THE GAMES
•The 16th ranked (D2SIDA) Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (13-2, 8-2 NSIC) prepares for another road trip this Friday and Saturday with a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference versus North Division squads. SMSU, which has played 10 of its 15 games away from home this season, will face the University of Minnesota Crookston (6-10, 2-8 NSIC) on Friday, Jan. 13, starting at 8 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium, before taking on Bemidji State University (5-10, 3-7 NSIC) on Saturday, Jan. 14, with tip-off set for 6 p.m. at the BSU Gymnasium.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.
•The game can also be viewed online at SMSUmustangs.com.

    ROAD WARRIORS
•SMSU is 7-1 in "true" road games this season, recording its most road victories since also winning seven in 2013-14.
•The seven road wins is tied for the fifth highest in team history.
•The 2008-09 team won 11 road games, the 2000-01 team won 10 games, the 1995-96 team won nine games, while the 2001-02 squad won eight games.

    BEST START IN TEAM HISTORY
•SMSU opened the season with a program best 6-0 record.
•SMSU's 13-2 record is the best start to a season in school history.  
    
    SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota Crookston meet fo the 34th time with SMSU leading 30-3.
•The teams first met during the 1994-95 season.
•SMSU is 14-2 all-time in games at Crookston.
•SMSU has won the last 19 games with UMC's last win coming on Jan. 16, 2004 in Crookston.
•SMSU won last season's lone meeting, 100-68 in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-0 all-time versus UMC.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 17.

    SERIES HISTORY VS. BEMIDJI STATE
•Southwest Minnesota State and Bemidji State meet for the 93rd time with SMSU leading 52-40.
•The teams first met during the 1968-69 season.
•BSU leads 24-20 in games played in Bemidji.
•SMSU has won the last two meetings, including 97-91 in Marshall last season.
•Before SMSU's last two wins, BSU had won five straight in the series from Feb. 18, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2014.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 4-5 all-time versus BSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.

    GAME DAY STORYLINES
•SMSU has recorded a pair of six-game winning streaks this season with both winning streaks ending with losses to Upper Iowa.
•The last time SMSU won seven straight games was in 2008-09, when the team won 15 in a row.
•SMSU is now 4-12 in overtime games since 2006-07.
•SMSU is 11-0 when committing 15 or fewer turnovers, but 2-2 when committing more than 15.
•SMSU is 7-2 in games decided by four or less points.
•Mitch Weg needs 18 more rebounds to reach 700 in his career.
•SMSU opponents made 10 or more 3-pointers in 11 games  last season and averaged 8.8 per game. In 15 games this season, opponents are averaging 6.5 per game and have reached double figures three times.

    NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS
•A complete listing of SMSU in the latest NCAA statistics (Jan. 9) can be found on page 16.
•SMSU ranks among the top 50 in four categories.
•SMSU ranks 11th in won-lost pct.
•SMSU ranks 34th in free throws made.
•SMSU ranks 37th in free throw pct.
•SMSU ranks 39th in field goal pct.

    NSIC STATISTICS
•A complete listing of SMSU in this week's NSIC statistics (NSIC games only) can be found on pages 14-15.
•SMSU ranks tied for first in rebound margin.
•SMSU ranks third in field goal pct. defense.
•SMSU ranks fifth in scoring defense.
•SMSU ranks fifth in scoring offense.
•Carter Kirk ranks third in field goal pct., fourth in blocked shots and fifth in rebounding
•Ryan Bruggeman ranks fourth in steals and 10th in assists.
•Mitch Weg ranks fourth in field goal pct. and seventh in rebounding.
•Joey Bartlett ranks fourth in free throw pct. and ninth in blocked shots.

    SMSU RANKED RECEIVES VOTES IN NABC NATIONAL POLL
•SMSU dropped out of the NABC Top 25 poll on Tuesday and is receiving votes (27th overall).
•SMSU was ranked No. 22 in the Jan. 3 poll.
•SMSU debuted at No. 25 on Dec. 20.
•SMSU has been ranked 20 times all-time in the NABC poll.
•The complete NABC poll is located on page 20.

    SMSU RANKED NO. 16 IN D2SIDA NATIONAL POLL
•SMSU is ranked No. 16 in this week's D2SIDA Top 25 poll.
•The poll is voted on by Sports Information Directors around the country.
•This season is the first time in the three-year existence of the poll SMSU has been ranked.
•The complete D2SIDA poll is located on page 21.

