The Scoop
The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team will close out the 2017 calendar year as they take on Winona State University Sat., Dec. 30 at 3:30 p.m. and Upper Iowa University Sun., Dec. 31 at 3:30 p.m. 

Previewing the Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles are off to their best start since the 2014-15 season with a 6-6 (3-3 NSIC) mark. 

Minnesota Crookston will look to continue their strong start to the season as they close out the 2017 calendar year.

Harrison Cleary continues to lead Minnesota Crookston with 23.7 points per game. Alan Hodge, Jr. comes in tallying 16.8 points per game, while Chase Knickerbocker is averaging 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. The Golden Eagles are shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 42.6 percent from beyond the arc. Freshman Ben Juhl comes into the weekend averaging 10.8 points per game. Juhl is shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. In the post, Gable Smith enters the weekend tallying 8.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Smith leads NCAA Division II with 3.75 blocks per game. 

The Golden Eagles come into the weekend shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from beyond the arc and 78.2 percent from the charity stripe. Minnesota Crookston is being outrebounded on the year 36.3 to 34.6. Minnesota Crookston is averaging 80.8 points per game and are allowing their foes to score 75.1 points per game.

Minnesota Crookston is coming off a historic win over Bemidji State, their first in Bemidji since 1994 and their first sweep of the Beavers since 1927. 

Previewing the Warriors
The Warriors come into the weekend with a 7-4 (3-3 NSIC) record. Winona State looks to Corey Jeffs with 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while Mason Domask is averaging 12.8 points per game. Domask is shooting 53.5 percent from beyond the arc on the season. Forward Tommy Gathje is averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on the season. Guard Caleb Wagner has been coming on strong as of late for Winona State. Wagner was named NSIC South Player of the Week after the Warriors' last three games. Wagner tallied 17.3 points, 9.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. He tallied a career-best 22 points Dec. 9. The Warriors are 4-0 since he was installed into the starting line-up.

Winona State is averaging 80.8 points per game on the season, while giving up 71.2 points per game to their opponents. The Warriors are shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 77.0 percent from the charity stripe.

Previewing the Peacocks
Upper Iowa enters the weekend with a 8-7 (1-5 NSIC) mark. The Peacocks graduated a lot of talent from last season's team that ended Minnesota Crookston's season in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament. Upper Iowa looks to senior guard Carson Parker with 17.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Joe Smoldt has had a strong start to his career with 11.7 points per game. Smoldt is shooting 41.6 percent from beyond the arc. Dennis Austin, III comes in tallying 12.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Guard Kam Rowan is averaging 9.9 points per game, while Munachiso Okonkwo leads the post with 9.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

The Peacocks are averaging 79.0 points per game, while allowing 79.7 points per game to their foes. Upper Iowa is shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from beyond the arc and 76.2 percent from the charity stripe. The Peacocks are being out-rebounded on the season 37.2 to 34.8. 

Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Dan Weisse
Record at UMC: 23-70 Season at UMC: Fourth Season

Winona State Warriors
Head Coach: Todd Eisner
Record at WSU: 35-33 Season at WSU: Third Season

Upper Iowa Peacocks
Head Coach: Brooks McKowen
Record at UIU: 78-62 Season at UIU: Fifth Season

Date: Dec. 30, 2017
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Opponent: Winona State University
Site: Crookston, Minn.
Date: Dec. 31, 2017
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Opponent: Upper Iowa University
Arena: Lysaker Gymnasium
Capacity: 3,000
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/mbball/
Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Radio: 1260 KROX AM/105.7 FM
Officials (Saturday): Darin Perius, Aaron Lenes, Perry Olson
Officials (Sunday): Luke Schumer, Kelly Anlauf, Chris Koopman
Last (WSU): Winona State won 64-51 Dec. 30 in Winona
Series: Winona State leads 29-2 in Division II era. The Golden Eagles last won Feb. 19, 2011
Last (UIU): Upper Iowa won 79-68 in Fayette Dec. 31
Series: Upper Iowa leads the series 13-3 over Minnesota Crookston.
The Golden Eagles last won Jan. 15, 2011

