THE GAMES
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (6-0, 1-0 NSIC), off to its best start in school history, hits the road for the first time in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with games versus Upper Iowa University (3-3, 0-0 NSIC) and Winona State University (3-1, 0-0 NSIC). SMSU and UIU battle on Friday starting at 8 p.m. at Dorman Gym in Fayette, Iowa. SMSU will then face WSU on Saturday night at McCown Gym in Winona, Minn., with tip-off slated for 6 p.m.

    SMSU'S BEST START IN TEAM HISTORY
•SMSU is off to its best start in program history at 6-0.
•Five of the six victories have come away from Marshall.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.
•The games can also be viewed online at SMSUmustangs.com.
    
    SERIES HISTORY VS. UPPER IOWA
•Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa meet for the 25th time on Friday with SMSU leading 16-6.
•The teams first met during the 1979-80 season.
•SMSU leads 6-3 in games played in Fayette.
•UIU has won four of the last five games.
•The teams split last season with SMSU winning 87-81 in Fayette, before UIU earned an 81-69 win in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-5 all-time versus UIU.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 15.

    SERIES HISTORY VS. WINONA STATE
•Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State meet for the 104th time on Saturday with WSU leading 68-35.
•The teams first met during the 1968-69 season.
•WSU is leads 25-4 in the series since 2004-05.
•WSU leads 39-10 in games played in Winona.
•SMSU has lost 15 straight games in Winona.
•SMSU's last win at WSU came during the 2002-03 season.  
•WSU won both games last season, 86-75 in Winona and 77-69 in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 4-11 all-time versus WSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 16.
 
    GAME DAY STORYLINES
•SMSU is on a three-game road winning streak, its longest since winning three in a row during the 2013-14 season.
 •After being outrebounded in its first three games this season, SMSU has outrebounded its last three opponents.
•SMSU shot a season-low 38 percent in the win versus Sioux Falls on Tuesday. SMSU shot just 21 percent in the first half.
•Carter Kirk recorded his second double-double and third of his career in the win over Sioux Falls.
•Mitch Weg has grabbed 12 rebounds in the last two games versus Northern Michigan and Sioux Falls.
•Weg ranks first in team history in field goal pct. (58.4) and is eighth all-time in rebounds (623).
•SMSU opponents made 10 or more 3-pointers 11 times last season. In six games this season, opponents have made just 29 total 3-pointers.

    NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS
•A complete listing of SMSU in this week's NCAA statistics can be found on page 14.
•SMSU ranks 11th in 3-point field goal pct. defense.
•SMSU ranks 26th in field goal pct.
•SMSU ranks 37th in free throw pct.
•Mitch Weg ranks 11th in field goal pct.
•Taylor Schafer ranks 24th in 3-point field goal pct. and 49th in field goal pct.

    SMSU RECEIVES VOTES FOR NABC TOP 25
•SMSU received four points in the second NABC Top 25 national poll released on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
•It's the second straight week SMSU has received votes.
•Augustana, with 82 points, is ranked No. 21 and is the only NSIC team ranked.

    SMSU SIXTH IN D2SIDA REGIONAL POLL
•SMSU is ranked fifth in this week's D2SIDA Central Region poll released on Monday.
•The D2SIDA poll is in its third year of existence.
•Each of the eight regions has six representatives from D2SIDA that coordinate the regional committee, with a regional poll that will be released every Monday during the regular season.
•The D2SIDA weekly rankings are independent of the official NCAA Regional Rankings that will be released closer to the end of the season.

