THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team opens its 49th season this weekend with a pair of games versus Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents in Hays, Kan. SMSU opens the weekend on Saturday, Nov. 14, taking on Fort Hays State University with tip-off slated for 7 p.m. On Sunday, Nov. 15, SMSU will battle Emporia State (Kan.) with game time at 2 p.m. Both games will take place at Gross Memorial Coliseum on the campus of FHSU.

    BROADCAST INFO - Both games this weekend can be heard on the stations of Marshall Radio. Saturday's game will be on 105.1 FM KARL, while Sunday's broadcast will be on 1400 AM KMHL. Live stats and video of both games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SEASON OPENERS - Southwest Minnesota State is 27-21 all-time in season opening games. SMSU snapped a two-game losing streak in season openers last season with a 76-70 win over East Central (Okla.) in Bartlesville, Oka. The Mustangs have won six of the last nine season openers and 14 of the last 19. The last time played a season opener at home was on Nov. 17, 2009, defeating Dordt College (Iowa) 86-59.

    SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Fort Hays State meet for the third time on Saturday with the series tied 1-1. SMSU defeated FHSU, 82-63, in the semifinals of the 2001 NCAA North Central Region Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn. FHSU defeated SMSU, 89-72, in Marshall on Nov. 9, 2013, in the season opener for both teams.
    SMSU and Emporia State will also be meeting for just the third time ever with the series tied 1-1. Sunday's meeting will be the first since the 1991-92 season with SMSU earning a 79-57 win in Marshall. ESU won the first meeting, 83-63, during the 1970-71 season.
    Complete game-by-game results from the FHSU and ESU series is found on page 14.

    HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER - Brad Bigler is in his seventh season as head coach at SMSU and has compiled a record of 95-80, including 69-61 in NSIC play. The 2012-13 NSIC Coach of the Year, Bigler has led SMSU to four winning seasons, including a pair of 19-win seasons during his six seasons. In 2011-12, SMSU won 19 games, captured the NSIC tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history. SMSU's 11th head coach, Bigler spent six seasons (2003-09) as an assistant coach at SMSU, including the last three as associate head coach. Bigler, 35, played at SMSU from 1997-2002 and finished his career as one of the winningest players in school history, compiling a record of 83-36 during his four-year playing career. He was a member of SMSU's 2001 NSIC and NCAA region championship team and ended his career appearing in 118 games and currently ranks sixth in school history with 286 assists. Bigler's complete bio is found on page 13.

    ABOUT FORT HAYS STATE - The Tigers finished 16-13 overall and 9-10 in the MIAA last season and are picked to finish sixth in the 14-team MIAA this season. FHSU is led by senior All-American guard Craig Nicholson, who suffered a season-ending injury 16 games into last season. FHSU went 6-7 in the final 13 games without Nicholson. He averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 assists per game last season and was named All-MIAA honorable mention. He was named honorable mention All-American in 2013-14. Senior forward Dom Samac emerged as a solid offensive threat for the Tigers in the post, averaging 10.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Tigers have their top rebounder back, senior foward  Jake Stoppel, who averaged 5.8 per game and contributed 7.4 points per game. Head coach Mark Johnson is in his 15th season at FHSU with a record of 284-127 and has led the Tigers to six NCAA tournament appearances.  

    ABOUT EMPORIA STATE - The Hornets finished 12-16 overall and 5-14 in the MIAA last season and are picked to finish 11th in the MIAA. ESU will play the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday in Hays, prior to facing SMSU. ESU returns its top six scorers from last year, led by All-MIAA senior guard Terrence Moore, who led the MIAA in steals and was fourth in the conference in scoring. He averaged 16.8 points and 2.3 steals per game last year and became the first Hornet since 1993 to reach 1,000 points in his career as a junior. Head coach Shaun Vandiver is in his fifth season at ESU with a record of 52-61.  