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
So. PG 0 Harrison Cleary, 6-1, Oak Creek, Wis. 23.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.2 APG
Jr. SG 1 Alan Hodge, Jr., 6-0, Dallas, Texas 16.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG
Fr. 3G 2 Ben Juhl, 6-1, Clive, Iowa 10.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Jr. SF 25 Chase Knickerbocker, 6-7, Annandale, Minn. 11.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG
R-Jr. PF 24 Gable Smith, 6-7, Lodi, Wis. 8.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.8 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. G 13 Darin Viken, 6-1, Fosston, Minn. 1.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG
So. F/C 44 Javier Nicolau, 6-10, Castellon, Spain 3.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Jr. F/C 34 Nate Lorenz, 6-7, Breckenridge, Minn. 2.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG

Winona State
Projected Starters
So. PG 10 Caleb Wagner, 6-2, Muskego, Wis. 10.3 PPG, 4.8 APG, 3.4 RPG
Jr. SG 1 Mason Domask, 6-3, Waupun, Wis. 13.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG
Jr. 3G 25 Connor Flack, 6-5, Lakeville, Minn. 8.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Sr. SF 3 Corey Jeffs, 6-8, Melbourne, Australia 12.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG
Sr. PF 30 Tommy Gathje, 6-8, Bloomington, Minn. 12.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Top Bench Players
Jr. F 4 Charlie Koontz, 6-7, Minneapolis, Minn. 8.3 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Fr. G/F 24 Kevion Taylor, 6-5, Milwaukee, Wis. 6.5 PPG, 3.6 RPG
Jr. G 11 Isaiah Easaw, 6-3, Scottsdale, Ariz. 3.7 PPG, 1.3 RPG
Fr. G 20 Devin Whitelow, 5-9, Peoria, Ill. 11.5 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.0 RPG

Upper Iowa
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 3 Carson Parker, 6-3, New Hartford, Iowa 17.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 6.1 APG
Fr. SG 20 Joe Smoldt, 6-0, Reinbeck, Iowa 11.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG
R-Jr. 3G 23 Dennis Austin, III, 6-3, Apple Valley, Minn. 12.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Jr. SF 13 Quentin Blaue, 6-6, Ottawa, Kan. 6.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG
Jr. PF 50 Munachiso Okonkwo, 6-9, Owerri, Nigeria 9.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-Jr. G 4 Kam Rowan, 6-0, Champaign, Ill. 9.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.1 APG
Sr. F 35 Mitchell Eighme, 6-8, Waterloo, Iowa 5.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG
R-Fr. G 5 Jareese Williams, 6-2, Mason City, Iowa 4.3 PPG, 1.9 RPG

#5StoryLines
1. Can the Golden Eagles get the ball movement and defense that they have had in several of their wins?

2. Will Harrison Cleary continue his strong start to his sophomore campaign?

3. Can the Golden Eagles limit Caleb Wagner, who has been vital for Winona State in the last four games? 

4. Will Minnesota Crookston be able to control Upper Iowa guard Carson Parker?

5. Will Gable Smith continue to be a pest in the paint with his blocked shots? 

#ShiningAsASophomore
Minnesota Crookston sophomore guard Harrison Cleary has overcome the sophomore slump in his second season as a Golden Eagle. Cleary was NSIC Freshman of the Year last season. Cleary leads the league with 23.7 points per game. He is averaging 5.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. Cleary is shooting 45.4 percent from beyond the arc and 96.6 percent from the charity stripe. He has missed just two free throw shots all season. Cleary had a season-high 36 points versus Jamestown. 

#Denied
Minnesota Crookston redshirt junior Gable Smith has always been a shot block machine with a school-record 168 blocks. Smith has taken it to a new level this year with an NCAA Division II leading 3.75 blocks per game. He had a school-record and an NCAA Division II high of nine blocks against Northern State. Smith has also averaged 8.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He had a season-high 16 points at home against Bemidji State and notched 13 points versus Northern State. Smith will look to continue to have a major impact both offensively and defensively this weekend.


#ChaseIsOnTheCase
Minnesota Crookston junior Chase Knickerbocker is averaging 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this season. Knickerbocker comes into the weekend shooting 43.3 percent from beyond the arc. Knickerbocker was crucial in the historic win over Bemidji State with a double-double of 11 points and 15 boards. He was especially crucial on the glass. Knickerbocker will be a major impact on the boards and from beyond the arc this weekend. 

#CrownJuhl
Minnesota Crookston guard Ben Juhl has continued to come on this season. Juhl is averaging 13.5 points per game in the last two games for the Golden Eagles. He has tallied double-figure scoring in five games this season. Juhl is shooting 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. He has shot 4-of-9 for 44.4 percent from behind the three-point line in the last two games.