D2SIDA Central Region Poll (Nov. 28)
    Rk.    (First-Place Votes)                   W-L    Pts.    Prev.
    1.    Northwest Missouri State (6)     6-0    60    1
    2.    Augustana    5-1    52    T2
    3.    Washburn    6-0    49    T2
    4.    Minnesota State    4-1    41    T4
    5.    Southwest Minnesota State    5-0    37    6
    6.    MSU-Moorhead    5-1    29    7
    7.    Harding    4-1    20    8
    8.    Arkansas Tech    3-0    15    10
    9.    Central Missouri     4-1    11    RV
    10.    Missouri Southern     4-2    10    T4

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler is in his eighth season as head coach and has compiled an overall record of 114-95.
•The 114 victories ranks second all-time in team history.
•Bigler has a record of 79-74 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.
•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's complete bio is found on page 17.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU is 6-0 on the season for the first time in team history.
•SMSU opened NSIC play on Tuesday with a 74-72 home victory over Sioux Falls.
•Ryan Bruggeman scored a team-high 15 points with three 3-pointers in the victory.
•Carter Kirk had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
•Mitch Weg pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
•Taylor Schafer leads the team in scoring at 14.8 ppg with a team-high 13 3-pointers.
•Kirk is averaging a team-high 7.2 rpg, while Weg is averaging 6.8 rpg.  
•Bruggeman has dished out a team-high 25 assists.
•SMSU is averaging 80 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71.
•SMSU is shooting 49 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.

    ABOUT UPPER IOWA
•UIU is 3-3 on the season and are coming off victories over Grand Valley State (Mich.) and St. Joseph's (Ind.) last weekend.
•Jimmy Roth is scoring 16.2 ppg with 22 assists to lead the Peacocks.
•Dennis Austin is averaging 10.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg.
•Jordan Hay is scoring 10.3 ppg and averaging a team-high 6.8 rpg.
•UIU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.
•UIU is scoring 75 points per game, while opponents are averaging 79 per game.
•Brooks McKowen, a former SMSU assistant coach, is in his fourth season as head coach with a record 52-47.

    ABOUT WINONA STATE
•WSU is 3-1 on the season following a split last weekend, losing to Kentucky Wesleyan, 77-61, before earning a 73-69 win over Carson-Newman (Tenn.).
•WSU will play host to Sioux Falls on Friday night.
•Riley Bambenek is scoring 15.3 ppg with 13 3-pointers to lead the Warriors.
•Kyle Bauman is averaging 15.3 ppg and 7.8 rpg.
•Connor Flack is scoring 10 ppg.
•WSU is shooting 49 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range and 68 percent from the free throw line.
•WSU is scoring 75 points per game, while opponents are averaging 61 per game.
•Todd Eisner is in his second season as head coach with a record 19-14. He recorded 417 career victories as a head coach at Midland (Neb.), Benedictine (Kan.), Bellevue (Neb.) and Viterbo (Wis.) prior to WSU.

    BARTLETT REACHES 1,000 CAREER POINTS
•Senior Joey Bartlett became the 20th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points in SMSU's win over Emporia State on Nov. 13.
•Bartlett has scored 1,036 points in 94 career games ranking 16th in team scoring history.

    WEG CLOSING IN ON 1,000 POINTS
•Senior Mitch Weg is closing in on becoming the next member of the 1,000 point club in team history.
•Weg has scored 959 points in 94 games and is currently 23rd in team history. The all-time scoring list is located on page 3.

    JOEY BARTLETT NOTES
•Averaging 9.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
•Ranks ninth in team history with 135 3-pointers.
•Reached 1,000 career point mark vs. Emporia State on Nov. 13.
•Scored season-high 13 points vs. Fort Hays State.
•Older brother of teammate Kolin.

    KOLIN BARTLETT NOTES
•Played in five games last season.
•Currently out with an injury.
•Younger brother of teammate Joey.

    RYAN BRUGGEMAN NOTES
•Has started six games and leads the team with 25 assists.
•Averaging 11.2 ppg, ranking third on the team.
•First career double-double at Northern Michigan on Nov. 19 with 11 points and 10 assists.
•Led team with 126 assists last season, ranking tied for the fifth highest in team history.

