THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team opens the 2019-20 regular season with a pair of games on Nov. 9-10 in Warrensburg, Mo., at the Central Region Tipoff Classic hosted by the University of Central Missouri.
•SMSU opens play on Saturday night versus the University of Central Missouri with game time set for 8 p.m. at the UCM Multipurpose Building.
•SMSU closes the weekend facing the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.
•Both games are versus opponents from the NCAA Central Region. UCM is a member of the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA), while UAM is a member of the Great American Conference (GAC).
 
    BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's game only will be available via webcast at SMSUmustangs.com.  
•Live statistics for both games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.  

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS CENTRAL MISSOURI
•Southwest Minnesota State and Central Missouri will be meeting for just the second time with SMSU winning, 64-62, on Nov. 24, 2012, in Maryville, Mo.  
•SMSU played a pair of MIAA opponents last season in Marshall, losing to Emporia State (83-74) in the season opener, before defeating Fort Hays State (96-85) the next evening.
•SMSU played three MIAA teams during the 2017-18 season, defeating Missouri Southern State in first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, 81-77 in Maryville, Mo. SMSU also lost to Fort Hays State and defeated Emporia State during the regular season.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
•Southwest Minnesota State and Arkansas-Monticello will be meeting for the first-time ever on Sunday afternoon.
•SMSU is 4-0 all-time versus current members of the GAC having beaten both Arkansas Tech and East Central (Okla.) twice since the 2014-15 season.  
•SMSU defeated both Arkansas Tech (93-82) and East Central (74-70) at the 2017 NCAA Tournament held in Maryville, Mo.

    SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 28-24 all-time in season openers having won seven of its last 13 and 15 of its last 23 season lid-lifters.
•SMSU has lost its last two season openers, including last season at home to Emporia State, 83-74.
•SMSU has opened the season on the road four times in the last five seasons.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE IN 2019-20
•SMSU returns five letter winners and two starters from last season's team that finished 18-14 overall and advanced to the NSIC Tournament championship game for the third straight season.
•SMSU must replace 66 percent of its scoring from last season as three of the team's top four scorers graduated.
•The 2019-20 team does not have a senior on the roster and features four juniors, two sophomores, three redshirt freshmen and five true freshmen.
•Junior guard Kenny Byers started 31 games last season and is the squad's top returning scoring after ranking third averaging 10.2 points per game. Byers closed the season shooting 49 percent (130 of 226) from the field and connected on 21 3-pointers. He finished third on the team in steals (30) and was fourth in rebounding (4.0).
•Junior forward Braedan Hanson started 22 games and averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
•Junior guard Nick Dufault ranked fifth on the team in scoring (7.8), while ranking third with 49 3-pointers.
•Sophomore guard Grant Kramer played in all 32 games and averaged 2.6 ppg, while sophomore forward Kevin Totusek appeared in five games and scored six points.  
•SMSU added junior forward transfer Weston Baker Mcgrath, who played two seasons at Division II Nebraska-Kearney. He started 24 games last season and averaged 6.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg.

    A LOOK BACK AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE IN 2018-19
•SMSU concluded the 2018-19 season with an 18-14 overall record, placed fifth in the NSIC South Division with a 10-12 mark and finished ninth in the overall standings.
•SMSU won three straight games in the NSIC Tournament to advance to the championship game for the third straight season before losing to Northern State, 72-68.
•SMSU finished the season shooting 48 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range, 81 percent from the free throw line and was minus-5.4 in rebound margin.
•SMSU averaged 80 points per game, while opponents averaged 78 points per game.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS FROM 2018-19
•SMSU set a team record last season shooting 81.3 percent from the free throw line.  
•SMSU connected on a school record 298 3-pointers and attempted a school record 721 3-pointers last season.
•SMSU's 41.3 percent 3-point shooting last season ranks tied for first in team single-season history.
•SMSU committed 10 or less turnovers in its final 14 games.  
•SMSU outrebounded its opponent just twice in its last 21 games and finished last in the NSIC in rebound margin (-8.5).  
•Three of SMSU's top four scoring teams in program history have come the past three years. Last season's team scored 2,557 points ranking fourth all-time.
•SMSU shot 48 percent or higher from the field in 11 of its last 14 games.  

