Complete Release (PDF)

This Week: The  No. 14 Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (24-5, 16-3 NSIC), winners of 14 in a row and 17 its last 18, concludes the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season on Saturday, Feb. 28 hosting Northern State University (18-8, 11-8 NSIC) beginning at 8 p.m. at R/A Facility. 
    
Southwest Minnesota State, which clinched a share of the NSIC regular season championship on Wednesday night with a win at Wayne State, begins the weekend holding a one-game lead over Winona State.  SMSU can clinch the outright championship with a victory on Saturday or a Winona State loss at St. Cloud State.  SMSU's only other NSIC title came during the 2000-01 season.
    
SMSU is also ranked No. 1 in the latest NCAA Central Region rankings that were released on Wednesday, Feb. 25.  Northern State is ranked No. 8 in the latest regional rankings.  The next rankings will be released on March 4.
     Both teams will start the postseason on Wednesday, March 4, in the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament.  SMSU will be either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed and will host either Northern State or Concordia at 7 p.m. 
    
NCAA Regional Rankings: SMSU is ranked first in the latest NCAA Central Region rankings released on Feb. 25.  It is the fourth straight week SMSU has been ranked No. 1.  The top eight teams in the region qualify for the NCAA tournament with tournament champions from both the NSIC and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference receive automatic bids to the regional.  The next regional poll will be released on Wednesday, March 4. (See complete poll on page 1)

SMSU No. 14 in NABC Top 25:  SMSU moved up five spots and is ranked No. 14 in this week's NABC/Division II Top 25 national poll announced on Tuesday.  It's the fifth time the Mustangs have been ranked this season.  SMSU was ranked No. 19 in the Nov. 25 ranking, No. 24 on Dec. 2, No. 24 on Feb. 11 and No. 19 on Feb. 17.  The No. 14 ranking is SMSU's highest since being ranked No. 9 in the final 2000-01 regular season poll.
     SMSU has now been in the national poll 13 weeks in school history, including seven weeks in 2000-01 and one week in 2001-02. (See complete poll on page 3)

About Southwest Minnesota State: The Mustangs are 24-5 overall, 16-3 NSIC, following a hard-fought 54-51 road win over Wayne State on Wednesday night.  SMSU jumped out to a 15-2 lead, but WSC?closed the gap to 30-23 at halftime.  In the second half SMSU struggled shooting from the field, making just eight of 24 shots and allowing WSC?to tie the game in the final seconds but the Wildcats missed a pair of three-pointers that would've tied the game.  Scott Roehl and Nick Dale each scored eight points to lead a balanced Mustang scoring effort.
     Senior forward Ross DeMasi leads SMSU in both scoring (9.1) and rebounding (9.2) this season, while also shooting a team-high 55.6 percent from the field.  Junior forward Kevin Andrews ranks first in steals (30), second on the team in scoring (8.8) and is third in both assists (57) and three-pointers (27).  Junior guard Andrew Peschong is the team leader in assists with 86.  SMSU is averaging 73.1 points per game, while allowing 62.1, and is outrebounding opponents an average of 8.7 per game.  

Mustang Minutes: SMSU begins the weekend ranked first in the NSIC?(conf. games only) in scoring defense (60.9), rebound margin (+7.4) and turnover margin (+3.67) and ranks second in steals (8.28) and scoring margin (+10.2) ... senior Ross DeMasi begins the weekend ranked second in the conference in rebounding (8.3) and tied for fifth in field goal pct. (.566) ...?sophomore Taylor Huseby is tied for fifth in field goal pct. (.566) ... seniors Ryan Krome (117), Ross DeMasi (113) and Andy Beilke (100) are three of just 19 Mustang players all-time to appear in 100 career games ... Krome became the 13th player in school history to reach 200 career assists in the win over UND on Feb. 3, and now has 215 ... junior Andrew Peschong ranks eighth in school history with 240 assists ... DeMasi is fourth all-time at SMSU?in rebounds with 689 ... SMSU has won 15 games away from Marshall this season after recording just five road or neutral site victories all of last season ... senior Ross DeMasi has recorded 11 double figure rebounding games this season, including three games with 16 rebounds ... SMSU has made more three-pointers than its opponents in 18 of 28 games.