    KJ DAVIS NOTES
•First season with SMSU.
•Has started six games and is averaging 11.2 ppg, ranking third on the team.
•Scored a season-high 18 points vs. Emporia State.
•Has made five 3-pointers ranking third on the squad.

    CARTER KIRK NOTES
•Has started six games and is averaging 9.8 ppg and a team-leading 7.2 rpg.
•Has two double-doubles this season.
•Finished second in the NSIC in field goal pct. last season.  •Shot 64.7 percent from the field overall last season.

    MICHAEL LEE NOTES
•Has played in six games this season.
•Averaging 9.8 ppg and 1.7 rpg.
•Second on the team with 10 3-pointers.
•Season-high nine points at Michigan Tech.
•Only true freshman to play last season.

    JAKE MAIERS NOTES
•Played in four games and scored four points last season.
•Currently out with an injury.

    TURNER MOEN NOTES
•Has started six games.
•Averaging 2.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Season-high six points vs. Sioux Falls.
•Played in 27 games with 13 starts last season.

    DREW OSMUNDSON NOTES
•Has played in six games.
•Scored a season-high six points vs. Sioux Falls.
•Has recorded 11 assists.
•Played in 16 games last season averaging 2.8 ppg.

    TAYLOR SCHAFER NOTES
•Has played in six games.
•Scored a season-high 22 points at Northern Michigan.
•Has scored 19 or more points in three games.
•Leads team in scoring at 14.8 ppg.
•Team-high 13 3-pointers.
•Led team with 57 3-pointers last season.

    MITCH WEG NOTES
•Ranks first in team history shooting 58.4 percent (367 of 628) from the field.
•Ranks eighth in team history with 623 rebounds.
•Has started six games.
•Averaging 12 ppg and 6.8 rpg, ranking second on the team in both categories.
•Scored season-high 20 points at Northern State.
•Shooting 70 percent from the field.
•Named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2015-16.  
•Led team in both scoring (12.5) and rebounding (7.2)  last season.
SMSU Career Rebounds
    1.     848         Frank Belmont - 1971-75
    2.     733         Ross DeMasi  - 2005-09
    3.     717         Mike Tobin  - 1982-86
    4.     713         Mike Lang  - 1968-72
    5.     712         Nick Smith  - 2010-14
        712         Scott Roehl  - 2007-11
    7.     648         Scott Koenen - 1998-01
    8.     623         Mitch Weg - 2013-17

    



    MUSTANGS REACH 100 AND THEN SOME
•Southwest Minnesota State reached 100 points in two games last season.
•SMSU beat Northern State, 111-105 in overtime and defeating Minnesota Crookston 100-68.
•SMSU is 35-8 all-time when scoring 100 points in a game.

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES  
•Southwest Minnesota State has six current players who have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers, including four this season.
•Senior Joey Bartlett leads all current players having reached the 20-point mark 10 times. Senior Mitch Weg has reached the mark five times (once this season), sophomore Ryan Bruggeman has done it three times, sophomore Taylor Schafer has done it four times (twice this season), junior Carter Kirk has done it once (this season), while junior Turner Moen scored 20 or more points twice.

