THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (8-8, 3-7 NSIC) returns home this Friday and Saturday to face a pair of NSIC North Division teams at the R/A Facility and will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak.
•On Friday, Jan. 18, SMSU will face Minot State University (7-12, 2-8 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m.
•SMSU wraps-up the weekend on Saturday, Jan. 19, battling the University of Mary (7-9, 4-6 NSIC) with game time slated for 6 p.m.
•SMSU begins the weekend currently in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC South standings along with Upper Iowa and Winona State.
•Minot State opens the weekend in seventh place in the NSIC North, while UMary is tied for fifth in the NSIC North.
•SMSU senior guard Ryan Bruggeman has scored 1,190 points in 76 career conference games and is now the school record holder for most points scored in conference games. He moved past Jordan Miller (2009-13) during last weekend's loss at Minnesota State. Bruggeman is on pace to move into the Top 10 in the NSIC career scoring record book.
 
    BROADCAST INFO
•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.
•Live stats and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY VS. MINOT STATE
•SMSU and Minot State meet for the eighth time on Friday with SMSU winning all seven prior meetings.
•The teams first met on Nov. 26, 2011, in Bemidji, Minn.  
•SMSU leads 3-0 all-time in games played in Marshall, including last season, 84-79.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 7-0 all-time versus MISU.
•Game-by-game results of the series are on page 18.
    
    SERIES HISTORY VS. UMARY
•SMSU and UMary meet for the 18th time on Saturday with SMSU leading 14-3.
•SMSU leads 9-1 all-time in games played in Marshall, with UMary's lone victory coming on Dec. 11, 2015.
•SMSU defeated UMary twice last season in Marshall, earning an 83-61 win during the regular season, then picking up a 78-73 victory in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-3 all-time versus U-Mary.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU is 8-8 overall, 3-7 NSIC, following road losses to Concordia-St. Paul (76-70) and Minnesota State (101-72) last weekend.
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman led the Mustangs in scoring in both games with 18 versus CSP and 31 versus MSU.
•Bruggeman is averaging a team-high 23.6 ppg with a team-high 90 assists and team-high 32 steals. He has scored 30 or more points six times this season.
•Senior guard Taylor Schafer is averaging 12.6 ppg with a team-leading 41 3-pointers.
•Sophomore forward Kenny Byers is scoring 10.6 ppg with 4.5 rpg.
•Senior forward Steven McNease, who has missed three of the last four games with an injury, leads the team in rebounding with 7.9 per game.
•SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range, 80 percent from the free throw line and is minus-2.2 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 79 points per game, while opponents are averaging 79 points per game.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•SMSU has lost four straight games for the first time since the 2015-16 squad lost five in a row from Jan. 3 to Jan. 16, 2016.
•SMSU has yet to shoot 50 percent from the field in 10 NSIC games this season and currently ranks last in the NSIC (conference games only) in field goal pct. (42.2). The Mustangs shot 50 percent or higher in five of six non-conference games.
•SMSU allowed 101 points in Saturday's loss at Minnesota State. It was the first time an opponent reached 100 points versus SMSU since MSU Moorhead scored 105 in an overtime loss on Jan. 27, 2017. The last time an opponent scored 100 or more in a regulation game occurred on Feb. 12, 2016, at Augustana.
•SMSU has been outrebounded by an average of 11.8 per game in its last five games and begins the weekend ranked 15th in the NSIC in rebound margin (-7.6).
•Senior forward Steven McNease, who played just eight minutes in last Friday's loss at CSP, has missed three of the last four games because on an injury. He is the team's leading rebounder with 7.9 per game.
•Senior guard Taylor Schafer moved into sole possession of fourth place in the program's career 3-point field goals made record book with 211 during last Saturday's loss at MSU.
•Senior forward Michael Lee ranks eighth in team history with 172 career 3-pointers. He is one shy of moving into a tie for seventh place with Jacob Fahl.
•SMSU has suffered five home losses this season for the first time since the 2014-15 squad lost eight home games.

    TOUGHEST SCHEDULE IN THE NSIC
•SMSU has played a strong schedule through 16 games this season and the latest NCAA statistical numbers back it up.
•SMSU has the 14th toughest schedule in Division II and the toughest among all NSIC schools through games of Jan. 13.
•SMSU's Division II opponents this season have a combined record of 150-86 (not including results with SMSU).

    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, breaking the record with a pull-up jumper in the second half.
•He has scored 1,773 career points in 112 games, surpassing the record held by Jacob Fahl (1999-2003), who scored 1,638 points in 120 games.

    BRUGGEMAN AMONG THE BEST ACTIVE D2 PLAYERS
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman ranks among the top seven for active Division II players in several career categories.
•As of Jan. 14, Bruggeman ranks fourth among all active players in assists (600), sixth in steals (188) and seventh in points scored (1,773).

    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 169-118, including 115-91 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 MINOT STATE
•MSU (7-12, 2-8 NSIC) lost a pair of road games last weekend, falling 89-54 to St. Cloud State and 77-70 to Minnesota Duluth.
•The Beavers have four players averaging in double figure scoring.
•Senior forward David Akibo is averaging a team-high 18.4 ppg and also is the team's leading rebounder at 8.2 per game.  
•Sophomore guard Max Cody is scoring 12.9 ppg and has dished out a team-leading 111 assists.
•Junior guard Kyle Beisch is averaging 12.5 ppg with a team-best 35 3-pointers.  
•MSU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 72 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.6 in rebound margin.
•MSU is averaging 70 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71 points per game.
•Matt Murken is in his seventh season as head coach with a record of 88-102. He was the head coach at Jamestown College from 2010-12.

