THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (7-4, 2-3 NSIC) will have two weeks off between games before returning to action for an exhibition game at No. 25-ranked University of Nebraska (10-2, 1-1 Big Ten) on Saturday, Dec. 29, with game time set for 1 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.
•The game will count as a regular season game for Nebraska.
•Nebraska, which beat Cal State Fullerton, 86-62, on Saturday, has won 18 straight home games dating back to last season. 
•Following the Nebraska game, SMSU returns to regular season action on Sunday, Dec. 30, with a road game versus the University of Sioux Falls (8-3, 3-2 NSIC) at the Stewart Center with tip-off set for 4 p.m.

    LONG-TIME FRIENDS MEET AGAIN
•The Dec. 29 game will be a reunion for Nebraska head coach Tim Miles and SMSU head coach Brad Bigler.
•Miles served as SMSU's head coach for four seasons from 1997-2001.
•Bigler played three seasons and sat out one season as a redshirt during Miles' tenure at SMSU.
•Bigler was a key member of SMSU's 2001 NSIC and NCAA North Central Region championship team that advanced to the Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif.
•Saturday's game will be the sixth time Miles has faced his former team in either exhibition or regular season play. •Miles' North Dakota State teams finished 3-0 versus SMSU in regular season play (2004, 2005, 2006).
•SMSU lost 83-70 at Colorado State in an exhibition game in 2011 and also lost in exhibition play at Nebraska in 2014.
 
    BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL, while Sunday's will be on 101.7 FM / 1400 AM KMHL.
•Saturday's game will air on BTN+.
•Live stats and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA
•SMSU and Nebraska will be meeting for the second time in exhibition play.
•Nebraska defeated SMSU, 83-61 on Nov. 6, 2014, in Lincoln.
    
    SMSU VS. DIVISION I FOES IN REGULAR SEASON
•Saturday's game versus Nebraska is an exhibition for SMSU.
•SMSU is 3-13 all-time in regular season games versus NCAA Division I schools with the last game coming on Nov. 18, 2013, with an 83-62 loss at South Dakota State.
•The Mustangs finished 2-1 during the 2008-09 season against a pair of NCAA Division I transitional members, beating the University of North Dakota twice, while losing at the University of South Dakota.
•SMSU's first Division I win came during the 2004-05 season at South Dakota State (93-55).  
•Over the last 15 seasons, SMSU has also played exhibition games at Northern Iowa, Drake, Colorado State and Minnesota.

    SERIES HISTORY VS. SIOUX FALLS
•SMSU and Sioux Falls meet for the 33rd time on Sunday with SMSU leading 20-12.
•USF holds an 11-4 advantage at home in the series, including winning five the last six at the Stewart Center.
•SMSU's lone victory at the Stewart Center in the last six seasons came on Dec. 17, 2016.
•SMSU has won five of the last seven games overall since Dec. 19, 2015, but USF won earlier this season, 94-72 in Marshall on Dec. 1.
•SMSU leads the series 7-6 in conference games (8-6 overall) since USF joined the NSIC prior to the 2012-13 season.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.

    LAST MEETING VS. SIOUX FALLS
•Sioux Falls defeated SMSU, 94-72 on Dec. 1 in Marshall in the NSIC opener for both teams.
•USF was led by Milan Surlic's 27 points on 9 of 15 shooting with four 3-pointers, while Trevon Evans (23) and Drew Guebert (21) also both reached the 20-point scoring mark.
•SMSU was led by Ryan Bruggeman's 31 points, seven assists and five steals.
•The Dec. 1 box score is located on page 19.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU split its first road games of the season on Dec. 14-15, losing to St. Cloud State, 80-60, before rebounding with a 75-63 victory over Minnesota Duluth.
•SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring.
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman is averaging a team-high 23.2 ppg with a team-high 67 assists and team-high 26 steals. He has scored 30 or more points four times this season.
•Senior guard Taylor Schafer is averaging 12.1 ppg with a team-leading 25 3-pointers.
•Sophomore guard Nick Dufault is averaging 10 ppg and has made 21 3-pointers.
•Sophomore forward Kenny Byers is scoring 11.7 ppg with 4.8 rpg.
•Senior forward Steven McNease leads the team in rebounding with 8.5 per game.
•SMSU is shooting 49 percent from the field, 43 percent from 3-point range, 81 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.1 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 83 points per game, while opponents are averaging 78 points per game.

