THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (6-3, 2-1 NSIC) hits the road for the first time since Nov. 19 with a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games in the state of North Dakota. SMSU will face the University of Mary (2-5, 0-3 NSIC) on Friday, Dec. 12, at the McDowell Activity Center with tip-off slated for 8 p.m. SMSU will then close the weekend on Saturday, Dec. 13, with a 6 p.m. matchup versus Minot State University (5-3, 1-2 NSIC) at the MSU Dome.
    Following this weekend's games, SMSU will close out the 2014 calendar year with a road game versus the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Dec. 20.

    RADIO - Both games this weekend will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik handling play-by-play and Anthony Rohlik serving as analyst.

    SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Mary meet for the 13th time in a series dating back to 2005-06. SMSU leads the series 10-2 and holds a 3-2 advantage in games played in Bismarck. U-Mary has won the last two games played in Bismarck with SMSU's last win coming on Dec. 13, 2008. The teams split a pair of games last season with U-Mary winning 74-65 in Bismarck, before SMSU earned an 82-65 victory in the first round of the NSIC tournament in Marshall. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 3-2 versus U-Mary.
    Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State meet for the fourth time in a series dating back to Nov. 26, 2011. SMSU leads the series 3-0, earning victories at the Bemidji State Classic on Nov. 26, 2011, in Marshall on Feb. 9, 2013 and in last season in Minot on Feb. 15, 2014. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 3-0 versus Minot State.
    A game-by-game listing of both series is located on page 17.

    GAMEDAY STORYLINES -
•The SMSU 2014-15 roster features three seniors, three sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and seven true freshmen.
•SMSU has shot less than 40 percent from the field in two of its last three games.
•SMSU tied a season-low with five 3-pointers made last Saturday vs. Upper Iowa.
•SMSU shot a season-high 90.5 percent (19 of 21) from the free throw line vs. Upper Iowa.
•SMSU has held a lead or has been tied at halftime in seven of nine games.
•SMSU has shot 50 percent or higher from the field in eight of the 18 halves through nine games.
•SMSU has held a rebound advantage in seven of nine games.
•SMSU's 2-0 start was its first since the 2009-10 season.
•SMSU's 100 points in the win over Jamestown was its first 100-point game since losing to Concordia-St. Paul 109-104 in triple overtime on Feb. 13, 2010. It was SMSU's first 100-point game in regulation since beating Humboldt State (Calif.) 103-52 on Nov. 8, 2008.
•SMSU has made 10 or more 3-pointers in four games this season. The Mustangs made 10 or more 3-pointers twice all of last season.
•Joey Bartlett's 26 points vs. East Central on is the first time a Mustang has scored more than 25 points since Jordan Miller vs. Minnesota State on Feb. 23, 2013.