    SCOUTING UMARY
•UMary (7-9, 4-6 NSIC) split two road games last weekend, earning a 100-98 triple overtime win over Minnesota Duluth, before losing 60-58 to St. Cloud State on Saturday.
•UMary, which plays at Sioux Falls on Friday, enters the weekend having lost five of its last six.
•Junior guard Jaylan White leads the team averaging 14.4 ppg and has connected on 23 3-pointers.
•Senior forward Tom Kubank has drilled a team-high 35 3-pointers and ranks second on the team averaging 12.1 ppg.
•Sophomore forward Matthew Kreklow averages 11.1 ppg and a team-high 5.8 rpg.
•UMary is shooting 44 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 70 percent from the free throw line and is minus-40.6 in rebound margin.
•UMary is scoring 70 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 per game.
•Head coach Joe Kittell is in his fourth season with a record of 44-59.   

    2018-19 NSIC STATISTICS
•The weekly NSIC statistics (NSIC games only) are located on page 14-15.
•Ryan Bruggeman ranks first in steals (2.0), second in scoring (26.0), fifth in assists (4.7) and eighth in free throw pct. (90.4).
 •SMSU ranks second in the NSIC in free throw pct. (79.7) and second with 53 steals.

    2018-19 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest NCAA statistics (through Jan. 14) are located on page 16.
•The Mustangs rank seventh in free throw pct., 16th in turnovers per game, 28th in 3-point field goal pct. and 47th in 3-point field goals made.
•Ryan Bruggeman ranks fourth in field goals made, seventh in scoring, 13th in free throws made, 21st in total assists, 29th in assists per game and 36th in total steals.  

    BRUGGEMAN EARNS NSIC WEEKLY AWARD TWICE
•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on both Dec. 11 and Jan. 3 this season.
•Bruggeman has earned the award four times in his career.

    BRUGGEMAN IN THE SMSU 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 field goals made, second in free throw pct. and seventh in scoring average.
 
    SCHAFER REACHES 1,000 POINTS
•Senior Taylor Schafer became the 24th player in team history to reach the 1,000 career points earlier this season versus Northland College on Nov. 20. He currently ranks 16th on the career list with 1,130 points.

    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.

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES  
•A total of five SMSU players have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers, including 13 times this season.
•Senior Ryan Bruggeman has 35 career 20-point games, including nine this season, which includes six 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    Minnesota State, 1/12/19
    31    Ryan Bruggeman    Sioux Falls, 12/30/18
    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    Ryan Bruggeman    Wayne State, 1/5/19
    22    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/24/18
    21    Ryan Bruggeman    Augustana, 1/4/19
    20    Kenny Byers    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/18
    20    Kenny Byers    Crown, 11/24/18
 












    KOLIN BARTLETT NOTES
•Has played in 14 games with six starts and is averaging 1.7 ppg and 1.1 rpg.
•Made three field goals vs. Augustana and Wayne State earlier this season.
•Younger brother of former Mustang Joey Bartlett (2013-17).

    RYAN BRUGGEMAN NOTES
•SMSU's all-time leader scorer with 1,773 points.
•Averaging a team-high 23.6 ppg with a team-high 90 assists.
•Has six 30-plus point games this season.  
•Scored a career-high 36 points vs. Minnesota State earlier this season (12/7/18).
•Ranks first in team history with 5.4 assists per game.
•Ranks first in team history with 600 assists.
•Ranks first in team history with 473 free throws made.
•Ranks first in team history with 188 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 16 games with 15 starts and is averaging 10.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
•Has scored double figures in nine games.
•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 16 games and is averaging 8.7 ppg.  
•Ranks third on the team with 26 3-pointers and is fifth in scoring.
•Scored a season-high 22 points on 8 of 12 shooting with four 3-pointers vs. Crown (11/24/18).  
•Ranks fifth in team history with 41.7 3-point field goal pct.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    BRAEDAN HANSON NOTES
•Has played in 16 games with six starts and is averaging 6.8 ppg and 4.4 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 16 games and is averaging 1.6 ppg with 16 assists.
•Scored career-high eight points with a career-high 11 rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/12/19).
•Made three field goals made vs. Concordia (1/11/19).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    MICHAEL LEE NOTES
•Has started all 16 games and is averaging 9.1 ppg.
•Ranks second on the team with 35 3-pointers.
•Has scored double figures in seven games this season.
•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 43.3.
•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 missed three games and most of a fourth with an injury.
•Has played in 12 games with five starts and is averaging 5.7 ppg and a team-high 7.9 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 all 16 games and is averaging 12.6 ppg.
•Leads the team with 41 3-pointers.  
•Has scored double figures in 13 games.
•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 fourth in school history with 211 3-pointers and is fourth all-time in 3-pointers attempted (536).

    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.

    HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU is 6-5 at home this season after recording a 12-2 home mark last season.
•SMSU is a combined 116-44 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 2-3 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 88-80 in 168 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    6-5    49.8    43.5    80.1    34.8    83.2    11.3    
Away    2-3    40.2    32.3    78.2    32.2    71.2    9.6

    SMSU TRUE "ROAD WARRIORS" LAST FEW SEASONS
•SMSU, which is 2-3 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.

    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 243-157 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13, but this season the record is even at 12-12.
•The South Division has held the advantage in every season. In 2017-18, the South led 38-26; 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.

    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.







    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.

    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.

    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 223-86 (.721) in 309 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    6-5    1-4    5-1    
    Totals    223-86    145-61    78-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 605 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 364-392 in 756 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 1,431 games compiling an all-time record of 661-770.
•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.