Golden Eagles Make Longest Trip of Conference Season this Weekend



•  The Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team earned a split this past weekend inside Lysaker Gymnasium. On Friday night, the Wolves of Northern State scored 57 second half points to defeat the Golden Eagles, 97-60. On Saturday night, the Golden Eagles finally got back to playing the type of basketball that got them out to a 6-2 start. Led by Harrison Cleary's 33 points, the Golden Eagles had three players in double-figures, which propelled them to a much needed 94-61 victory over MSU Moorhead. This weekend, the Golden Eagles will look to continue that momentum from Saturday night on the road at Winona State and Upper Iowa.

•  BACK FOR MORE. Being in the NSIC North, the Golden Eagles aren't as familiar with teams in the NSIC South, but one team the Golden Eagles have seen more than other South schools is Winona State. The Golden Eagles played the Warriors twice a season ago, winning one and losing in the NSIC quarterfinals in Sioux Falls, S.D. The game in the Sanford Pentagon saw five lead changes and the Golden Eagles largest lead of the game was just four. The loss ended the season for the Golden Eagles and was a contrast in the game inside Lysaker Gymnasium, where the Golden Eagles led the entire game and had a lead as big as 20 late in the first half. Minnesota Crookston will hope for the same story as the first time these two met a season ago, this time.
 
•  I BELIEVE IT'S TYME FOR ME TO FLY. Since a win over the Dragons on Dec. 6, the Golden Eagles have had just three games where they have had someone other than Harrison Cleary score in double-figures. Freshman guard Tyrese Shines helped change that narrative in a big way. The lanky guard from La Grange, Ill., scored a season and career-high 21 points on 7-10 shooting from the field and 2-4 from the 3-point line. Shines set multiple career-high's in Saturday's win, including points, field goals made, field goals attempted and rebounds. If the Golden Eagles can get that kind of performance from Shines consistently, they will be a tough team to beat.

•  DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. Although the numbers suggest that the Golden Eagles aren't a solid defensive team, they proved on Saturday night that they have what it takes to get it done when they don't have the ball in their hands. The Golden Eagles held the Dragons, a team that averages 77.7 points per game, to just 61 points, well below their season average. That's the second-lowest scoring output the Golden Eagles have held their opponents to this season. Minnesota Crookston held the defending National Champions and No. 2 team in the nation, Northwest Missouri State, to 60 points in their first game of the year. Those 60 points are tied for the lowest points scored for the Bearcats this season.

•  THAT'S GOOD TO SEE, B. Redshirt sophomore Brian Sitzmann scored 11 points in the win over the Dragons of MSU Moorhead. That was the first time Sitzmann has scored double-figures since he scored 20 points in a rout of Sioux Falls, a game that came the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Before this stretch, Stizmann scored in double-digits  in six of the Golden Eagles first seven games, including a career-high 20 points, which he did in two Golden Eagle wins. Hopefully for the Golden Eagles, Sitzmann's game against the Dragons can carry over into the rest of the season.

•  BLOCK PARTY. 6 foot 11 Javier Nicolau and 6 foot 8 Chase Johnson had themselves a little block party this past weekend. Unfortunately for Northern State and MSU Moorhead, it was a party that only they were invited to. On Friday night, Nicolau tied a career-high in blocks with five, all coming in the first half. Nicolau had five blocks at Minnesota Duluth in his first season as a Golden Eagle. On Saturday night, it was Johnson's turn to host the party, sending back a career-high four shots in the dominating win over MSUM. As a team, the Golden Eagles blocked seven shots on Saturday, led by the four from Johnson. The Golden Eagles are currently fifth in the conference in blocked shots, led in large part by Nicolau and Johnson.

•  TAKE IT TO THE RACK. Redshirt senior guard Malcolm Cohen is shooting just 25.9 percent from the 3-point line this season, but one thing he has been doing in recent games is being aggressive and looking for easier shots off the bounce. In his previous four games, Cohen is averaging 9 points per game, including scoring 15 points in a loss to St. Cloud State. It will be important this weekend for Cohen to continue his aggressiveness and try to get easy baskets at the rim.