20-Point Games - ACTIVE Players
    28    Joey Bartlett    Sioux Falls, 12/20/14
    27    Joey Bartlett    Fort Hays State, 11/14/15
    26    Joey Bartlett    East Central, 11/14/14
    25    Joey Bartlett    Augustana, 2/12/16
    25    Turner Moen    Wayne State, 2/14/15
    24    Joey Bartlett    Northern State, 1/16/15
    24    Joey Bartlett    U-Mary, 12/12/14
    23    Ryan Bruggeman    Bemidji State, 2/5/16
    23    Taylor Schafer    Minnesota Duluth, 1/30/16
    23    Mitch Weg    Winona State, 1/10/15
    22    Taylor Schafer    Northern Michigan, 11/19/16
    22    Ryan Bruggeman    Northern State, 2/24/16
    22    Ryan Bruggeman    Northern State, 11/19/15
    22    Joey Bartlett    Concordia-St. Paul, 1/24/15
    22    Mitch Weg    Minot State, 12/13/14
    21    Taylor Schafer    Fort Hays State, 11/12/16
    21    Mitch Weg    Bemidji State, 2/5/16
    21    Mitch Weg    Northern State, 11/19/15
    21    Joey Bartlett    Minnesota State, 1/23/15
    21    Turner Moen    Jamestown, 11/21/14
    20    Carter Kirk    Michigan Tech, 11/18/16
    20    Mitch Weg    Northern State, 11/15/16    
    20    Joey Bartlett    Upper Iowa, 1/9/15
    20    Joey Bartlett    Northern State, 1/3/14
Bold indicates 2016-17 season

    HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU is 1-0 at home this season and 90-34 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•The Mustangs, 5-0 in road/neutral site games this season, finished 5-11 in road/neutral site games last season and are a combined 49-67 in 116 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 2016-17:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    1-0    .383    .333    .808    44.0    74.0    13.0    
Away    5-0    .514    .368    .772    32.4    80.8    12.8     

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2016-17 season marks the 21st year 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 197-76 (.721) in 273 all-time games with just two losing seasons.
•SMSU has recorded double figure home victories in eight of the past 11 seasons.

SMSU in the R/A Facility
    Year    Overall    NSIC    Non
    1996-97    6-4    3-2    3-2    
    1997-98    8-5    4-2    4-3    
    1998-99    10-3    5-1    5-2    
    1999-00    12-3    7-2    5-1    
    2000-01    12-1    9-0    3-1    
    2001-02    12-2    7-2    5-0    
    2002-03    9-5    7-2    2-3
    2003-04    9-5    5-3    4-2    
    2004-05    6-8    3-4    3-4
    2005-06    10-5    3-4    7-1    
    2006-07    13-2    8-1    5-1
    2007-08    12-2    7-2    5-0
    2008-09    13-3    8-2    5-1
    2009-10    12-3    7-3    5-0
    2010-11    10-3    8-3    2-0
    2011-12    10-2    9-2    1-0
    2012-13    7-4    7-4    0-0
    2013-14    11-4    8-3    3-1
    2014-15    6-8    4-7    2-1
    2015-16    8-4    7-4    1-0
    2016-17    1-0    1-0    0-0    
    Totals    197-76     127-53    70-23

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU finished 3-5 versus teams from the NSIC North Division during the conference play last season.
•SMSU is 19-13 versus NSIC North Division teams in conference play since divisions were introduced during the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU finished 5-3 versus teams North teams in conference play in 2014-15, recorded a 5-3 mark in 2013-14, and finished 6-2 in 2012-13.
•The NSIC South holds a 161-95 advantage over NSIC North teams in regular season play since divisions were formed in 2012-13, including 37-27 last season.
•In 2014-15, the South finished 35-29 versus the North, in 2013-14 the South finished 42-22, while in 2012-13, the South went 47-17.

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 527 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 last season.
•SMSU has struggled in overtime games in recent seasons, going 4-11 since 2006-07.
•SMSU is 6-6 all-time in double overtime games and 0-2 in triple overtime games.

    2016-17 NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish eighth overall and fifth in the South Division in the annual 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released in October.
•Minnesota State was chosen as the overall preseason favorite earning 220 points, including all 11 first-place votes and was also picked to win the South Division.
•SMSU senior Mitch Weg was named a "Player to Watch"

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•This year marks the 48th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 328-375 in 703 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 23 times in 47 seasons.
•SMSU has finished in the top half of the NSIC standings in 14 of the last 19 seasons since 1997-98.

    MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is in its 50th season of men's basketball in 2016-17.
•SMSU has played 1,353 games compiling an all-time record of 606-747.
•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 18 years.