THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will finish its road stint this coming weekend, first traveling to Winona, Minn. to take on two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents in Winona State University (Jan. 31) before heading to Fayette, Iowa to take on Upper Iowa University (Feb. 1).

SCOUTING REPORT ON WINONA STATE UNIVERSTIY: The Warriors lost their last time out, bringing their four game win streak to an end. WSU is coming off a split weekend, where they would beat Southwest Minnesota State University (63-55) before falling to the University of Sioux Falls in overtime (87-85). The Warriors are 4-1 in their past five, beating the likes of Augustana University (79-65), the University of Minnesota Crookston (80-66), Bemidji State University (82-74) and Southwest Minnesota State University, falling only to the University of Sioux Falls. The Warriors are currently 11-9 on the year, going 8-6 against NSIC opponents, good for fourth in the Southern Division of the NSIC, while holding a spot in a two spot tie for 6th in the conference overall. Todd Eisner is at the helm for the Warriors, currently in his 5th season with WSU, carrying a 71-65 (.522) record while with the Warriors.
Tabbed with Winona State's preseason player to watch, Kevion Taylor has lived up to the title so far this season. Taylor has lead the team in scoring this year, averaging 20.3 points per game (5th in the NSIC). He also is leading the team this year in rebounds per game with 7.6 per game (10th in the NSIC). Taylor has managed to shoot 43.3% (133-307) on the year while going 41.6% (74-178) from beyond the arc. He sits third on the team in assists with 43 on the year and averages 36.0 minutes a night. Caleb Wagner has been right behind Taylor in terms of scoring putting up 20.1 per night in 20 games this season (6th in the NSIC). He's grabbing 4.5 boards a night for the Warriors and leads the team with 68 assists on the season.

SCOUTING REPORT ON UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY: The Peacocks are on a heater as of lately, taking this past weekend with a sweep and winning their last six games. UIU beat the University of Sioux Falls last weekend (68-60) before heading to Marshall, Minn. and just squeaking by Southwest Minnesota State University (80-77). Within the six game win streak, the Peacocks have beaten the University of Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State, Augustana University (110-100 (OT)), Wayne State College (80-73), Bemidji State University (105-93 (2 OT)) and the University of Minnesota Crookston (102-94). The Peacocks are sitting at 13-7 overall on the year, going 10-4 in the NSIC, good for 2nd in the Southern Division and sitting in a lone 4th place spot in the conference overall. UIU is headed by Brooks McKowen who is in his 7th season with the Peacocks. McKowen owns a 108-99 (.522) overall record while leading UIU.
The Peacocks are No. 2 in scoring in the NSIC this season, with three scorers on the team putting up an average of more than 10 points a game. Leading the way is Jareese Williams, putting 14.3 points per game away in 20 games so far this season. He also sits second on the team in rebounds, grabbing 4.8 per game. Joe Smoldt, picked as UIU's preseason Player to Watch, is apart of those three players who put down double digits a night. Smoldt is averaging 12.6 per game in 20 games thus far. He has managed to grab 3.0 rebounds a game as well. Jake Hilmer is the third player to put up double digits, averaging just above Smoldt with 12.7 per game. On top of being the second leading scorer, he leads the team by a fair margin with 99 assists on the team, 2nd in the NSIC.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have not fared well against the Warriors, falling to Winona State University 13 times while winning four in the past 10 years. WSU has won four of the past five against UMD, taking both contests last season, first winning on Feb. 1 (65-53) and again on Feb. 27 (62-56). The Bulldogs are looking to turn the tide this year.
UMD has had better luck against UIU in the past, owning a 7-9 record against the Peacocks since 2008. The Bulldogs took last years meeting 79-64, and have won the past two match ups with UIU winning the previous three meetings before then. UMD looks to continue their winning streak against the Peacocks this weekend.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its two opponents stack up with their records, rank in the NSIC overall and the NABC DII Poll.
 

SCHOOL	OVERALL	NSIC	NABC
UMD	16-4	T-1ST	NR
WSU	11-9	T-6TH	NR
UIU	13-7	4TH	NR

THE BROADCAST: The match will be carried through a live broadcast with live stats capabilities.

Broadcast: UMDBulldogs.com/watch

Live Stats: UMDBulldogs.com/watch and follow the live stats button

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alex Illikainen was chosen as the NSIC's Northern Division Player of the Week last week. In two games this past weekend, Illikainen averaged 21.5 points and six rebounds in a weekend sweep over Minnesota State University Moorhead (77-70) and Northern State University (87-79). He scored 14 points and grabbed four rebounds against MSUM, as well as scoring 29 points and grabbing eight rebounds against NSU. Illikainen also added two assists, as well as one block and steal on the weekend. Illikainen shot 58.1% (18-31) over the weekend as well as 55.6% (5-9) from beyond the arc. This was Illikainen's second time winning NSIC Player of the Week this year, the first coming back on Nov. 19, 2019.

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs swept the weekend last weekend against two very tough Northern Division opponents of the NSIC. UMD first took on the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons in a battle until the end, winning out 77-70. The Bulldogs then took on the Northern State University Wolves in a battle to get back into first place in the Northern Division. UMD would beat the wolves 87-79, pulling into a tie with NSU for first place in the north and owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. UMD now owns a 16-4 record overall and an 11-3 NSIC record.

POINTS GALORE: UMD ranks 1st in the NSIC and 36th in DII in points per game, averaging 84.4 per game on the year. Brandon Myer leads the way with 20.9 per game, 3rd in the NSIC (35th in DII). Drew Blair sitting in 13th with 16.5 per game and Alex Illikainen is sitting in 17th in the NSIC with 14.5.

3'S FOR DAYS: The Bulldogs sit in the top-5 for 3-point FG percentage (2nd, 40.8), 3-point FG defense (second, 31.6) and 3-point FG's made (3rd, 208 (avg. of 10.4 per game)). Logan Rohrscheib has been hitting an average of 2.4 3's per game (8th in the NSIC), with Drew Blair hitting 1.9 per game (19th in the NSIC) and Bradon Myer hitting 1.7 per game (23rd in the NSIC).

WHAT'S A MISSED SHOT: The Bulldogs are sitting 4th in the NSIC for field goal percentage, hitting 48.3 percent of their shots (589-1219). Three of the Bulldogs, Myer, Illikainen and Blair, are all in the top-15 for field goal percentage. Myer has shot 52.9 percent (6th), Blair has hit 51.6 percent (7th) of his shots and Illikainen has hit 48.9 percent (10th) of his shots.
 
PASS ME THE ROCK: Minnesota Duluth ranks in 2nd in the NSIC in assists, averaging 15.48 per game. Two Bulldogs sit in the top-15 in the NSIC. Trevor Entwisle sits in 5th (4.3 per game) and Brandon Myer sits in 19th (2.6 per game). UMD ranks 3rd in the NSIC in assist-turnover ratio with an average of 1.42, Entwisle ranks in the top-10 in assist-turnover ratio with an average of 1.7, good for 9th.

DOUBLE UP: So far this season, Brandon Myer has managed to put up nine double-doubles, which sits T-2nd in the NSIC, with Northern State's Parker Fox  (behind Wayne State College's Jordan Janssen (11), and 12th in DII.

ON TAP: The Bulldogs come home to Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn. to play a pair of NSIC opponents. First, UMD will take on Augustana University (Feb. 7), with student-athlete apprecitation night taking place as well. The Bulldogs will then play host to Wayne State College the following night (Feb. 8th).