University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Finish Exhibition Slate vs. Winona State
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EXHIBITION No. 2
MINNESOTA
vs.
Winona State
NOVEMBER 8, 2006 • 7 p.m.
WILLIAMS ARENA • Minneapolis, Minn.
Television: None
Radio: Gopher Radio Network - Mike Grimm, PBP; Kevin Lynch, analyst
Audio Webcast: Free at Gophersports.com - Mike Grimm, PBP; Kevin Lynch, analyst
STORYLINES
• This is the first meeting between the two schools.
• This is the third time in two years the Gophers have faced a team from the Northern Sun intercollegiate Conference.
• Minnesota holds a 15-1 record in exhibitions under Monson. The Gophers won both exhibitions last season and, 88-32, over Bemidji State last Friday. Minnesota’s only loss was to the Harlem Globetrotters in 2001-02.
• Freshmen Bryce Webster and Lawrence Westbrook, redshirt freshman Kevin Payton and Damian Johnson and junior college transfers Engen Nurumbi saw their first action as Golden Gophers vs. Bemidji State. Due to injury JC transfer Limar Wilson and Oklahoma transfer Lawrence McKenzie sat out the BSU game, their status is listed as day-to-day.
MATCHUP
Minnesota concludes its exhibition season against the Wiinona State Warriors of the Northern Sun Conference. Winona State won the Division II National Championship last season for the first time in the school’s history defeating Virginia Union 73-61 in the national championship game.
SCOUTING the Warriors
Winona State returns four of five starters from last season’s team. The Warriors lost the school’s all-time leading scorer David Zellmann, but return 6-8 forward John Smith. Smith averaged 16.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season. Winona is 1-1 in exhibitions so far this season, defeating Drake 88-86 (Smith had 18 pts and 13 rebounds) and losing to Bradley 90-77 (Smith scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss).