About Northern State: The Wolves, 18-8 overall, 11-8 NSIC, and are currently on a three-game losing streak.  NSU is ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA regional rankings.  Northern State is coming off a heartbreaking 80-79 home loss on Wednesday night to MSU?Moorhead.  Senior forward Kevin Ratzsch, the preseason NSIC?player of the year, leads NSU?in nearly every offensive category.  He ranks first in scoring (21.8), rebounding (7.4) and field goal pct. (.527).  Junior guard Mitch Boeck is averaging 13.3 ppg and has connected on a team-high 73 three-pointers.  Junior center Robert Thomas ranks third in scoring (12.0) and second in rebounding (6.7).  NSU is averaging 74.9 points per game, while allowing 68 and holds a plus-4.0 rebound advantage per game over its opponents.  NSU?head coach Don Meyer is in his 10th season with a record of 207-87.  He is in his 37th season overall with a record of 909-307.

The Series Match-Up: Southwest Minnesota State and Northern State meet for the 76th time with NSU leading 54-21, including a record of 21-13 in games played in Marshall.  NSU has won four straight in the series including winning 50-45 in Aberdeen, S.D., on Dec. 12.  The last win for SMSU in the series came in the semifinals of the 2007 NSIC?tournament in Winona, Minn. 
     In the first match-up between the teams in December, Northern State rallied from a seven-point deficit with just under eight minutes left in the game to earn the victory.  SMSU was held to just three points in the final seven minutes and 54 seconds.  Kevin Ratzsch scored the go-ahead field goal with 39 seconds left to snap a 45-45 tie.  SMSU shot a season-low 31.4 percent from the field and scored a season-low 45 points.  Ryan Krome led the Mustangs with 10 points, while Ratzsch poured in 19 points and teammate Robert Thomas added 12 points and eight rebounds. 
(Series information and all-time scores on page 2)

DeMasi Moving Up Rebound List: Senior forward Ross DeMasi has grabbed 266 rebounds this season ranking as the fourth highest total in one season in school history.  He is 13 rebounds shy of moving into third all-time on the single-season list.  DeMasi's 9.2 rebounds per game also ranks sixth in the single-season record book.
Single-Season Rebounds
    1.     313    Juan Mitchell  - 1986-87
    2.    300    Sam Leggett - 1975-76
    3.    279    Frank Belmont - 1972-73
4.    266    Ross DeMasi - 2008-09

Twenty-Win Season The Fourth All-Time:?SMSU's 24 victories so far this season marks the fourth time in school history that a Mustang team has reached 20 victories in a season and the third time under head coach Greg Stemen.  The 24 wins is the second most in one season in the program's 42-year history.  The 2000-01 squad holds the school record with 28 wins.

Winning Streak Reaches 14: SMSU is currently on a 14-game winning streak ranking as the second longest win streak in school history.  The school record is 17 straight victories set by the 2000-01 squad.

Winning Away From Home:?SMSU is a combined 15-3 this season in 18 road and neutral site games.  The 15 victories ranks as the second most road/neutral site victories in a single season in school history.  The 2000-01 team holds the school record with 16 total victories (10 away/six neutral) away from Marshall.  SMSU?is 11-2 in road games this season, setting a school record for road victories and is the first Mustang squad to have a winning record on the road since the 2002-03 season (7-5). 

Record After 29 Games: SMSU's 24-5 record after 29 games ties the 2000-01 team with the best record after 29 games in school history.  The 2000-01 team would eventually push its record to 25-5, before finishing 28-7 and winning the NSIC?and NCAA?regional championships. 