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE - SMSU has 17 players on this year's roster with eight returning letterwinners, including six players who started 12 or more games last season. SMSU has just one senior on the roster in guard Shaun Condon, who returns for his final season after playing in just three games last season due to injury and receiving a medical redshirt. Condon averaged 11 points per game in 2013-14, ranking third on the squad. He connected on a team-leading 49 3-pointers two seasons ago, shooting 43.8 percent from 3-point range and shooting 45.6 percent overall from the field. Condon finished ranking eighth in the NSIC in 3-point field goal pct.
    Junior forward Joey Bartlett was the team's leading scorer in 2014-15, starting all 29 games and averaging 13.8 ppg, while tying for the team-lead with 58 3-pointers. He had seven 20-point scoring games and finished 15th in the NSIC in 3-pointers and 18th in scoring.
     Junior forward Mitch Weg played in all 29 games with 18 starts and finished first on the team with 6.1 rebounds per game last season. He shot a team-high 56 percent from the field and ranked third on the team with 12.1 ppg. He finished ranking fourth in the NSIC in free throw pct., seventh in field goal pct. and seventh in rebounding.
     Sophomore guard MJ Delmore played in 29 games with 16 starts, dishing out a team-high 77 assists, while ranking fourth in scoring with 8.9 ppg. He set a school single-season record shooting a 51 percent (49 of 96) from 3-point range. Sophomore center Carter Kirk and sophomore forward Turner Moen, both played in all 29 games as true freshmen in 2014-15. Kirk made 15 starts, averaging 8.2 ppg, while ranking second on the squad with 5.4 rpg and ranking 13th in the NSIC in rebounding. Moen started 18 games, finishing fourth on the team with 25 3-pointers, while averaging 7.5 ppg with 50 assists.
     Junior guard Drew Osmundson appeared in 18 games with 12 starts, before missing the final 11 games with an injury. He still finished third on the team with 51 assists and averaged 5.7 ppg. Sophomore guard Nate Huot also returns this winter after playing in 26 games off the bench a season ago. He is a member of the SMSU football team and will join the basketball team following the conclusion of football.
     Five redshirt freshmen, along with one true freshman round out the active roster.

    MUSTANGS FALL AT MINNESOTA - The University of Minnesota held Southwest Minnesota State scoreless for nearly five minutes midway through the second half and went on to earn an 81-64 exhibition game victory on Nov. 6 at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. Joey Bartlett and Mitch Weg led a balanced scoring attack for SMSU with 12 points each, while Ryan Bruggeman and Taylor Schafer each scored 11 points. SMSU finished the game shooting 37 percent (25 of 68) from the field, including just 27 percent (9 of 34) from 3-point range. Minnesota closed the game shooting 51 percent (24 of 47), including 36 percent (8 of 22) on 3-pointers. Weg pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to help SMSU hold a 41-28 rebound edge in the game.


    GAME WEEK STORYLINES -
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is second on the career victories list at SMSU with 95. Greg Stemen (2001-09) is the all-time leader with 141 victories.
•SMSU opened last season with a 9-4 record, including 5-2 in the NSIC, but lost 13 of its last 16 games.
•SMSU connected on 252 3-pointers last season ranking as the fourth highest in program history and is the highest since the 2002-03 team made a school record 262 3-pointers. SMSU shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range ranking as the fifth highest in school history.
•SMSU shot 47.6 percent from the field last season ranking as the sixth highest in program history.
•SMSU made 10 or more 3-pointers in 11 games last season after reaching double figures just twice during the 2013-14 season.
•SMSU shot 50 percent or higher from the field in 14 of 29 games last season.
•SMSU shot 50 percent or higher from the field in 27 of the 58 halves played last season.

    2014-15 SMSU SEASON RECAP - Southwest Minnesota State University finished the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 12-17, placed fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division and 11th overall with a record of 8-14. SMSU had a 9-4 record on Jan.3, but a six-game losing streak dropped SMSU's mark to 9-10. Following three straight wins, SMSU closed the regular season with four straight losses and then dropped a 93-83 decision to St. Cloud State in the first round of the NSIC tournament. SMSU has now finished in the top half of the NSIC standings in 14 of the last 18 seasons since 1997-98.