    BRUGGEMAN BECOMES ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman became SMSU's all-time leader scorer during the Mustangs' win at Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 15. Bruggeman broke the record with a pull-up jumper in the second half and has scored 1,650 career points in 107 games. He surpassed the record held by Jacob Fahl (1999-2003), who scored 1,638 points in 120 games.

    BRUGGEMAN AMONG THE BEST ACTIVE D2 PLAYERS
•Senior Ryan Bruggeman ranks among the top 10 for active Division II players in several career categories.
•As of Dec. 19, Bruggeman ranks fourth among all active players in assists (577), sixth in steals (182) and sixth in points scored (1,650).

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•SMSU has made at least one 3-pointer in 600 straight games. The last time SMSU failed to score a 3-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU Moorhead (0 for 10) at the North Dakota State Classic. SMSU's head coach at the time was Tim Miles.
•SMSU ranks fourth in Division II in free throw pct.
•SMSU has scored 90 or more points in five games.
•SMSU won at Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 15, despite committing a season-high 16 turnovers.
•SMSU allowed UMD just 63 points, the second lowest output by an SMSU opponent this season.
•SMSU held UMD to 38.2 percent shooting, the lowest by a Mustang opponent this season.
•SMSU shot a season-low 37.9 percent in its loss to St. Cloud State on Dec. 14.
•SMSU has shot 49 percent or higher in six of its seven victories, but have shot 44 percent (ESU), 36 percent (USF), 41 percent (MSU) and 38 percent (SCSU) in its four losses.
•SMSU has scored 100 or more points twice this season. The last time SMSU reached 100 twice in a season came in 2015-16. The last time SMSU scored 100 or more three times in a season occurred during the 2000-01 season.

    SMSU SETS RECORDS VERSUS FORT HAYS STATE
•SMSU set a program single-game record shooting 73.1 percent from 3-point range (19 of 26) in the win over Fort Hays State on Nov. 10.
•The 19 made 3-pointers tied the single-game record which was set at Minnesota-Morris on Feb. 2, 2002.
•The 19 made 3-pointers also set an R/A Facility single-game record breaking the previous mark of 16 set four times.

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 10th season as head coach and has an overall record of 168-114, including 114-87 in conference play.
•The 2012-13 and 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year, Bigler has led SMSU to six winning seasons, including one 28-win season, one 25-win season and two 19-win seasons.
•SMSU won NSIC tournament titles in 2012 and 2017 and also won the NSIC South Division championship in both 2016-2017 and 2017-18.  
•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.

    SCOUTING NEBRASKA
•Nebraska is 10-2 overall, 1-1 Big 10, following its 86-62 win over Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 22.
•The Huskers enter the game with a perfect 7-0 record at home this season. Nebraska finished 16-1 at home during the 2017-18 season.
•Senior guard James Palmer, is averaging 19.9 ppg with 26 3-pointers, while recording 32 assists.  
•Senior forward Isaac Copeland is averaging 14.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, while shooting 55 percent from the field.
•Senior guard Glynn Watson is scoring 13.4 ppg and has connected on 26 3-pointers.
•NU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 73 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.2 in rebound margin.
•NU is averaging 80 points per game, while opponents are averaging 60 points per game.
•Head coach Tim Miles is in his seventh season with a record of 107-99 and is now in sole possesion of third place on Nebraska's career wins list. He is in his 24th season overall as a head coach with five programs and has a record of 390-319.

    SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS
•Sioux Falls is 8-3 overall, 3-2 NSIC, and last played on Dec. 15, suffering an 83-73 road loss to St. Cloud State.
•USF was picked as the co-favorite to win the NSIC South Division and was selected third overall.  
•Senior guard Trevon Evans, the NSIC South Division Co- Preseason Player of the Year, is averaging 21.9 ppg with a team-leading 31 3-pointers and team-high 33 assists.  
•Senior guard Drew Guebert is scoring 21.4 ppg with 24 3-pointers and also leads the club with 6.6 rpg.
•USF is shooting 45 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-11.8 in rebound margin.
•USF is averaging 81 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71 points per game.
•Chris Johnson is in his 11th season as head coach and is the program's all-time leader in victories with a 184-135 record.
    BRUGGEMAN EARNS NSIC WEEKLY AWARD
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Dec. 11.
•He averaged 30 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds in SMSU's split with Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul. He shot a combined 53 percent (19 of 36) from the field and made 21 of 23 (91 percent) free throws during the two games.
•He scored 36 points versus MSU and added 24 points and 10 assists versus CSP.
•It's the third time in his career he has earned the award.

    MORE BRUGGEMAN IN CAREER RECORD BOOK
•Ryan Bruggeman holds several career records at SMSU, including points, free throws made, assists and steals.
•He broke the steals and points scored record earlier this season, while becoming the assists and free throws made all-time leader last season.
•He also ranks second in free throw pct., fourth in field goals made and ninth in scoring average.
 
    SCHAFER REACHES 1,000 POINTS
•Taylor Schafer reached the 1,000 career points mark earlier this season on Nov. 20 vs. Northland College. He is the 24th player in program history to reach 1,000 points and currently ranks 20th all-time with 1,061.

    2018-19 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest NCAA statistics (through Dec. 19) are located on page 16.
•The Mustangs rank third in free throw pct., ninth in 3-point field goal pct., 47th in field goal pct., and 56th in 3-pointers made per game.  
•Ryan Bruggeman ranks 13th in scoring, 16th in free throws made, 16th in field goals made, 19th in total steals, 19th in assists per game and 21st in total assists.  
•Steven McNease ranks 57th in rebounds per game.

    2018-19 NSIC STATISTICS
•The weekly NSIC statistics (NSIC games only) are located on page 14-15.
•Ryan Bruggeman leads conference in scoring and steals.

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES  
•A total of five SMSU players have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers, including nine times this season.
•Senior Ryan Bruggeman has 31 career 20-point games, including five this season, which includes four 30-point games.
•Senior Taylor Schafer has six, senior Michael Lee and sophomores Nick Dufault and Kenny Byers each have two during their careers.
20 or More Point Games - 2018-19 Season
    36    Ryan Bruggeman    Minnesota State, 12/7/18
    33    Ryan Bruggeman    Mayville State, 11/14/18
    31    Ryan Bruggeman    Sioux Falls, 12/1/18
    30    Ryan Bruggeman    Minnesota Duluth, 12/15/18
    25    Michael Lee    Fort Hays State, 11/10/18
    24    Ryan Bruggeman    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/18
    22    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/24/18
    20    Kenny Byers    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/18
    20    Kenny Byers    Crown, 11/24/18

    KOLIN BARTLETT NOTES
•Has played in nine games with three starts and is averaging 1.1 ppg and 0.9 rpg.
•Has five field goals this season.
•Younger brother of former Mustang Joey Bartlett (2013-17).

    RYAN BRUGGEMAN NOTES
•SMSU's all-time leader scorer with 1,650 points.
•Averaging a team-high 23.2 ppg with a team-high 67 assists.
•Has four 30-plus point games this season.  
•Scored a career-high 36 points vs. Minnesota State (12/7/18).
•Ranks first in team history averaging 5.4 assists per game.
•Ranks first in team history with 577 assists.
•Ranks first in team history with 449 free throws made.
•Ranks first in team history with 182 steals.
•Has started every game in his career.
•Two-time first team All-NSIC.
•Named 2018 honorable mention All-American by D2Bulletin.
•Named NABC first team All-Region and CCA second team All-Region in 2018.
•Named MVP of the 2017 NSIC Tournament.

    KENNY BYERS NOTES
•Has played 11 games with 10 starts and is averaging 11.7 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
•Tied a career-high with 20 points with seven field goals vs. Concordia-St. Paul (12/8/18).
•Scored 20 points on nine field goals vs. Crown (11/24/18).
•Played as a true freshman in 2017-18.