    SMSU SECOND IN D2SIDA REGIONAL POLL
•SMSU is ranked second in the latest D2SIDA Central Region poll released on Monday, Jan. 9.
•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 (Jan. 7)
    Rank    (First-Place Votes)                   W-L    Pts.    Prev.
    1    Northwest Missouri State (6)    14-0     60    1
    2    Southwest Minnesota State    13-2    51    3
    3    Arkansas-Monticello    10-0    50    5
    4    MSU Moorhead    13-3    42    4
    5    Augustana    12-4    29    2
    T6    Upper Iowa    11-5    23    RV
    T6    Henderson State    10-2    23    NR
    8    Nebraska-Kearney    11-4    21    9
    9    Missouri Southern    10-5    13    6
    10    Harding    7-3    12    7

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler is in his eighth season as head coach and has compiled an overall record of 121-97.
•The 121 victories ranks second in team history.
•Bigler has a record of 86-76 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 21.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU is 13-2 overall, 8-2 NSIC, following a home split last weekend, defeating Winona State, before losing in overtime to Upper Iowa.
•Joey Bartlett scored 24 points on 9 of 12 shooting with four 3-pointers in the loss to UIU.
•SMSU made just 13 of 26 free throws in the loss to UIU.
•Mitch Weg recorded his second double-double of the season in the loss to UIU with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
•SMSU has six players averaging double figures in scoring.
•Bruggeman leads the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and has dished out a team-high 62 assists.
•Taylor Schafer is scoring 12.3 ppg with a team-high 26 3-pointers.
•Carter Kirk is averaging a team-high 7.5 rpg and 10.1 ppg, while Weg is averaging 10.1 rpg and 6.7 ppg.  
•SMSU is averaging 82 points per game, while opponents are averaging 74.
•SMSU is shooting 49 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range and 74 percent from the free throw line.

    ABOUT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•UMC is 6-10 overall, 2-8 NSIC, following a road loss to Bemidji State, 77-75 on Tuesday night.
•Harrison Cleary is scoring 21.1 ppg with 28 3-pointers and 33 assists to lead the Golden Eagles. He currently ranks second in the NSIC in scoring at 21.3 ppg in 10 conference games.
•Chase Knickerbocker is averaging 10.6 ppg with 20 3-pointers.
•Connor Gamble is scoring 8.3 ppg with a team-high 33 3-pointers.
•UMC is shooting 46 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the free throw line.
•UMC is scoring 73 points per game, while opponents are averaging 77 per game.
•Dan Weisse is in his third season as head coach with a record 16-54. He was an assistant at MSU Moorhead for three seasons before coming to UMC.

    ABOUT BEMIDJI STATE
•BSU is 5-10 overall, 3-7 NSIC, has won two straight games, including a 77-75 home win over UMC on Tuesday night.
•BSU plays hosts to Sioux Falls on Friday night.
•Jai'Vionne Green is scoring 17.3 ppg with 26 3-pointers to lead the Beavers.
•Sharif Black is scoring 14.1 ppg and has connected on 23 3-pointers.
•BSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.
•BSU is scoring 77 points per game, while opponents are averaging 80 per game.
•Mike Boschee is in his fifth season at BSU with a record of 59-67. He was head coach at Central College (Iowa) for nine seasons with a record of 115-115.

    BRUGGEMAN EARNS WEEKLY AWARD
•Sophomore Ryan Bruggeman was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Jan. 3.
•Bruggeman averaged 26 points on 57 percent shooting, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.5 steals in road victories over Augustana University (78-76) and Wayne State College (85-73).

    WIN VERSUS NATIONALLY RANKED TEAM
•SMSU's win over No. 16 Augustana (D2SIDA) on Dec. 30 was its first over a nationally ranked team since defeating No. 16 Winona State on Jan. 17, 2014.

    BARTLETT AND WEG REACH 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, 2016.
•Senior Mitch Weg became the 21st member of the 1,000 point club in a victory at Augustana on Dec. 30, 2016.
•The all-time scoring list is located on page 3.

    JOEY BARTLETT NOTES
•Averaging 12.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
•Ranks third on the team with 21 3-pointers.
•Has made three starts this season.
•Ranks ninth in team history with 151 3-pointers.
•Scored season-high 26 points vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Older brother of teammate Kolin.
SMSU Career 3-Point Field Goals
    1.     305    Matt Fletcher (118 games) - 2004-08
    2.     268    Adam Tesch (112 games) - 1998-02
    3.     253      Jordan Miller (115 games) - 2009-13
    4.    210    Travis Krenske (86 games) - 2005-08
    5.    173    Jacob Fahl (120 games) - 1999-03
    6.    162    Brian Wiersma (109 games) - 1999-03
        162    Chad Ostermann (101 games) - 1993-97
        162    Andre Beasley (72 games) - 1990-93
    9.     151    Joey Bartlett (103 games) - 2013-17

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

    RYAN BRUGGEMAN NOTES
•Has started 15 games and leads the team with 62 assists.
•Averaging 12.8 ppg, ranking first on the team.
•Career-high 27 points at Augustana on Dec. 30.
•Scored 25 points in victory at Wayne State on Dec. 31.
•Ranks ninth in team history with an 80.8 career free throw pct.
•Led team with 126 assists last season.

