THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (6-4, 2-3 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this Saturday, Dec. 19, hosting the University of Sioux Falls (8-3, 3-2 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 6 p.m. at the R/A Facility in Marshall. The game is a rematch from Dec. 8 in Sioux Falls, in which USF rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit, to earn a 78-72 victory.
    Saturday's game is the final one for SMSU in the 2015 calendar year. The Mustangs return to action on Jan. 2-3, 2016, with road games versus Wayne State and Augustana.

    BROADCAST INFO - Saturday's game can be heard on 105.1 FM KARL. Live stats and webcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com

    SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS - Southwest Minnesota State ranks high in several statistical categories in the latest Division II stats (through Dec. 14). SMSU ranks 30th field goal pct. (49.7), 44th in free throw pct. (75.1), 63rd in assists (146) and 62nd in rebound margin (5.0). Mitch Weg ranks 20th in offensive rebounds (3.8) and 23rd in field goal pct. (63.0), while Ryan Bruggeman ranks 53rd in total assists (44) and 85th in assists per game (4.4). A complete listing of the NCAA stats are found on page 14.

    GAME DAY STORYLINES -
•SMSU shot a season-high 55.7 percent (34 of 61) and tied a season-high with 10 3-pointers in the win versus Minot State.
•SMSU dished out a season-high 22 assists vs. Minot State.
•Sophomore Carter Kirk ranks first in the NSIC (all games) in field goal pct. at 77.3 and ranks second in "NSIC games only" at 77.8 percent.
•SMSU ranks first in the NSIC (all games) in field goal pct. (49.7) and ranks second in field goal pct. in "NSIC games only" at 48.3 percent.
•SMSU has allowed 80 or more points in four of its last five games.
•SMSU made a season-low four 3-pointers in the loss to USF on Dec. 8 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 has trailed at halftime in six of 10 games this season.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents in eight of 10 games this season and were tied in two other games.
•SMSU has shot 51 percent or higher in six of 10 games this season and has shot 50 percent or higher in 11 of 20 halves.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler recorded his 100th career victory on Dec. 5 at Upper Iowa. His 101 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. (58.2, 260 of 447).
•Sophomore MJ Delmore ranks first in school history in career 3-point field goal pct. (50.0, 61 of 122).

    SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls meet for the 26th time on Saturday with SMSU leading 15-10 in a series that started during the 1968-69 season. USF leads the series 4-3 since joining the NSIC for the 2012-13 season and has won four of the past six games. SMSU is 12-0 all-time in games played in Marshall, including 3-0 in NSIC games. SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 3-4 versus Sioux Falls. Complete game-by-game of the series can be found on page 18.

    LAST TIME VERSUS SIOUX FALLS - The University of Sioux Falls rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to earn 78-72 victory over SMSU on Dec. 8 in Sioux Falls. 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 15 points on 5 of 5 shooting. SMSU committed a season-high 19 turnovers, including 11 in the second half. 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. USF was led by Jared Mayes, who scored a career-high 23 points on 9 of 11 shooting, with 18 points coming in the second half.
    The game box score can be found on page 19.

    HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER - Brad Bigler is in his seventh season as head coach at SMSU and has compiled a record of 101-84, including 71-64 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 17.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE - SMSU split two home games last weekend, falling 91-82 to U-Mary, before rebounding with an 86-84 win over Minot State. SMSU trailed by 19 points midway through the second half to U-Mary, before cutting the deficit to six points with one minute left in the game. Four Mustangs scored in double figures with MJ Delmore, Taylor Schafer and Joey Bartlett all scoring 12 points, while Mitch Weg chipped in with 11 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. SMSU shot 43 percent (29 of 68) in the game, but were just 7 of 27 (25.9 percent) from 3-point range. In the win over Minot State, Ryan Bruggeman scored the game-winning lay-up with 4.5 seconds remaining to lift SMSU to the victory. The Mustangs rallied despite trailing by seven points with four minutes left in the game. Carter Kirk scored a career-high 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting to pace SMSU. The Mustangs shot a season-high 55.7 percent from the field.
    For the season, SMSU is averaging 81 ppg, shooting 50 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and hold a +5.0 rebound margin. SMSU opponents are averaging 80 ppg and shooting 49 percent from the field.


    ABOUT SIOUX FALLS - The Cougars are 8-3 overall, 3-2 NSIC, after splitting a pair of home games last weekend, defeating Minot State, 66-65 in overtime, before losing to U-Mary, 69-65. USF defeated Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Tuesday night, 95-71. Junior forward Daniel Hurtt scored a career-high 28 points on 12 of 17 shooting. USF is led by junior guard Mack Johnson, who is averaging 16.5 ppg with 21 3-pointers. He has scored 15 or more points in seven of 11 games. Hurtt is scoring 13.2 ppg with a team-high 5.2 rpg, while shooting 54 percent from the field. Junior guard Clint Thomas has connected on a team-high 26 3-pointers and ranks third on the squad with 10.6 ppg.
    USF is averaging 79 ppg, shooting 47 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and holds a +6.1 rebound advantage. USF opponents are averaging 67 ppg and shooting 40 percent from the field.  
    Sioux Falls head coach Chris Johnson is in his eighth season with a record of 132-95.
    
    JOEY BARTLETT NOTES - Has started all 10 games ... averaging 12.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg ... scored a season-high 27 points at Fort Hays State (11/14) ... second on the team with 12 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 10 games ... averaging 8.2 ppg ... scored game-winning shot with 4.5 seconds remaining versus Minot State (12/12) ... leads team with 44 assists ... season-high eight assists vs. Minot State (12/12) ... has five or more assists in five 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 10 games with nine starts ... averaging 7.3 ppg ... fourth on the team with 10 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 10 games ... averaging 5.4 ppg ... scored 12 points vs. U-Mary (12/11) and Minot State (12/12) ... ranks first in school history in career 3-point field goal pct. (50.0, 61 of 122) ...  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 10 games ... averaging 9.1 ppg and 3.9 rpg ... scored career-high 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting vs. Minot State (12/12) ... has five or more rebounds in five 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 10 games with nine starts ... averaging 3.5 ppg and 2.5 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 10 games with one start ... averaging 5.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg ... scored season-high 10 points at Sioux Falls (12/8) ... grabbed six rebounds at MSU Denver (11/27) and at Sioux Falls (12/8) ... 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 10 games with one start ... averaging 9.6 ppg ... leads team with 22 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 10 games ... a career 58.2 percent field goal shooter, ranking first in team history ... leads team in both scoring (14.0) and rebounding (7.7) ... 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 10 games ... averaging 5.9 ppg and 3.2 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.


    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 College during the 1997-98 season. The school record is 126 versus Northland College during the 1999-2000 season. SMSU is 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.  

    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 2-1 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 83-31 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 2015-16:
    W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    2-1    50.8    37.5    82.8    35.0    93.0    10.3    
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 190-73 (.722) in 263 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 502 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 is 1-1 versus teams from the NSIC North Division this season following last weekend's split with U-Mary and Minot State. SMSU is 17-9 versus NSIC North Division teams in regular season play since divisions were introduced during the 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 128-72 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.

    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 320-365 in 685 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 1,329 games compiling an all-time record of 593-736. 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).