THIS WEEK - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team opens the 2013-14 season this weekend with a pair of home games versus Central Region opponents as part of the SMSU Classic at the R/A Facility in Marshall. SMSU will open play on Saturday, Nov. 9, versus Fort Hays State University (Kan.) with tip-off slated for 5 p.m. SMSU will then face Northwest Missouri State University on Sunday, Nov. 10, with game time set for 4 p.m. Two other games will also be played during the two-day classic. Upper Iowa will take on Northwest Missouri State on Saturday starting at 3 p.m., while on Sunday afternoon Upper Iowa will battle Fort Hays State with tip set for 2 p.m.
MUSTANG QUICK HITTERS -
•SMSU shot 50 percent or higher from the field in 16 games last season, including 14 of 22 NSIC games.
•SMSU finished last season ranked 15th in Division II in field goal pct. (48.8) and 21st in free throw pct. (75.4).
•SMSU also ranked 33rd nationally in turnovers per game (12.0) ad 38th in assist/turnover ratio (1.1).
•Only four teams shot 50 percent from the field versus SMSU last season.
•SMSU set a school record with 107 blocked shots.
•In the final 2012-13 NSIC statistics, SMSU finished first in field goal pct., second in blocked shots, third in assists, fourth in scoring, fourth in field goal pct. defense and fourth in free throw pct.
•SMSU has led the NSIC in field goal pct. in back-to-back seasons.Â
•Senior
Nick Smith led the NSIC in both field goal pct. and blocked shots and was seventh in rebounding.
•Smith finished last season ranked 23rd in Division II in field goal pct. (59.2) and 34th in blocked shots per game (1.7).
•Senior
Vinard Birch ranks seventh in school history with 269 assists.
SEASON OPENERS - Southwest Minnesota State is 26-20 all-time in season opening games. SMSU lost its opening game last season to Cal. State-Dominguez Hills at the Disney Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif. The Mustangs have won five of the last seven season openers and 13 of the last 17. SMSU last played a season opener at home on Nov. 17, 2009, defeating Dordt College (Iowa) 86-59.