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 11th season as head coach with an overall record of 179-124, including 122-96 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
•The 2012-13 and 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year, Bigler has led SMSU to seven 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 NSIC South Division championships in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.  
•SMSU has played in five NSIC Tournament championship games during his tenure (2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019).
•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.

    71 VICTORIES OVER THE LAST THREE SEASONS
•Southwest Minnesota State has posted a combined record of 71-29 the past three seasons (start of 2016-17) which includes two NSIC South Division titles and three appearances in the NSIC Tournament championship game.
•The 71 victories is the best three-year run in program history.

    SMSU IN EXHIBITION PLAY
•Southwest Minnesota State played a pair of exhibition games prior to this week's regular season games, losing to the University of Minnesota, 73-48, on Oct. 28, before defeating Division III St. Olaf College by a score of 74-66.
•In the loss to Minnesota, SMSU shot just 33 percent and committed 22 turnovers. Kenny Byers led the Mustangs with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Grant Kramer added 10 points and six rebounds.  
•In the win over St. Olaf,  Kenny Byers led all scorers with 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers. He also grabbed six rebounds and was a perfect 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
•Grant Kramer had a solid game for the Mustangs as he scored 15 points on 5 of 8 shooting, including 3 for 3 from 3-point range. •Braedan Hanson also reached double figure scoring for SMSU with 10 points with a pair of 3-pointer, while also grabbing four rebounds and dishing out three assists.
•SMSU finished the game shooting 52 percent (26 of 50) from the field, including 9 of 16 from 3-point range.

    SCOUTING CENTRAL MISSOURI
•UCM finished last season 14-14 overall and 10th place in the MIAA with a record of 7-12.  
•UCM was picked to finish sixth (coaches) and seventh (media) in the 14-team 2019-20 MIAA preseason polls.
•UCM lost 80-56 at Missouri on Nov. 1 in its lone exhibition game.
•The Mules bring back All-MIAA selection junior guard Daniel Farris, who averaged 9.4 points per game, dished out a team-high 102 steals and led the team with 39 steals.
•UCM head coach Doug Karleskint is in his sixth season with a record of 94-55 and has led the Mules to one NCAA Tournament appearance (2015). He was the head coach at Arkansas Tech for four seasons (2010-14) compiling a record of 89-34 and four NCAA Tournament appearances.  
•UCM shot 44 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and was minus-2.2 in rebound margin last season.
•UAM averaged 68 points per game, while opponents averaged 69 points per game.

    SCOUTING ARKANSAS-MONTICELLO
•UAM finished last season 16-13 overall and seventh place in the GAC with a record of 12-10.  
•UAM was picked to finish seventh in the 12-team 2019-20 GAC preseason coaches' poll.
•Senior guard KJ Lesure led the Weevils in scoring last season at 12.5 ppg, while connecting on a team-high 64 3-pointers.   
•UAM head coach Kyle Tolin is in his sixth season and has led the Weevils to one NCAA Tournament appearance (2017).
•UAM shot 44 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and was plus-3.9 in rebound margin last season.
•UAM averaged 70 points per game, while opponents averaged 67 points per game.

    SMSU PICKED 12TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 12th overall and sixth in the South Division in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Minnesota State was chosen as the South Division and overall favorite, while Minnesota Duluth was picked to win the North Division.
•SMSU junior guard Kenny Byers was named a "Player to Watch".

    REPLACING ALL-AMERICAN RYAN BRUGGEMAN
•One of several key players SMSU must replace from last season's team is guard Ryan Bruggeman, who closed his career as one of the most decorated players in program history.
•Bruggeman set the program's all-time scoring record with 2,246 points in 128 games. He is also the all-time leader in field goals made, free throws made, assists, free throw percentage and steals.
•A three-time All-NSIC honoree, Bruggeman was a third team All-American in 2018-19 and was selected to play in the NABC/Reese's All-Star game in March.
•Bruggeman finished the conference season ranking first in scoring (27.0), first in steals (2.4), second in field goals made (217), fourth in free throw pct. (92.0), fourth in assists (5.1) and 13th in assist/turnover ratio (1.8).
•He was the sixth SMSU player and the first since 1990-91 to lead the conference in scoring after averaging 27 per game in 22 league games.
•The 27 ppg is the highest scoring average in the NSIC since MSU Moorhead's Greg Duke also averaged 27 ppg in 1996-97.  