    2015-16 NSIC PRESEASON POLL - Southwest Minnesota State University was picked to finish eighth overall and fourth in the South Division in the annual 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll released in October. Augustana was chosen as the overall preseason favorite earning 225 points, including all 15 first-place votes and was also picked to win the South Division. SMSU junior forward Joey Bartlett was named an "NSIC Player to Watch" for the 2015-16 season.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA AND & NSIC STATS - In the final 2014-15 NCAA statistics, Southwest Minnesota State ranked among the top 50 in several NCAA statistical categories. SMSU ranked 25th in 3-point field goal pct. (38.9), 49th in 3-point field goals made (252) and 50th in 3-point field goals made per game (8.7).  
    In the final NSIC stats (conference games only), SMSU ranked sixth in free throw pct. (72.5), sixth in field goal pct. (46.5), eighth in scoring offense (75.0), ninth in 3-point field goal pct. (36.9), 10th in 3-point field goal pct. defense (37.4), 14th in scoring defense (79.8), 14th in rebound margin (-2.8) and 15th in field goal pct. defense (49.1).
    A complete look at the final 2014-15 NCAA stats are listed on page 12.

    JOEY BARTLETT NOTES - Started all 29 games last season ... led the team in scoring with 13.8 ppg ... tied for team-lead with 58 3-pointers ...  scored double figures in 19 games ... had seven 20-point scoring games ... scored career-high 28 points and made career-high 10 field goals at Sioux Falls (12/20) ... grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds vs. Arkansas Tech (11/15) ... recorded first career double-double vs. Arkansas Tech (11/15) ... finished 15th in the NSIC in 3-point field goals made (1.9) and 18th in scoring (13.5) ... older brother of teammate Kolin.

    KOLIN BARTLETT NOTES - Redshirted during the 2014-15 season ... younger brother of teammate Joey.

    RYAN BRUGGEMAN NOTES - Redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    SHAUN CONDON NOTES - Played in three games in 2014-15 ... missed nearly the entire season with an injury ... scored two points at Northern State (11/19) and scored three points vs. Michigan Tech (11/28) ... made one 3-pointer ... led team last season with 39 3-pointers and shot 43.8 percent from 3-point range, ranking eighth best in team history ... ranked eighth in the NSIC last season in 3-point field goal pct.

    MJ DELMORE NOTES - Played in 29 games with 17 starts in 2014-15 ... averaged 8.9 ppg ... had 12 double figure scoring games ... led team with 77 assists ... scored career-high 19 points at Augustana (2/13) ... made three or more 3-pointers in eight games ... made career-high five 3-pointers at Winona State (1/10) and at Augustana (2/13) ... third on the team with 49 3-pointers ... finished third in the NSIC in 3-point field goal pct. (50.7) ... dished out season-high six assists vs. Jamestown (11/21) ... made season-high seven field goals vs. Northern Michigan (11/29) and at Augustana (2/13) ... made first career start vs. Sioux Falls (12/2).

    NATE HUOT NOTES - Played in 26 games in 2014-15 ... missed the first three games due to playing football ... made nine 3-pointers during the season ... averaged 1.5 ppg ... scored a career-high eight points with two 3-pointers at Bemidji State (2/6) ... made two field goals in three games ... played season-high 17 minutes at Bemidji State (2/6) ... was leading receiver for the SMSU football team in 2014.

    CARTER KIRK NOTES - One of two true freshman to play in 2014-15 ... played in all 29 games with 15 starts ... averaged 8.2 ppg and ranked second on the team with 5.4 rpg ... scored season-high 17 points vs. Minnesota Duluth (1/31) ... made a season-high eight field goals vs. Minnesota Duluth (1/31) ... grabbed six or more rebounds in 11 games ... grabbed a season-high 14 rebounds vs. St. Cloud State (1/30) ... finished ranked 13th in the NSIC in rebounding (5.5) ... scored double figures in eight games ... played season-high 33 minutes at Minnesota State (1/23) ... made first career 3-pointer vs. Sioux Falls (12/2).

    MICHAEL LEE NOTES - Redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    JAKE MAIERS NOTES - Redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    TURNER MOEN NOTES - One of two true freshman to play in 2014-15 ... played in all 28 games with 18 starts ... averaged 7.5 ppg with 25 3-pointers ... averaged 3.7 rpg ... finished fifth on the team with 25 3-pointers ... fourth on the team with 50 assists ... scored a season-high 25 points at Wayne State (2/14) on 10 of 13 shooting ... grabbed a season-high eight rebounds at Upper Iowa (1/9) ... scored double figures in seven games ... dished out season-high six assists at Upper Iowa (1/9) ... played a season-high 31 minutes at St. Cloud State (2/25) ... connected on season-high five 3-pointers vs. Jamestown (11/21).

