THIS WEEK - Southwest Minnesota State University (6-6, 3-2 NSIC) returns to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action this upcoming weekend with a pair of road games.  SMSU returns to the court on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at Winona State University (9-3, 3-2 NSIC) with tip-off set for 8 p.m. at McCown Gym.  The Mustangs then face Upper Iowa University (8-3, 4-1 NSIC) on Saturday, Jan. 5, with game time set for 8 p.m. at Dorman Gym.  SMSU will have a total of 19 days between its last game, a 96-86 victory over Concordia-St. Paul and this Friday night's game at Winona State.  SMSU's next home game will be Friday, Jan. 11, versus St. Cloud State.

LAST TIME OUT - Southwest Minnesota State split two home games on Dec. 14-15, losing to No. 21 Minnesota State, 85-84, before rebounding with a 96-86 victory over Concordia-St. Paul.  In the loss to MSU, SMSU held an 11-point lead with six minutes left and still maintained an eight-point lead with 1:46 remaining, but a 12-0 MSU run rallied the Mavericks past the Mustangs.  Jordan Miller led SMSU with a season-high 25 points, while Nick Smith poured in 20 points.  SMSU was 11 of 16 from the free throw line, while MSU finished the game 27 of 39 from the charity strip.  SMSU committed a season-low eight turnovers in the loss to MSU.  In the win over CU, SMSU had five players score in double figures with Miller recording 17 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.  SMSU shot 69 percent in the second half and finished the game shooting 62 percent.

TOUGH SCHEDULE - Southwest Minnesota State has opened the season with 12 tough games - playing 11 NCAA Division II opponents and one NCAA Division I opponent - while only playing four games in Marshall.  The six opponents SMSU has lost to this season have a combined record of 49-16 (as of Dec. 31). 

RANKED OPPONENTS - Southwest Minnesota State is 0-2 this season versus Top 25 teams, following the Dec. 14 defeat to then-No. 21 Minnesota State, Mankato.  SMSU also lost to then-No. 24 Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 25.  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 100 nationally in three categories in the NCAA statistics report through Sunday, Dec. 16.  Individually, Jordan Miller ranks 78th in 3-point field goal pct., 81st in 3-point field goals per game and 86th in free throw pct.  Nick Smith ranks 72nd in field goal pct. and 82nd in blocked shots.  See chart on page 2 for all NSIC and NCAA statistics.

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