    NICK DUFAULT NOTES
•Has played 11 games and is averaging 10 ppg.  
•Ranks third on the team with 21 3-pointers and is fourth in scoring.
•Scored a season-high 22 points on 8 of 12 shooting with four 3-pointers vs. Crown (11/24/18).  
•Ranks fourth in team history with 43.3 3-point field goal pct.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    BRAEDAN HANSON NOTES
•Has played in 11 games with five starts and is averaging 8.7 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
•Scored a career-high 17 points vs. Crown (11/24/18).
•Grabbed a career-high eight rebounds vs. Bethany Lutheran (11/19/18).
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    GRANT KRAMER NOTES
•Has played in 11 games and is averaging 0.6 ppg.
•Scored one field goal vs. Fort Hays State (11/10/18) and one at St. Cloud State (12/14/18).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    MICHAEL LEE NOTES
•Has started 11 games and is averaging 8.5 ppg.
•Ranks second on the team with 22 3-pointers.
•Scored a career-high 25 points with seven 3-pointers vs. Fort Hays State (11/10/18).
•Ranks third in team history in 3-point pct. at 43.4.
•Made 80 3-pointers last season ranking seventh in team single-season history.

    STEVEN MCNEASE NOTES
•In first season at SMSU and has one season of eligibility.
•Has played all 11 games with four starts and is averaging 6.4 ppg and a team-high 8.5 rpg.
•Recorded career-high 18 rebounds and scored career-high 16 points vs. Northland (11/20/18).
•Has two double-doubles on the season.
•Played last season at Copper Mountain College (Calif.)

    TAYLOR SCHAFER NOTES
•Has started 11 games and is averaging 12.1 ppg.
•Leads the team with 25 3-pointers.  
•Reached 1,000 career points during win vs. Northland (11/20/18).
•Twice has scored a season-high 19 points vs. Mayville State (11/14/18) and Bethany Lutheran (11/19/18).
•Ranks fifth in school history with 195 3-pointers and is sixth all-time in 3-pointers attempted (500).

    KEVIN TOTUSEK NOTES
•Has played in two games and is averaging 3.0 ppg.
•Scored four points vs. Crown (11/24/18).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU has a 1-1 record versus the NSIC North Division this season and are a combined 33-17 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the start of the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU's 7-1 record last season was its best finish versus the North since divisions were formed.
•SMSU finished 6-2 in 2016-17, 3-5 in 2015-16; 5-3 in 2014-15; 5-3 in 2013-14; and 6-2 in 2012-13.
•The NSIC South holds a 240-152 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13, including finishing 38-26 last season.
•The South Division has held the advantage in every season. In 2016-17, the South finished 35-29; 2015-16, the South led 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.

    HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU is 6-3 at home this season after recording a 12-2 home mark last season.
•SMSU is a combined 116-42 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 1-1 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 87-78 in 165 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 2018-19:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    6-3    50.7    45.7    79.7    36.0    86.1    11.6    
Away    1-1    39.7    30.4    89.3    33.5    67.5    12.5

    BRUGGEMAN EARNS PRESEASON HONOR; SMSU PICKED SIXTH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman was named the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season.
•SMSU was picked to finish sixth overall and fourth in the South Division in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released in October.
•Minnesota State and St. Cloud State was chosen as the overall co-favorites.

    BACK-TO-BACK 20-WIN SEASONS
•SMSU's 25 victories last season ranks as the fourth highest in team history.
•SMSU has recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons for just the second time in program history and has a total of six 20-win seasons in team history.
•SMSU combined to win 53 games the last two seasons (2016-18) which is the best two-year combined wins total in team history.

    THREE-POINT RECORD IN 2017-18
•SMSU set a school record with 273 made 3-pointers last season, breaking the previous record of 262 set during the 2002-03 season.
•The Mustangs averaged eight 3-pointers made per game and connected on eight or more 3-pointers in 17 of its last 24 games.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
•SMSU made its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018) last season since moving to Division II in 1995-96.
•SMSU is 9-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament games and has appeared in three region championship games, while winning region championships in both 2001 and 2009.  