    DREW OSMUNDSON NOTES - Played in 18 games with 12 starts in 2014-15 ... missed the last 11 games with a season-ending injury ... finished third on the team with 51 assists ... averaged 5.7 ppg and 2.0 rpg ... scored season-high 13 points vs. Sioux Falls (12/2) ... shot 56.9 percent from the field ... scored double figures in three games ... scored nine points on 4 of 4 shooting at Upper Iowa (1/9) ... grabbed season-high six rebounds vs. Wayne State (1/2) ... played season-high 29 minutes at Northern State (11/19).

    TAYLOR SCHAFER NOTES - Redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    MITCH WEG NOTES - Played in all 29 games with 17 starts in 2014-15 ... averaged 12.1 ppg, ranking third on the team ... led team with 6.1 rpg ... scored double figures in 19 games ... shot 55.6 percent from the field ... made team-high 76 free throws on a team-high 96 attempts ... finished ranking fourth in the NSIC in free throw pct. (84.1), seventh in field goal pct. (56.5) and seventh in rebounding (6.2) ... scored a season-high 23 points at Winona State (1/10) ... grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds vs. Sioux Falls (12/2) ... had two double-doubles ... played a season-high 33 minutes at Northern State (11/19) ... made a season-high nine field goals at Augustana (2/13) and at Winona State (1/10).

    JOSH WEIX NOTES - Redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES -  Southwest Minnesota State has four players who have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers. Sophomore Joey Bartlett has reached the 20-point mark eight times, including seven last year. Senior Shaun Condon, sophomore Mitch Weg and freshman Turner Moen have each reached 20 or more points twice in their career.

    HOME AND AWAY - SMSU finished 6-8 at home last season after finishing 11-4 in 2013-14. SMSU is a combined 81-30 at home since the 2007-08 season. The Mustangs finished 6-9 in road/neutral site games last season and are a combined 39-55 in 94 road/neutral site games since 2009-10. The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2014-15:
    W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    6-8    .446    .377    .710    34.1    72.9    11.2    
Away    6-9    .506    .422    .705    32.6    80.4    12.6        

    HOME SWEET HOME - The 2015-16 season is the 20th year that the R/A Facility has been the home arena for SMSU men's basketball. The facility has proven to be a tough place for opponents with SMSU compiling a record of 188-72 (.723) in 260 all-time games with just two losing seasons (2004-05 and 2014-15). SMSU has recorded double figure home victories in eight of the past 10 seasons.

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES - Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 492 straight games. The last time SMSU failed to score a 3-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU Moorhead at the North Dakota State Classic in Fargo, N.D.

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NORTH - SMSU finished 5-3 versus teams from the NSIC North Division during conference play during the 2014-15 season. SMSU closed the 2013-14 regular season with a 5-3 mark versus teams from the North Division, while finishing 6-2 in 2012-13.
    Last season the NSIC South finished 35-29 versus teams from the NSIC North. In 2013-14, the NSIC South finished 42-22 versus teams from the NSIC North during the regular season. The NSIC South holds a 124-68 advantage versus NSIC North teams in regular season games since divisions were formed in 2012-13.  
 
    WORKING OVERTIME - SMSU is 42-37 all-time in overtime games, including 0-2 last season. SMSU has struggled in overtime games in recent seasons, going 2-11 since the beginning of the 2006-07 season. SMSU's last overtime win came on Jan. 19, 2013, at MSU Moorhead. SMSU is 6-6 all-time in double overtime games and 0-2 in triple overtime games.

    MUSTANG HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State is in its 49th season of men's basketball in 2015-16 and has played 1,319 games compiling an all-time record of 587-732. SMSU has won two NSIC regular season championships (2001 & 2009), one NSIC tournament championship (2012), two NCAA region championships (2001 & 2009) and appeared in three NCAA tournaments (2001, 2009, 2012). SMSU has recorded 21 winning seasons in program history with 14 coming in the last 17 years (including this season).  

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC - The 2015-16 conference season marks the 47th year SMSU men's basketball has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU has an all-time record of 318-362 in 680 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 23 times in 46 seasons. SMSU has finished in the top half of the NSIC standings in 14 of the last 18 seasons (including this season) since 1997-98.

    RADIO - SMSU men's basketball can be heard all season long on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik handling the play-by-play duties. Games can be heard via the Internet at marshallradio.net. All NSIC games can be viewed at SMSUmustangs.com/watch.