSIC postseason, and the Warriors' magical postseason ride is an exciting extension of his 26th season in the college ranks.