Free Throw Shooting Improving: SMSU is shooting 67.4 percent from the free throw line this season ranking 150th in the country (through games Feb. 22).  This is a major improvement from mid-December when SMSU ranked 252nd at 59.3 percent.  SMSU has shot better than its season average in 13 of its last 17 games and in six of the last 15 games the Mustangs have shot 81 percent or better.  SMSU has made 128 of 175 (.731) free throws in its last seven games.

NCAA National?Stats: Southwest Minnesota State ranks high once again in this week's NCAA?II?national statistics.  As a team, SMSU is sixth in rebound margin (9.0), 10th in turnovers (11.8), 19th in scoring defense (62.5), 34th in scoring margin (11.3) and 39th in turnover margin (2.7).  Individually, senior Ross DeMasi ranks 24th in rebounds per game (9.3), while junior Andrew Peschong ranks 43rd in assist/turnover margin (2.02).  For a complete list at where SMSU and Mustang individuals rank in the NSIC?and NCAA?stats, see page 5 of release.

Never a Doubt: Southwest Minnesota State's 51-point victory over Humboldt State (Calif.) this year was the second largest margin of victory for SMSU?during head coach Greg Stemen's tenure.  Below is a list of the top five margins of victory during his tenure:
Opponent    Score    Margin
Minnesota-Morris, 2002-03    93-40    +53
Humboldt State, 2008-09    103-52    +51
Bemidji State, 2006-07    86-43    +43
Bemidji State, 2006-07    87-45    +42
Minnesota-Morris, 2001-02    101-59    +42

SMSU Versus Nationally Ranked Opponents:? SMSU is 3-1 versus nationally ranked opponents this season defeating No. 24 Fort Lewis on Nov. 9 at the Disney Classic, No. 22 Augustana at home on Jan. 23 and at No. 15 Minnesota State Mankato on Feb. 21.  SMSU's lone loss was a home to No. 8 Minnesota State, Mankato on Dec. 6.  Last season SMSU finished 1-5 versus Top 25 teams.  During head coach Greg Stemen's tenure SMSU is 5-23 versus nationally ranked teams.

Mustang Bench Key to Season: One of the keys to SMSU's 24-5 record this season has been its tremendous depth and great play by its non-starters.  Nine of 10 players have appeared in all 29 games this season (Jon DeRock missed two games with injury) and 10 players are averaging over 14 minutes per game.  Mustang non-starters are averaging 31.8 points per game compared to just 17.6 by their opponents.  The SMSU bench has outscored its opponents' bench players in 27 of 29 games this season.  Below is a look at the season stats for the SMSU and opponents' bench players.
Bench         FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    SMSU        .427    .382    .648    17.4    31.8
Opp.        .423    .322    .754    14.2    17.6   

Keepin' the Opponent Under 70:?Defense has been a trademark for Mustang basketball under head coach Greg Stemen.  During Stemen's now eight years as head coach, SMSU is 105-18 overall, including 23-1 this season, when limiting opponents to 69 points or less.

Consecutive Three-Point Games:?Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one three-point field goal in 312 straight games.  The last time SMSU failed to score a three-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU?Moorhead in a game played at the North Dakota State Classic in Fargo.

SMSU Late in the Game:?Making plays down the stretch on both ends of the floor is a major key for teams in earning victories.  The following is SMSU's and its opponents' statistical averages in the final five minutes this season:
<5 min.         FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO   
SMSU        .460    .293    .685    4.7    10.3    1.4
Opp.        .449    .288    .778    4.1    10.3    1.8

Mustangs Home and Away:?SMSU is 9-2 at home this year after?finishing 12-2 at home last season and setting a school record with 13 victories in 2006-07.  SMSU is a solid 15-3 away from home this season after earning just five road or neutral site victories all of last season.  Here is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2008-09:
    W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO   
Home    9-2    .442    .333    .733    38.5    75.7    11.6   
Away    15-3    .438    .357    .632    40.6    71.4    11.5