•  YOU CLEAR(L)Y CAN'T STOP HIM. In Friday night's loss to Northern State, senior guard Harrison Cleary was held to 2-18 shooting from the field and scored just 13 points, with the help of nine makes from the free throw line. That loss to the Wolves was the first game of the season where Clearly hasn't had a make from behind the 3-point line. In fact, dating back to last season, it was the first time in 25 games where he hasn't had a 3-point make, which happened in a game at Minot State, where he was held to just six points. Cleary bounced back in a giant way on Saturday, scoring 33 points on 9-21 shooting from the field. It was the sixth time this season that Cleary has scored 30 or more points this season. The Oak Creek, Wis., native is second in the nation in scoring per game, averaging 28.5 on the season, as well as total points scored with 456, but leads all of Division II in free throws made (132) and total field goals attempted (319). It's been a special senior season for H, and getting back to Sioux Falls would be the best going away present of all.

•  MOMENTUM. Head Coach Dan Weisse hopes that Saturday's 33-point victory over MSU Moorhead will be a sign of things to come. The margin of victory for the Golden Eagles, was the biggest since last season's 31-point win over Upper Iowa, the opponent on Saturday for Minnesota Crookston. Minnesota Crookston is back to within just one game of fourth in the NSIC North and just two back of third place in the North, which is held by 6-4 St. Cloud State. This is an important stretch for the Golden Eagles, playing four of their next six games at home, after this weekend.

"Look Good, Play Good"
White Jersey: 4-4
Black Jersey: 4-4 


2019-20 NSIC Rankings
Scoring Offense: 10th
Scoring Defense: 14th
Scoring Margin: 14th
Free Throw Pct.: 1st
Field Goal Pct.: 16th
Field Goal Pct. Defense: 15th
3-Point Field Goal Pct.: 11th
3-Point Field Goal Pct. Defense: 16th
Rebounding Offense: 16th
Rebounding Defense: 14th
Rebounding Margin: 16th
Offensive Rebounds: 15th
Defensive Rebounds: 15th
Blocked Shots: 5th
Assists: 16th
Steals: 6th
Turnover Margin: 4th
Assist/Turnover Ratio: 11th


Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Head Coach: Dan Weisse
Record at UMC: 52-105 Season at UMC: Sixth Season


Winona State Warriors
Head Coach: Todd Eisner
Record at Winona State: 68-54 Season at WSU: Fifth Season


Upper Iowa Peacocks
Head Coach:  Brooks McKowen
Record at UIU: 104-98 Season at UIU: Sixth Season


Weekly Snapshot

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Sr. PG 0 Harrison Cleary (6-1 180, Oak Creek, Wis.) 28.4 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.8 APG
RSo. SG 14 Brian Sitzmann (6-4 192, Savage, Minn.) 8.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG
RSr. SF 12 Malcolm Cohen (6-6 210, Detroit, Mich.) 8.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG
Jr. PF 10 Ibu Jassey Demba (6-7 200, Birmingham, England) 3.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG
Sr. F/C 44 Javier Nicolau (6-10 220, Castellon, Spain) 6.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Top Bench Players
Fr. F 20 Reed Miller (6-6 205, Appleton, Wis.) 3.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG
Fr. G 13 Tyrese Shines (6-3 190, La Grange, Ill.) 5.1 PPG, 2.5 RPG
R-So. F 21 Chase Johnson (6-8 240, La Crosse, Wis.) 3.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG
R-So. G/F 25 Zac Olson (6-5 225, Waterville, Minn.) 2.3 PPG

Winona State
Projected Starters
So. G 5 Alec Rosner (6-2 195, Appleton, Wis.) 9.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG
Sr. G 10 Caleb Wagner (6-1 185, Muskego, Wis.) 18.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG
Jr. G 20 Devin Whitelow (5-9 165, Peoria, Ill.) 6.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.4 APG
Jr. F 24 Kevion Taylor (6-5 220, Milwaukee, Wis.) 19.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 55 3PM
Jr. F 33 Andrea Lo Biondo (6-9 208, Legnano, Italy) 8.9 PPG, 6.3 RPG
Top Bench Players
So. G 11 Luke Martens (6-3 198, Apple Valley, Minn.) 6.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Jr. G 12 Dalante Peyton (6-3 185, St. Paul, Minn.) 1.4 PPG
So. G 22 Nick Klug (6-1 170, Burlington, Wis.) 2.9 PPG
Upper Iowa
Projected Starters
R-Jr. G 5 Jareese Williams (6-2 185, Mason City, Iowa) 14.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 55 3PM
Fr. G 15 Jake Hilmer (5-10 163, Walker, Iowa) 11.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Jr. G 20 Joe Smoldt (6-0 175, Reinbeck, Iowa) 13.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG
Fr. F 21 Dylan Jones (6-8 215, Waukee, Iowa) 6.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Sr. F 22 Joshua Carter (6-6 215, Dubuque, Iowa) 9.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG
Top Bench Players
R-Fr. G 2 Lucas Duax (6-3 180, Dubuque, Iowa) 9.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Fr. G 10 Max Duax (6-2 168, Dubuque, Iowa) 3.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG
So. F 14 Jackson Joens (6-5 230, Cedar Rapids, Iowa) 7.7 PPG
So. F 55 Cade Moritz (6-8 225, Norwalk, Iowa) 6.5 PPG


