THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (5-3, 1-2 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend with a pair of home games at the R/A Facility versus teams from the NSIC's North Division. SMSU will face the University of Mary (5-2, 2-1 NSIC) on Friday, Dec. 11, with tip-off slated for 8 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 12, SMSU will take on Minot State University (4-4, 0-3 NSIC) with game time set for 7 p.m. SMSU has played just one home game this season, playing seven of its first eight games in five different states.

    BROADCAST INFO - Both games this weekend can be heard on 105.1 FM KARL. Live stats and webcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NORTH - Friday's game is the first of eight games versus teams from the NSIC North Division this season. SMSU is 16-8 versus NSIC North Division teams in regular season play since divisions were introduced prior to 2012-13 season. SMSU finished 5-3 versus teams North teams in conference play during the 2014-15 season. During the 2013-14 regular season, SMSU had a 5-3 mark, while in 2012-13, SMSU posted a 6-2 record.
    The NSIC South holds a 124-68 advantage over NSIC North teams in regular season play since divisions were formed in 2012-13. Last season the South finished 35-29 versus the North, while in 2013-14, the South finished 42-22.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS - Southwest Minnesota State ranks high in several Division II statistical categories (through Dec. 8). SMSU ranks 25th field goal pct. (50.0), 57th in free throw pct. (74.5) and 58th in rebound margin (5.8). Mitch Weg ranks 21st in offensive rebounds (3.8) and 23rd in field goal pct. (64.3), while Ryan Bruggeman ranks 76th in free throw pct. (88.0). A complete listing of the NCAA stats are found on page 14.

    GAME DAY STORYLINES -
•SMSU has made a 3-pointer in 500 consecutive games following Tuesday's loss at Sioux Falls. The last time SMSU failed to score a 3-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU Moorhead.
•SMSU made a season-low four 3-pointers in the loss to USF and shot a season-low 22 percent (4 of 18) from 3-point range, including 0 for 9 in the second half.
•SMSU committed a season-high 19 turnovers in the loss to USF, including 11 in the second half.
•SMSU's 17-point second half deficit at Upper Iowa last Saturday was its largest come-from-behind victory since rallying from an 18-point deficit in the second half last season at Bemidji State on Feb. 6.
•SMSU has trailed at the half in five of eight games this season.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents in seven of eight games this season.
•SMSU has shot 51 percent or higher in five of eight games this season and has shot 50 percent or higher in nine of 16 halves.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler recorded his 100th career victory last Saturday at Upper Iowa. His 100 victories ranks second in program history. Greg Stemen (2001-09) is the all-time leader with 141 victories.
•Junior Mitch Weg ranks first in school history in career field goal pct. (58.3, 254 of 436).
•Sophomore MJ Delmore ranks first in school history in career 3-point field goal pct. (50.5, 56 of 111).

    SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Mary meet for the 14th time in a series dating back to 2005-06. SMSU leads the series 11-2 and holds a 7-0 advantage in games played in Marshall. SMSU won the last game played in Marshall on Feb. 26, 2014, in the first round of the NSIC Tournament. U-Mary's victories came on Jan. 14, 2011, and Feb. 14, 2014, both in Bismarck, N.D. SMSU won last season's lone meeting 84-72 in Bismarck. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 4-2 versus U-Mary.
    Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State meet for the fifth time in a series dating back to Nov. 26, 2011. SMSU leads the series 4-0, including winning the lone game played in Marshall on Feb. 9, 2013. SMSU won last season's match-up 91-81 in Minot, N.D. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 4-0 versus Minot State.
    Complete game-by-game of each series can be found on page 16.

    HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER - Brad Bigler is in his seventh season as head coach at SMSU and has compiled a record of 100-83, including 70-63 in NSIC play. He earned his 100th career victory on Dec. 5 at Upper Iowa. The 100 victories ranks second all-time in team history. 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 15.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE - The University of Sioux Falls rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to earn 78-72 victory over SMSU on Tuesday night. USF shot just 41 percent in the first half and was 0 for 11 from 3-point range, but in the second half, USF shot 65 percent and connected on 5 of 8 3-point field goals. SMSU was paced by Mitch Weg, who scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Carter Kirk also had a strong game, scoring a season-high 15 points on 5 of 5 shooting. Joey Bartlett added 11 points, while Turner Moen chipped in 10 points. SMSU committed a season-high 19 turnovers, including 11 in the second half. USF scored 25 points off of SMSU turnovers and outscored SMSU 51-32 in the final 20 minutes. The Mustangs closed the game shooting 49 percent (25 of 51), but were just 4 of 18 from 3-point range, including 0 for 9 in the second half. SMSU held a 28-25 rebound advantage and have held a rebound advantage in seven of eight games this season. USF entered the game ranked sixth in Division II in rebound margin (+10).
    For the season, SMSU is averaging 80 ppg, shooting 50 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and hold a +5.8 rebound margin. SMSU opponents are averaging 78 ppg and shooting 49 percent from the field.

    ABOUT U-MARY - The Marauders are 5-2 overall, 2-1 NSIC, and are coming off a 98-81 home loss to nationally ranked MSU Moorhead on Saturday night. U-Mary opened the NSIC season with victories over Minot State (78-66) and Northern State (60-58). Senior guard Marquealis Edwards leads the team in scoring (16.3) and ranks second in rebounding (6.4), while ranking tied for first with 15 assists. Junior forward Bryan Jefferson is scoring 13.3 ppg and averages a team-high 6.6 rpg. Senior guard Brandon Tyler is pouring in 11.9 ppg and has a team-high 18 3-pointers. U-Mary is averaging 80 ppg, shooting 47 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 71 percent from the free throw line and is +6.9 in rebound margin. U-Mary opponents are averaging 78 ppg and shooting 44 percent from the field.  
    U-Mary head coach Joe Kittell is in his first season. Prior to U-Mary, he was the head coach for two seasons Lake Region State College (N.D.).

    ABOUT MINOT STATE - The Beavers are 4-4 overall, 0-3 NSIC, and face Sioux Falls on Friday night on a three-game losing streak. Senior forward Tyler Rudolph leads the team in both scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.1), while shooting 54 percent from the field with a team-high 14 3-pointers. Senior guard Dominique McDonald is scoring 10.1 ppg and ranks second with 27 assists. MISU is averaging 71 ppg, shooting 40 percent from the field, 31 percent from 3-point range, 74 percent from the free throw line and is +0.9 in rebound margin. MISU opponents are averaging 72 ppg and shooting 44 percent from the field.  
    Minot State head coach Matt Murken is in his fourth season with a record of 36-55.
    
    MUSTANGS REACH 100 AND THEN SOME - Southwest Minnesota State's 111-105 overtime win over Northern State on Nov. 19 tied for the second most points scored in a game in school history. The last time SMSU scored 111 points came versus Martin Luther during the 1997-98 season. The school record is 126 versus Northland College during the 1999-2000 season. SMSU is now 34-8 all-time when reaching 100 points in a game.

    WEG NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK - SMSU junior forward Mitch Weg was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 23. Weg is the first SMSU player to earn the conference weekly award since the 2012-13 season. Weg scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in SMSU's 111-105 non-conference win over Northern State. Weg is the first SMSU player to score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds in a single game since Nick Smith (20-10) on Jan. 11, 2013.  

    JOEY BARTLETT NOTES - Has started all eight games ... averaging 12.1 ppg and 4.8 rpg ... scored a season-high 27 points at Fort Hays State (11/14) ... second on the team with nine 3-pointers ... led the team in scoring last season with 13.8 ppg ... tied for team-lead with 58 3-pointers ...  scored double figures in 19 games ... older brother of teammate Kolin.

    KOLIN BARTLETT NOTES - Has not appeared in any games ... redshirted during the 2014-15 season ... younger brother of teammate Joey.

    RYAN BRUGGEMAN NOTES - Has started all eight games ... averaging 8.6 ppg ... leads team with 34 assists ... has five or more assists in four games ... scored career-high 22 points on 8 of 12 shooting vs. Northern State (11/19) ... redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    SHAUN CONDON NOTES - Has played in all eight games with seven starts ... averaging 7.8 ppg ... second on the team with nine 3-pointers ...  scored season-high 14 points vs. Northern State (11/19) ... played in just three games in 2014-15 due to an injury ... led team in 2013-14 with 39 3-pointers and shot 43.8 percent from 3-point range, ranking eighth best in team history.

