SMSU Athletics

The 2008-09 SMSU men’s basketball team will be remembered for not only being a championship team, but for being one of the most unselfish teams in Division II history. The Mustangs finished with a record of 28-7, tying a school record for victories, won the program’s second-ever NSIC regular season championship and advanced to the NCAA Elite by winning the NCAA region title.

SMSU opened the season 4-0, including winning the Disney Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif., but went just 6-5 over the next month-and-half to sit at 10-5 overall, 3-3 in the NSIC on Jan. 9. The Mustangs however responded in a big way, winning its next 15 games, including 14 in league play to win the NSIC championship with a record of 17-3.

SMSU earned the No. 1 seed and hosted the 2009 NCAA Central Region Tournament inside the R/A Facility. The tournament was one of the biggest sporting events ever hosted in Marshall, as for three days the Mustang faithful packed the arena and cheered on the squad to three straight victories. SMSU captured its second NCAA region championship crown in team history with a victory over Augustana to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass.

The amazing stat from the 2008-09 team was that no player averaged more than nine points or nine rebounds per game for the season, while a total of 10 players averaged more than 14 minutes per game. SMSU led the NSIC in scoring defense, 3-point field goal defense, turnover margin and rebound margin. The team ranked as high as No. 9 in NABC Top 25 and finished the regular season ranked No. 12.

SMSU head coach Greg Stemen was named NSIC and NABC Region Coach of the Year. Ross DeMasi was named first team All-NSIC, while Kevin Andrews was named second team All-NSIC. Ryan Krome was named the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. DeMasi, Krome and Andy Beilke were named to the NCAA Central Region All-Tournament with Beilke earning MVP honors. DeMasi was also named an NABC first team All-American.