WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State men's basketball team continues their 2025-26 regular season with a pair of road matchups at Southwest Minnesota State University and the University of Sioux Falls.

The Warriors will first take on SMSU on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30pm. WSU is 77-45 all time against the Mustangs, including dropping a 76-56 home contest earlier this season on December 14, 2025. On Saturday, February 14, Winona State will battle the Sioux Falls Cougars at 5:00pm. The Warriors are 12-13 in the all-time series with the Cougars, including winning 91-77 on December 13, 2025, in McCown Gymnasium.

Winona State Notes:

• Winona State enters the week 9-14 (8-10 NSIC) after going 1-1 last week with a narrow 60-57 win over Wayne State and a 62-54 loss against Augustana.
• The Warriors enter the 2025-26 season ranked ninth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
• Head Coach Todd Eisner is in his 11th season at the helm of the program. He is 167-132 during his tenure with the Warriors. 
• Winona State enters the week averaging 68.4 ppg and giving up 74.9 ppg.
• WSU is 43.8% (577-of-1317) from the field and 31.4% (161-of-512) from three-point range on the season.
• Winona State shoots at a clip of 74.4% (259-of-348) from the charity stripe.
• Ryan Heise checks in at a team-best 13.3 points per game on 54.2% (116-of-214) shooting and 39.4% (28-of-71) from three-point land. He adds 5.6 boards a game for the Warriors.
• Gavyn Hurley looks to continue his strong season averaging 13.2 ppg and a team-high 6.9 rebounds per contest.
• Tyler Mason adds 13.1 ppg while Aidan Bardic leads the squad with 3.1 assists per game.
• Following this week, the Warriors wrap up regular season play, facing Minnesota State on the road on February 19 and returning home to face St. Cloud State on February 21.

Southwest Minnesota State Notes:

• SMSU hosts Winona State on a four-game losing streak. The Mustangs fell 49-47 to St. Cloud State and 74-71 to Minnesota State last week.
• Southwest Minnesota State is 14-9 (12-6 NSIC) during the 2025-26 campaign.
• The Mustangs enter the 2025-26 season ranked first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
• Head Coach Brad Bigler enters his 17th season at the helm of the SMSU program. He has compiled a career record of 275-208 in his experienced coaching career at SMSU.
• The Mustangs average 73.7 ppg while allowing 66.4 ppg to opponents, good for second-best in the NSIC.
• Jakob Braaten leads SMSU in points per game (15.0), rebounds per game (5.6), and assists per game (4.7).
• Other notable scores are Aeron Stevens (13.0), Micah Schlaak (11.4), and Mekhi Shaw (11.4).
• Following the game against the Warriors, SMSU hosts Concordia-St. Paul on February 14 at 4:00pm.

Sioux Falls Notes:

• USF is entering the week dropping their last three games, including a 98-95 loss at Minnesota State and a 102-65 defeat at St. Cloud State.
• Sioux Falls is 12-12 (9-9 NSIC) during the 2025-26 campaign.
• The Cougars enter the 2025-26 season ranked eighth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
• Head Coach Chris Johnson is in his 18th year with the team. Johnson is 311-238 in his coaching career.
• The Cougars average an NSIC best 84.3 ppg while allowing an NSIC worst 83.8 ppg to opponents.
• Brogan Madson leads USF with 18.4 ppg, good for seventh best in the NSIC. He adds a team-leading 2.9 assists per game.
• Taylen Ashley averages 14.8 ppg while Brandon Hrncir posts 14.3 ppg and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game.
• Before they take on the Warriors, the Cougars face Concordia-St. Paul on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30pm in Sioux Falls, S.D.