#Tidbits

WINONA STATE. After a bit of a rough start to the season, Winona State has righted the ship and is playing good ball as of late. Winona State is winners of five out of seven, with their only two blemishes being a four point loss at Northern State and wild, three-overtime, five-point loss to Wayne State College last Friday night at home. A season ago, the Warriors were a second away from advancing to the NSIC Championship, but fell to Northern State after a buzzer-beater from Mason Stark. The Warriors return a lot of pieces from that team.

THE CALEB CHRONICLES. The Warriors rely heavily on senior guard Caleb Wagner. The Muskego, Wis., native is second on the team in scoring, averaging 18.1 points per game, while shooting 37.1 percent from behind the arc and 43.7 percent from the field. Wagner has scored 10 or more points in 12 straight games, including four-straight games with 20 or more points. Wagner scored a season and career-high 34 points in a blowout victory over Bethany Lutheran.

WHEN HE'S ON, CALL HIM KEVION. It could be argued that Winona State has one of the better offensive talents in the NSIC. Kevion Taylor, a junior from Milwaukee, Wis., is seventh in the conference in points per game, averaging 19.1 per game. Where Taylor is most dangerous, is from behind the 3-point line. Taylor is fifth in the conference is 3-point percentage,  second in 3-point attempts per game and is tied for the conference lead with 55 makes from behind the arc. In two meetings with the Golden Eagles a season ago, Taylor avearged 20.5 points per game, including 25 in the first meeting between these two programs. Taylor will be a tough matchup this Friday night.

DEFEND THE HOMECOURT. Winona State has developed quite the homecourt in recent seasons. Since the 2008-09 season, the Warriors have not had a losing record at home. The Warriors worst season's at home came in 2016-17 and last year, when they went 7-6. McKowen Gymnasium is one of the toughest places to play in the NSIC, no doubt about it.

UPPER IOWA. Much like the Warriors, the Peacocks have been playing really good basketball as of late. UIU is winners of four out of their last six, including a signature win at Wachs Arena over Northern State. The Peacocks are coming off a sweep this past weekend, with an overtime victory over Augustana and a win over Wayne State College. This will be the second straight weekend inside Dorman Gymnasium for the Peacocks.

JEEZ LOUISE, JAREESE. Jareese Williams is turning into a star for Head Coach Brooks McKowen and the Peacocks. The Redshirt junior from Mason City, Iowa is averaging 14.5 points per game and is shooting an astounding 47.5 percent from the 3-point line, which leads the NSIC. Scored a season-high 24 points twice this season, including in the wild victory over Northern State earlier this month.

THIEF!  Lucas Duax is having a solid season on the offensive side, averaging 9.3 points per game, while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. Where Duax is more effective is when his team doesn't have the ball. The redshirt freshman from Dubuque, Iowa is averaging 2.1 steals per game and has 34 total steals on the season, both of which lead the conference. Duax is enjoying a really good season on both ends of the floor for Upper Iowa.

IOWA BUILT. When people look at the starting five for Upper Iowa, they will notice one thing; it's heavy with Iowa natives. In fact, the entire Peacock lineup is made up of kids from Iowa. The Peacocks have gone right to their backyard to find players that would help them be successful and so far though 16 games, it's been effective.


WHAT TO WATCH
1. Will Tyrese Shines continue his outstanding play?

2. Can the Golden Eagles continue to get solid play from their bench?

3. Can Minnesota Crookston get a win on the road?

4. A consistent 40 minutes will be key to get two wins on the road.

5. First meeting with the Warriors since the NSIC quarterfinals.