    NSIC SOUTH CHAMPIONS AGAIN
•SMSU captured the program's second straight NSIC South Division title last season. The NSIC divisional format was created prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU tied with St. Cloud State for second place overall in the 16-team conference.
•SMSU won overall NSIC championships in both 2001 and 2009.

    BRUGGEMAN 2017-18 POST SEASON HONORS
•SMSU senior Ryan Bruggeman was named honorable mention All-American by D2Bulletin last season.
•He was the first SMSU player to earn All-American honors since Ross DeMasi in 2009.
•Bruggeman was also named first team All-NSIC, first team NABC All-Region and second team CCA All-Region.

    BRUGGEMAN SINGLE-SEASON RECORDS IN 2017-18
•Senior Ryan Bruggeman dished out a school record 218 assists last season breaking the previous record of 185 set by Marques Pena in 2000-01.
•Bruggeman's 6.4 assists per game last season ranks first in team single-season history.
•Bruggeman also made 171 free throws last season setting a school single-season record.

    WINS VERSUS NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS
•SMSU has yet to face a nationally-ranked team in 2018-19.
•SMSU defeated No. 7 (D2SIDA)/No. 12 (NABC) Northern State 64-57 on Jan. 27, 2018, in Aberdeen, S.D., recording its lone win over a ranked team last season.
•Prior to the victory last season over NSU, SMSU's last victory over a Top 10 team was on March 3, 2010, at No. 8 (NABC) Minnesota State in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament.

    SMSU TRUE "ROAD WARRIORS" LAST FEW SEASONS
•SMSU, which is 1-1 in road games this season, finished 13-7 away from Marshall last season, including 8-5 in "true" road games and 5-2 in neutral site games.
•SMSU finished 12-3 in "true" road games during the 2016-17 season, recording the most road wins in team history.








    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2018-19 season marks the 23rd year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 223-84 (.726) in 307 games with just two losing 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    9-3    8-3    1-0
    2017-18    12-2    10-1    2-1
    2018-19    6-3    1-2    5-1    
    Totals    223-84    145-59    78-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 600 straight games.
•The last time SMSU failed to score a 3-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU Moorhead (0 for 10) at the North Dakota State Classic.

    MUSTANGS REACH 100 AND THEN SOME
•SMSU has scored 100 or more points twice this season, defeating Bethany Lutheran, 101-81, on Nov. 19 and Crown College, 100-81.
•The last time SMSU reached 100 twice in a season came during the 2015-16 season, while the last time SMSU scored 100 or more three times in a season occurred during the 2000-01 season.
•SMSU is now 39-8 all-time when scoring 100 points.

    WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 45-39 all-time in overtime games, including 0-1 last season following a 91-85 at Sioux Falls on Nov. 25, 2017.
•SMSU is 7-6 in double overtime games and 0-2 in triple overtime games all-time.

    SMSU RANKED IN THREE PRESEASON POLLS
•SMSU opened the 2018-19 regular season ranked in three preseason polls.
•SMSU was ranked No. 20 by the NABC, No. 14 by D2Bulletin and No. 22 by D2SIDA.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2018-19 campaign marks the 50th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 363-388 in 751 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 25 times in 49 seasons.
•SMSU has finished in the top half of the NSIC standings in 17 of the last 22 seasons since 1997-98.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC TOURNAMENT
•Since the NSIC Tournament started in 2000, SMSU is 23-16 all-time with two championships (2012 & 2017).
•SMSU has advanced to the semifinals 11 times and have played in seven championship games (2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018).
•The Mustangs are 10-2 at home, 1-7 on the road and 12-7 in neutral sites tournament games.

    MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is competing in its 52nd season of men's basketball in 2018-19.
•SMSU has played 1,426 games compiling an all-time record of 660-766.
•SMSU has won two NSIC regular season championships (2001 & 2009), two NSIC South Division championships (2017 & 2018), two NSIC tournament championships (2012, 2017), two NCAA region championships (2001 & 2009) and has appeared in five NCAA tournaments (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018).
•SMSU has recorded 23 winning seasons in program history with 16 coming in the last 20 years.