Krome All-Time at the Line:?Senior Ryan Krome ranks eighth in school history for career free throw percentage at 80 percent (205 of 254).
    1.     .853    Matt Fletcher (198-232) - 2004-08
    2.     .845    Jacob Fahl (377-446) - 1999-03
    3.     .841     Sam Leggett (212-252) - 1974-76
    4.     .836    Jared Keaveny (107-128) - 2002-04
    5.     .826     Steve Elzenga (109-132) - 1983-86,87-88
    8.     .807    Ryan Krome (205-254) - 2005-09

DeMasi Climbing Record Books: Senior Ross DeMasi ranks among the top 10 in four categories in the SMSU career record book.  He is currently third all-time in field goal percentage at 56.4 percent (289 of 514), fourth in rebounds with 689, tied for ninth in blocked shots with 52 and tied for ninth in games played with 113.
SMSU All-Time Rebounds
    1.     848    Frank Belmont  - 1971-75
    2.     717     Mike Tobin  - 1982-86
    3.     713      Mike Lang - 1968-72
4.    689    Ross DeMasi  - 2005-09

SMSU All-Time Field Goal Percentage
    1.     .573    Doug Imming (323-564) - 1979-83
    2.    .572    Mike Koenen (218-381) - 1997-99
3.    .564    Ross DeMasi (287-509) - 2005-09

Peschong Moving Up in Assists: Junior Andrew Peschong is now eighth in school history with 240 career assists.  He trails Juan Mitchell for seventh all-time by five assists.
    1.     304    Marques Pena - 1998-01
    2.     291    Chad Oletzke - 1992-95, 96-97
    3.     286    Brad Bigler - 1997-98,99-02
    4.     271    Mike Tobin - 1982-86
    5.     260    Jacob Fahl - 1999-03
    6.     253    Charlie Taylor - 1981-83
    7.     245    Juan Mitchell - 1983-87
    8.     240    Andrew Peschong - 2006-09
 
Mustangs On the Boards Strong Again: SMSU has outrebounded its opponents in 24 of 29 games and have a plus-8.7 rebound advantage on the season.  This is a trend that has been a trademark of head coach Greg Stemen's teams in recent years.  Last season the Mustangs recorded the same or had more rebounds than its opponents in 25 of 29 games and finished the season with a plus-4.6 rebound advantage per game.  During the 2006-07 season, SMSU led the NSIC in rebound margin with a 5.5 advantage per game in 18 conference games. 

Rebounding Key for SMSU Victories:?As noted in the information above, SMSU has been a strong rebounding team and is 53-12 when even or outrebounding its opponents since the start of the 2006-07 season, including 20-4 this season.  During head coach Greg Stemen's tenure, SMSU?is 112-38 when tied or outrebounding its opponent but just 25-57 when being outrebounded.

Andrews Earns Academic Honor:?Junior Kevin Andrews was named on Feb. 5 to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team.  He is the only NCAA Division II?player on either the first or second team.  District V consists of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA schools from the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.  Sports information directors in the district select the all-academic team.  Andrews, who carries a 3.85 GPA, was a third team honore last season.

A Solid Start Statistic:?SMSU's 6-1 record to start this season tied the school record for the best start to a season after seven games.  The 1974-75 and 2006-07 also started the season 6-1, but only the 2006-07 team won its eighth game of the season to improve to 7-1.

Mustangs Make R/A Home Sweet Home:?This season marks the 13th year that the R/A Facility has been the home arena for SMSU basketball and its proven to be a tough place for opponents to play in.  SMSU?has compiled a record of 128-47 (.731) in 175 games and has had just one losing season in the arena.  SMSU has recorded double figure victories in three straight seasons.
Year    Overall    NSIC    Non-Conf.
1996-97    6-4    3-2    3-2     
1997-98    8-5    4-2    4-3     
1998-99    10-3    5-1    5-2     
1999-00    12-3    7-2    5-1     
2000-01    12-1    9-0    3-1     
2001-02    12-2    7-2    5-0     
2002-03    9-5    7-2    2-3
2003-04    9-5    5-3    4-2     
2004-05    6-8    3-4    3-4
2005-06    10-5    3-4    7-1   
2006-07    13-2    8-1    5-1
2007-08    12-2    7-2    5-0
2008-09    9-2    7-2    2-0
Totals    128-47     75-27    53-20