    KJ DAVIS NOTES
•First season with SMSU.
•Has started 15 games and is averaging 10.9 ppg, ranking fourth on the team.
•Scored a season-high 18 points vs. Emporia State.
•Has made 16 3-pointers ranking fourth on the team.

    CARTER KIRK NOTES
•Has started 12 games and is averaging 10.1 ppg and a team-leading 7.5 rpg.
•Has four double-doubles this season.
•Ranks fourth in team history with career 56.4 field goal pct.  
•Finished second in the NSIC in field goal pct. last season.  

    MICHAEL LEE NOTES
•Has played in 15 games this season.
•Averaging 6.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg.
•Third on the team with 20 3-pointers.
•Career-high 14 points at Winona State (12/3/16).

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

    TURNER MOEN NOTES
•Has started 15 games.
•Averaging 5.7 ppg and 4.1 rpg.
•Season-high 13 points at Winona State.
•Career-high seven assists vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/9/16)

    DREW OSMUNDSON NOTES
•Has played in 15 games.
•Scored a season-high six points twice versus Sioux Falls.
•Has recorded 26 assists ranking third on the team.

    TAYLOR SCHAFER NOTES
•Has played in 15 games.
•Scored a season-high 22 points at Northern Michigan.
•Second on the team in scoring at 12.3 ppg.
•Team-high 26 3-pointers.
•Has scored 19 or more points in four games.
•Ranks sixth in team history with 41.1 career 3-point pct.
•Led team with 57 3-pointers last season.

    MITCH WEG NOTES
•Has started 15 games this season.
•Averaging 10.1 ppg and 6.7 rpg, ranking second on the team in rebounding and fifth in scoring.
•Shooting team-high 66 percent from the field.
•Scored season-high 20 points at Northern State.
•Ranks first in team history shooting 58.7 percent (396 of 675) from the field.
•Ranks seventh in team history with 682 rebounds.
•Ranks seventh in team history with 247 free throws made.
•Named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2015-16.  
•Led team in both scoring and rebounding 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.     682         Mitch Weg - 2013-17

    MUSTANGS REACH 100 AND THEN SOME
•Southwest Minnesota State reached 100 points in two games last season, beating 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 10 this season.
•Senior Joey Bartlett leads all current players having reached the 20-point mark 13 times (three times this season).

20-Point Games - ACTIVE Players
    28    Joey Bartlett    Sioux Falls, 12/20/14
    27    Ryan Bruggeman    Augustana, 12/30/16
    27    Joey Bartlett    Fort Hays State, 11/14/15
    26    Joey Bartlett    Minnesota Duluth, 12/9/16
    26    Joey Bartlett    East Central, 11/14/14
    25    Ryan Bruggeman    Wayne State, 12/31/16
    25    Joey Bartlett    Augustana, 2/12/16
    25    Turner Moen    Wayne State, 2/14/15
    24    Joey Bartlett    Upper Iowa, 1/7/17        
    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    Taylor Schafer    Winona State, 1/6/17
    20    Joey Bartlett    Upper Iowa, 12/2/16
    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 4-1 at home this season and 93-35 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•The Mustangs, 9-1 in road/neutral site games this season, are a combined 63-68 in 121 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    4-1    .476    .407    .738    39.2    85.4    12.2        
Away    9-1    .504    .346    .738    35.5    80.6    12.9    

    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.
•SMSU has a record of 200-77 (.722) in 277 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    4-1    4-1    0-0    
    Totals    200-77     130-54    70-23

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 536 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 43-38 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is 0-1 this season, losing 99-96 to Upper Iowa (1/7/17).
•SMSU has struggled in overtime games in recent seasons, going 4-12 since 2006-07.
•SMSU is 6-6 all-time in double overtime games and 0-2 in triple overtime games.

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU is 2-0 versus teams from the NSIC North Division in conference games this season. (SMSU beat Northern State in a non-conference game on Nov. 15).
•SMSU is 21-13 versus NSIC North Division teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU finished 3-5 versus North teams in 2015-16, 5-3 in 2014-15, went 5-3 in 2013-14, and finished 6-2 in 2012-13.
•The NSIC South holds a 172-100 advantage over NSIC North teams in regular season play since divisions were formed in 2012-13, including 11-5 this season.
•In 2015-16, the South led the North 37-27; in 2014-15, the South finished 35-29; in 2013-14, the South finished 42-22, while in 2012-13, the South went 47-17.

    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 334-376 in 710 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 1,360 games compiling an all-time record of 612-748.
•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.