MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University wheelchair basketball team opens the 2017-18 season this Friday with a pair of home games versus the University of Nebraska Omaha.
 
The two games will take place in the R/A Facility with game times at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
 
SMSU head coach Derek Klinkner enters his fifth season on the sideline and has 13 players on the roster with five returning letter winnners from last season's team that finished 18-11.
 
The team features four seniors along with two juniors, one sophomore and six freshmen. Senior Ryan Kile is the team's top returning scorer, averaging 6.1 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field.
 
Southwest Minnesota State is scheduled to play more than 25 regular season games and will conclude the season hosting the 41^st annual National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament from March 15-17, 2018. SMSU last hosted the national championships in 2010.