2008 Disney Classic Champions: SMSU won the second annual Disney West Coast Classic earlier this season in Anaheim, Calif., finishing with a 3-0 record.  SMSU's three victories came against teams that advanced to last season's NCAA?tournament.  Senior forward Ross DeMasi was named Most Valuable Player while junior guard Jon DeRock was named to the all-tournament team.

Mustangs Hit the Century Mark:?Southwest Minnesota State scored 103 points in a 103-52 victory over Humboldt State (Calif.) on Nov. 8 at the Disney Classic in Anaheim, Calif.  It was the first time SMSU reached the 100 points scored mark since Dec. 2, 2003, and the 38th all-time.  SMSU is now 32-6 in school history when scoring 100 points including 3-0 under head coach Greg Stemen.

SMSU Began the Season on the Road:?SMSU began the season with its first six games away from home marking the longest stretch of road or neutral site games to begin a season in school history.  In fact the six games away from home is the longest stretch of road or neutral site games since the end of the 2000-01 season when SMSU?finished the year playing six straight neutral site games in the NSIC?and NCAA?tournament.

Kevin Andrews 08-09 Notes:?Ranks second on the team in scoring ... tied career-high with 23 points vs. Sioux Falls (12/30) ... has started all 29 games ... third on the team with 27 three-pointers ... third in assists with 57 ... has not missed a game in his career ... two-time Academic All-District honoree.

Andy Beilke 08-09 Notes:?Team co-captain ... has played in all 29 games with seven starts ... averaging 7.9 points per game ... second on the team in three-pointers with 35 ... scored career-high 18 points vs. Mary (12/13) including hitting game-winning three-pointer.

Zach Bruns 08-09 Notes:?Has played in one game ... missed most of last two seasons with an injury.

Trent Carlson 08-09 Notes:?Has played in nine games scoring 26 points ... scored eight points with two three-pointers vs. Humboldt State ... redshirt in 2007-08.

Nick Dale 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all 29 games with 10 starts ... leads team with 30 blocked shots ... second on the team in rebounding with 4.6 ... scored career-high 18 points in wins over St. Cloud State (1/16) and North Dakota (2/3) ... recorded first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds vs. Minnesota State (12/6).

Ross DeMasi 08-09 Notes:?Named MVP?of Disney West Coast Classic ... leads team in rebounding (9.2) and scoring (9.1) ... has started all 29 games ... has five double-doubles this season and 12 in his career ... scored season-high 19 points vs. Concordia (2/14) ... grabbed career-high 16 rebounds vs. Fort Lewis, South Dakota and Sioux Falls ... averaging team-high 28 minutes per game ... has grabbed double digit rebounds in 11 games.

Jon DeRock 08-09 Notes:?Fourth on the team in scoring with 8.1 per game ...  has played in 27 of 29 games (missed two games with injury) ... team leader with 42 three-pointers ... scored season-high 24 points vs. North Dakota connecting on seven three-pointers ... named to all-classic team at the Disney West Coast Classic.

Taylor Huseby 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all 29 games with 19 starts ... scored career-high 22 points in win over St. Cloud State (1/16) ... shooting 54.9 percent from the field ... played career-high 30 minutes vs. Wayne State (1/24).

Ryan Krome 08-09 Notes:?Team co-captain ... has started all 29 games ... ranks eighth in school history in free throw shooting ... second on the team with 64 assists ... scored career-high 23 points vs. St. Cloud State (2/13) ... has not missed a game in his career.

