CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team will close out 2016 on the road at Winona State University and Upper Iowa University. The Golden Eagles will take on the Warriors Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. at McCown Gymnasium. They will then head down to Fayette, Iowa to face the Peacocks Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. at Dorman Gymnasium.

The Golden Eagles have already surpassed their win total from the 2015-16 season as they are 5-6 on the season. They picked up their first win of the conference season on Dec. 15 with a victory over Bemidji State University. Winona State enters the weekend with a 5-5 mark on the year. Upper Iowa has had a strong start to the year with an 8-4 mark.

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Dan Weisse
Record at UMC: 15-50 Season at UMC: Third Season

Winona State Warriors
Head Coach: Todd Eisner
Record at WSU: 21-18 Season at WSU: Second Season

Upper Iowa Peacocks
Head Coach: Brooks McKowen
Record at UIU: 57-48 Season at UIU: Fourth Season

Minnesota Crookston at Winona State
Dec. 30, 2016 – Winona, Minn. – McCown Gymnasium – 8 p.m.
Video – https://portal.stretchinternet.com/winona/
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/winona/mbball/
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Minnesota Crookston at Upper Iowa
Dec. 31, 2016 – Fayette. Iowa – Dorman Gymnasium –6 p.m.
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uiu/
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/uiu/mbball/
Radio – 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM

Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
So. PG 13 Kobe Critchley (6-0 173, Roseville, Minn.) 6.9 PPG, 3.4 APG
Fr. SG 0 Harrison Cleary (6-1 175, Oak Creek, Wis.) 22.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG
So. 3G 25 Chase Knickerbocker (6-6 189, Annandale, Minn.) 10.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG
R-So. SF 44 Gable Smith (6-7 215, Lodi, Wis.) 7.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG
Jr. PF 54 Jim Warmack (6-7 240, East Grand Forks, Minn.) 6.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 21 Chase Johnson (6-6 207, La Crosse, Wis.) 4.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG
R-Fr. G 1 Connor Gamble (6-0 157, Stillwater, Minn.) 7.8 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Sr. G 14 Xavier Hall (6-1 170, Woodbury, Minn.) 3.3 PPG, 2.3 APG
So. F/C 34 Nate Lorenz (6-7 222, Breckenridge, Minn.), 3.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG

Winona State
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 5 Josh Mongan (5-10 175, Germantown, Wis.) 4.3 PPG, 3.6 APG
Sr. SG 11 Riley Bambenek (6-5 210, Trempealeau, Wis.) 17.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Sr. 3G 20 Isaiah Gray (6-0 170, Golden Valley, Minn.) 12.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG
Jr. SF 3 Corey Jeffs (6-7 205, Melbourne, Australia) 9.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Sr. PF 24 Kyle Bauman (6-8 225, Wells, Minn.) 14.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G  25 Connor Flack (6-5 210, Lakeville, Minn.) 7.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG
So. F 30 Tommy Gathje (6-8 211, Bloomington, Minn.) 7.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG
So. F 4 Charlie Koontz (6-7 202, Minneapolis, Minn.) 6.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG
So. G 1 Mason Domask (6-3 197, Waupun, Wis.) 2.0 PPG, 1.7 RPG

Upper Iowa
Projected Starters
Jr. PG 3 Carson Parker (6-3 185, New Hartford, Iowa) 10.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 3.7 APG
Sr. SG 0 Luke Lenhart (6-0 160, Storm Lake, Iowa) 10.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG
R-So. 3G 23 Dennis Austin, III (6-3 200, Apple Valley, Minn.) 10.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG
Sr. SF 10 Jimmy Roth (6-5 205, Marion, Iowa) 13.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG
R-Sr. PF 24 Jordan Hay (6-6 215, Stanwood, Iowa) 11.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
Sr. F 30 Josh Weeber (6-5 220, Dubuque, Iowa) 11.3 PPG, 2.0 RPG
Jr. G 4 Kam Rowan (6-0 185, Champaign, Ill.) 7.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. G 22 Jace Hanna (6-1 190, Shueyville, Iowa) 2.5 PPG, 2.0 RPG

#5StoryLines

1. Can Harrison Cleary continue his great start to the season?
2. Can the Golden Eagles slow down the shooting of Upper Iowa?
3. Can UMC stop Riley Bambenek of Winona State, especially from beyond the arc?
4. Who will come away with the big plays down the stretch in both games?
5. Can Connor Gamble and Chase Knickerbocker build off their recent success?

#VeryCleary
UMC freshman Harrison Cleary is off to one of the best starts of any Golden Eagle player in program history. Cleary continues to lead the NSIC with 22.4 points per game. Cleary has tallied career highs of 34 twice this season, in his first game of his career against Southwest Baptist and Dec. 15 against Bemidji State. He has tallied 20 or more points seven times this season. Cleary is shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from beyond the arc this season.

#InTheClutch
UMC sophomore Gable Smith came away with major plays in UMC's first NSIC win against Bemidji State. Smith had the game-winner free throw and the game-saving block in the final seconds against NSIC North rival BSU. Smith is averaging 7.0 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the last two for the Golden Eagles against the Beavers and versus Oak Hills Christian.

#TheChaseIsOn
UMC sophomore Chase Knickerbocker is coming off the best game of his career against Bemidji State. Knickerbocker had 24 points against the Beavers on 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Knickerbocker is averaging 10.5 points per game on the season. He sat out the Oak Hills Christian game but is expected to be back to action this weekend.

#FosstonGreyhound
UMC sophomore Darin Viken has been an energy guy off the bench all season for the Golden Eagles. The Fosston-native had his chance to have a big impact Dec. 17 against Oak Hills Christian. Viken had a near double-double of nine points and 10 rebounds against the Wolfpack. Both were career highs for Viken. He is averaging 2.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game this season.

#Tidbits

• The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 5-6 mark on the season. They have already surpassed their win total of three from the 2015-16 season. Minnesota Crookston has a young roster with only three upperclassmen. They continue to build the program and are on the right path as they continue to improve.
• Harrison Cleary leads UMC with 22.4 points per game on the season. Chase Knickerbocker comes in averaging 10.5 points per game. The Golden Eagles are shooting 47.0 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from beyond the arc.
• Winona State is 5-5 on the season. The Warriors are shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors look to Riley Bambenek's 17.5 points per game. Bambenek is shooting 49.3 percent from beyond the arc. In addition, post Kyle Bauman is averaging 14.4 points per game, while guard Isaiah Gray is tallying 12.6 points per game.
• Upper Iowa is one of the bigger surprises in the league with an 8-4 mark. The Peacocks have great balance with five players averaging over 10 points per game. The Peacocks run a small line-up with all starters under 6-6. Upper Iowa is led by Jimmy Roth's 13.7 points per game. Josh Weeber comes off the bench for 11.3 points per game. The Peacocks are shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from behind the three-point line this season.