THIS WEEK - Southwest Minnesota State University (5-5, 2-1 NSIC) closes out play in the month of December with a pair of home games at the R/A Facility.  SMSU will take on No. 21 Minnesota State University, Mankato (6-1, 2-1 NSIC) on Friday, Dec. 14, with tip-off slated for 8 p.m., before closing the weekend battling Concordia University, St. Paul (1-5, 0-3 NSIC) on Saturday, Dec. 15, with game time set for 7 p.m.  It's the final games in the month of December for SMSU, before returning to play on Jan. 4-5, 2013, at Winona State and Upper Iowa respectively.

LAST TIME OUT - Southwest Minnesota State split a pair of road games last weekend, losing 70-65 to Augustana, before holding on for a 74-73 win versus Wayne State.  In the loss to Augustana, Jordan Miller scored a season-high 24 points with eight rebounds to lead SMSU.  The Mustangs made just 12 of 19 free throws and were just 3 of 17 from 3-point range.  Augustana snapped a 62-62 tie with 1:18 left in the game and never trailed again.  In the victory over Wayne State, Nick Smith poured in a season-high 19 points and hit three clutch free throws in the closing second to seal the victory.  SMSU led by 14 points with four minutes left in the game, before WSC rallied to cut the deficit to one on three occasions in the final minute.  SMSU finished the game making 25 of 33 free throws and shot 54 percent from the field. 

TOUGH SCHEDULE - Southwest Minnesota State has opened the season with 10 tough games - playing nine NCAA Division II opponents and one NCAA Division I opponent - while only playing two games in Marshall.  The five opponents SMSU has lost to this season have a combined record of 33-9. 

RANKED OPPONENT - Southwest Minnesota State will be facing its second nationally-ranked opponent this season on Friday night versus No. 21 Minnesota State, Mankato.  SMSU lost to then-No. 24 Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 25.  NWMSU is undefeated and has moved up to No. 10 in this week's NABC Top 25 poll.  SMSU's last win over a Top 25 team was on Feb. 11, 2012, at No. 24 St. Cloud State 85-69.

NCAA STATS - Southwest Minnesota State ranks among the top 50 nationally in one category in the second NCAA statistics report through Sunday, Dec. 9. Individually, Jordan Miller ranked 78th in 3-pointers per game (2.6) and 88th in 3-point field goal pct. (.347), while Nick Smith ranks 48th in blocked shots (1.7).  See chart on page 2 for all NSIC and NCAA statistics.

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