Andrew Peschong 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all 29 games, starting 14 ... leads team with 86 assists ... scored career-high 20 points vs. Northwestern (12/3) ... dished out career-high eight assists vs. Minnesota State (12/6) and Mary (12/13).

Scott Roehl 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all 29 games ... averaging 3.6 rebounds per game ... scored season-high 12 points on 4 of 4 shooting vs. Concordia (1/17) ... set career-high with nine rebounds vs. South Dakota (12/22).

Kevin Smith 08-09 Notes:?Has played in 11 games scoring 17 points ... redshirt in 2007-08.

DeAnthony Zanders 08-09 Notes:?Has played in all 29 games ... fourth on the team with 51 assists ... fifth on team with 15 three-pointers ... scored career-high 11 points twice vs. MSU?Moorhead (2/6) ... transfer from Iowa Western C.C.

An R/A Facility First:?The Dec. 6 game between SMSU, ranked No. 24, and Minnesota?State, Mankato, ranked No. 8, was the first men's basketball game ever played at the R/A Facility between two teams ranked in the latest NABC Top 25 poll.

SMSU Signs Three In Early Signing Period:?SMSU head coach Greg Stemen announced that three high school standouts signed letters of intent to play basketball for SMSU starting in 2009-10.  The three players who signed during the early signing period include 6-4 forward Billy Giddings from Blaine, Minn., 6-10 center Deryck Ludwig from Prior Lake, Minn., and 6-2 guard Matt Zager from Shakopee, Minn.

Mustangs Finish High in NSIC Standings Again:?Southwest Minnesota State's third place finish in the NSIC?last season was its fifth top half finish in Greg Stemen's seven seasons as head coach.  SMSU has finished second twice, third twice and fourth once during his tenure.  SMSU has finished among the top four in the conference 11 times in the last 13 seasons.

SMSU Versus Division I?Competition:?SMSU is now 3-7 all-time against NCAA?Division I?school, including 2-1 this season, after defeating North Dakota 77-64 on Feb. 3.  SMSU dropped a 73-69 road decision earlier this season to South Dakota on Dec. 22, while earlier in the season earned a 78-73 road victory over North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D., on Nov. 18.  SMSU's other Division I?win came during the 2004-05 season at South Dakota State (93-55).  SMSU has played several Division I schools in exhibition play during the past five years including Northern Iowa, Drake, Minnesota and South Dakota State.  SMSU defeated South Dakota State in an exhibition game this season 70-65 in Brookings, S.D.

History of the Program:?Southwest Minnesota State is in its 42nd season of men's basketball in 2008-09 and has played 1,138 games with an all-time record of 488-650.  SMSU has racked up 17 winning seasons all-time with 11 coming in the last 14 years (including this season).  The 2000-01 squad won a school record 28 games and captured the program's lone NSIC?championship, while also winning the NCAA?regional championship and advancing to the NCAA?Elite Eight.

SMSU Men's Basketball in NSIC Action:?The 2008-09 season marks the 40th year that SMSU men's basketball has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  SMSU has compiled an all-time record of 248-301 (.451) in 549 conference games finishing in the top half of the final conference standings 19 times in 40 seasons (including this year). SMSU has had much better success in the conference in recent years, having finished in the top half of the standings in 11 of the last 14 seasons (including this season) and has recorded a conference record of 141-78 (.643) in 219 games since the 1995-96 season.

Internet Radio, Video & Stats: All SMSU?men's basketball games during the 2008-09 season can be seen and heard on the Internet.  A video Webcast is available for all home games and conference games free of charge at www.northernsun.tv while the radio broadcast is available at www.SMSUmustangs.com.  Fans can also follow the game on the Internet with live in-game statistics for all home games at www.SMSUmustangs.com and clicking on the “live stats”?link on the right side of the men's basketball page.

Radio Broadcasts:?SMSU?men's basketball will once again be heard all season long on KARL 105.1 FM, Marshall.  Sports director Aaron Ziemer will handle the play-by-play for a sixth straight season.