    MJ DELMORE NOTES - Has played in all eight games ... averaging 3.8 ppg ... scored eight points vs. Northern State (11/19) ... ranks first in school history in career 3-point field goal pct. (50.5, 56 of 111) ...  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.

    CARTER KIRK NOTES - Has played in all eight games ... averaging 8.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg ... scored season-high 15 points at Sioux Falls (12/8) ... has five or more rebounds in four games ... 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.

    MICHAEL LEE NOTES - Has played in all eight games with seven starts ... averaging 3.4 ppg and 2.4 rpg ... scored season-high eight points at Upper Iowa (12/5) ... only true freshman to play this season.

    JAKE MAIERS NOTES - Has not appeared in any games ... redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    TURNER MOEN NOTES - Has played in eight games with one start ... averaging 5.5 ppg and 4.1 rpg ... scored 10 points at Sioux Falls (12/8) ... grabbed six rebounds at MSU Denver (11/27) ... 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.

    DREW OSMUNDSON NOTES - Has played in one game ... 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.


    TAYLOR SCHAFER NOTES - Has played in all eight games with one start ... averaging 9.1 ppg ... leads team with 17 3-pointers ... scored career-high 17 points at Regis (11/28) with five 3-pointers ... redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    MITCH WEG NOTES - Has started all eight games ... a career 58.3 percent field goal shooter, ranking first in team history ... leads team in both scoring (15.4) and rebounding (8.1) ... scored season-high 21 points vs. Northern State (11/9) ... grabbed season-high 13 rebounds at Regis (11/28) ... leads team with three double-doubles ... played in all 29 games with 17 starts in 2014-15 ... averaged 12.1 ppg ... led team with 6.1 rpg ... scored double figures in 19 games ... shot 55.6 percent from the field ... 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).

    JOSH WEIX NOTES - Has played in all eight games ... averaging 6.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg ... scored 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting at MSU Denver (11/27) ... season-high six rebounds at Winona State (12/4) ... redshirted during the 2014-15 season.

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES -  Southwest Minnesota State has five current players who have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers, including three times this season. Sophomore Joey Bartlett has reached the 20-point mark nine times, including once this season. Junior Mitch Weg has reached the mark three times, including once this season, while redshirt freshman Ryan Bruggeman has done it once this season. Senior Shaun Condon and sophomore Turner Moen have each reached 20 or more points twice in their career.

    HOME AND AWAY - SMSU is 1-0 at home this season after finishing the 2014-15 home season 6-8. It was the program's first home losing season since 2004-05. SMSU is a combined 82-30 at home since the 2007-08 season. The Mustangs are 4-3 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 43-58 in 101 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    1-0    54.3    43.8    87.5    36.0    111.0    10.0    
Away    4-3    49.2    35.1    71.9    34.4    75.6    14.9        

    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 189-72 (.724) in 261 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 500 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.

    WORKING OVERTIME - SMSU is 43-37 all-time in overtime games, including 1-0 this season, following the win over Northern State on Nov. 19. SMSU has struggled in overtime games in recent seasons, going 4-11 since 2006-07. SMSU's last overtime win prior to this season was Jan. 19, 2013, at MSU Moorhead. SMSU is 6-6 all-time in double overtime games and 0-2 in triple overtime games.

    SMSU SIGNS TWO DURING EARLY PERIOD - Southwest Minnesota State announced on Nov. 12 that high school standouts, guard Nick Dufault from Waseca, Minn., and forward Braedan Hanson from Grand Forks, N.D., signed Letters of Intent during the early signing period.

    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.

    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 ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC - This season marks the 47th year SMSU men's basketball has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU has an all-time record of 319-364 in 683 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 since 1997-98.

    MUSTANG HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State is in its 49th season of men's basketball and has played 1,327 games compiling an all-time record of 592-735. 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).  

    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.