THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (9-7, 5-5 NSIC) returns home to the R/A Facility this weekend for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games against the top two teams from the NSIC North Division. SMSU will take on Northern State University (13-3, 7-3 NSIC) on Friday, Jan. 16, starting at 8 p.m., before taking on No. 12 MSU Moorhead (18-1, 9-1 NSIC) on Saturday, Jan. 17, starting at 7 p.m. SMSU is looking to break a season-long three-game losing streak and also earn its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent this season. MSU Moorhead begins the week ranked first in Division II in 3-point field goals made, total assists, assist/turnover ratio and fewest turnovers per game.

    RADIO - Both games 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 Northern State meet for the 86th time with NSU leading 57-28 in a series that started during the 1972-73 season. NSU defeated SMSU 93-88 in overtime earlier this season in Aberdeen, S.D., in a non-conference match-up to snap SMSU's three-game winning streak in the series. SMSU has won six of the last eight games overall since March 14, 2009. NSU holds a 22-18 advantage in games played in Marshall, but SMSU has won the last four games played in Marshall, including five straight during the regular season. NSU's last win in Marshall came in the first round of the 2009 NSIC tournament. NSU's last regular season victory in Marshall came on Dec. 7, 2007. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 5-2 versus Northern State.
    Southwest Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead meet for the 99th time in a series dating back to 1968-69 with MSUM leading 55-43. SMSU holds a slight 23-22 advantage in games played in Marshall, including winning five of the last six since Feb. 23, 2007. MSUM's last win in Marshall occurred on Jan. 4, 2011. SMSU won the only meeting last season, 70-68 in Marshall. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 4-5 versus MSU Moorhead.
    A game-by-game listing of both series is located on page 17-18.

    LAST TIME SMSU VS. NSU - Southwest Minnesota State suffered its first loss of the season on Nov. 19 falling in a hard-fought game non-conference game at Northern State, 93-88, in overtime at Wachs Arena. Mitch Weg scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Mustangs, while Cole Martin poured in 15 points with a team-high three 3-pointers. Joey Bartlett added 14 points, while Carter Kirk chipped in with a career-high 14 points on 6 of 10 shooting. SMSU shot 52 percent (33 of 64) from the field, including 9 of 26 from 3-point range, but made just 13 of 22 free throws. SMSU also committed 16 turnovers, which led to 20 NSU points. NSU closed the night shooting 48 percent (33 of 69) and made nine 3-pointers on 22 attempts. SMSU built a 16-point lead in the opening half and held an 11-point lead at halftime, before NSU slowly chipped into the lead in the second half. NSU took its first lead of the second half with 10 minutes remaining at 58-57, before the two teams exchanged the lead several times down the stretch in regulation. The box score from this game is located on page 19.

    GAMEDAY STORYLINES -
•SMSU is 2-11 in overtime games since the beginning of the 2006-07 season.
•In the loss at Upper Iowa, SMSU had two players score 20 or more points (Martin, 23 & Bartlett, 20) in a single-game for the first time since Feb. 16, 2013.
•SMSU's last victory over a nationally-ranked team was on Jan. 17, 2104, versus No. 16 Winona State in Marshall, 73-71.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is one win shy of tying Pierre duCharme (1981-90) for second on the career victories list at SMSU with 93.
•Redshirt freshman MJ Delmore leads the NSIC in free throw pct. (1.000) and 3-point field goal pct. (56.3).
•SMSU has made 10 or more 3-pointers in eight games this season after reaching double figures just twice last season.
•SMSU has shot 50 percent or higher from the field in nine of 16 games.
•SMSU has shot 50 percent or higher from the field in 18 of the 32 halves this season.
•SMSU has held a rebound advantage in 10 of 16 games.
•SMSU has held a lead or has been tied at halftime in 11 of 16 games.
•The SMSU 2014-15 roster features three seniors, three sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and seven true freshmen.