    SMSU IN THE FINAL 2018-19 NCAA STATISTICS
•The final 2018-19 NCAA statistics are located on page 16.
•The Mustangs ranked second in free throw pct., fourth in 3-point field goal pct and fifth in turnovers per game.
•Ryan Bruggeman ranked third in field goals made, seventh in scoring, eighth in free throws made, 15th in total steals, 19th in free throw pct., 20th in total assists and 33rd in assists per game.

    SMSU IN THE FINAL 2018-19 NSIC STATISTICS
•The final NSIC statistics (NSIC games only) are located on pages 14-15.
•Senior Ryan Bruggeman ranked first in the NSIC in scoring (27.0), first in steals (2.2), second in field goals made (217), fourth in free throw pct. (92.0) and fourth in assists (5.1).
•Senior Michael Lee ranked 11th in 3-point field goals per game (2.2), while senior Taylor Schafer ranked 13th (2.1).

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES  
•Two current SMSU players, juniors Nick Dufault and Kenny Byers  have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Byers reached 20 points twice last season, while Dufault had one 20-point game last season and also had one during the 2017-18 season.
20 or More Point Games - 2018-19 Season
    22    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/24/18
    20    Kenny Byers    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/18
    20    Kenny Byers    Crown, 11/24/18

    SMSU SETS RECORDS VERSUS FORT HAYS STATE
•SMSU set a team single-game record last season shooting 73.1 percent from 3-point range (19 of 26) in a home victory over Fort Hays State on Nov. 10, 2018.
•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.

    WESTON BAKER MAGRATH NOTES
•Played the last two seasons at Nebraska-Kearney and averaged 6.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg in 2018-19.
•Led UNK in blocked shots last season with 33.
•Scored a 2018-19 season-high 18 points versus Northeastern State.
 
    KENNY BYERS NOTES
•Played 32 games with 31 starts last season and averaged 10.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg.
•Named to the 2019 NSIC All-Tournament team.
•Scored double figures in 17 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 with a career-high 10 rebounds vs. Crown (11/24/18).
•Played as a true freshman in 2017-18.

    BRIAN DAYMAN NOTES
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    NICK DUFAULT NOTES
•Played 32 games and averaged 7.8 ppg in 2018-19.  
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers.
•Season-high five 3-pointers made vs. Fort Hays State (11/10/18) and at MSU Moorhead (2/9/19).
•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 in 3-point field goal pct. (42.9).
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    BRAEDAN HANSON NOTES
•Played in 32 games with 22 starts in 2018-19, averaging 6.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg.
•Scored a career-high 17 points vs. Northland (11/20/18).
•Poured in 16 points with four 3-pointers vs. UMary (1/19/19).
•Grabbed a career-high eight rebounds vs. Bethany Lutheran (11/19/18) and at Wayne State (2/22/19).
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    GRANT KRAMER NOTES
•Played in 32 games in 2018-19 and averaged 2.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg.
•Tied career-high with eight points vs. Upper Iowa (2/15/19).
•Recorded a career-high 11 rebounds with eight points at Minnesota State (1/12/19).
•Made career-high three field goals in six games.
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    CLIFF MCCRAY NOTES
•Only true freshman expected to play in 2019-20.

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    KEVIN TOTUSEK NOTES
•Played in five games in 2018-19 and averaged 1.2 ppg.
•Scored four points vs. Crown (11/24/18).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU finished the 2018-19 season 12-5 at home.
•SMSU is a combined 122-44 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU finished 6-9 in road/neutral site games last season and are a combined 92-86 in 178 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    12-5    50.9    44.4    81.9    32.9    83.5    10.0    
Away    6-9    45.5    37.8    80.7    27.7    75.8    8.3
            
    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU finished with a 5-3 record versus the NSIC North Division in 2018-19 and are a combined 37-19 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU finished 7-1 in 2017-18; 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 260-188 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13, but last season the North finished 38-26. It's the first time in seven seasons the North finished with a winning record.
•Prior to last season, the South Division held the advantage in every season. In 2017-18, (38-26); in 2016-17 (35-29); in 2015-16 (37-27); in 2014-15 (35-29); in 2013-14 (42-22), while in 2012-13 (47-17).

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2019-20 season marks the 24th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 229-86 (.727) in 315 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    12-5    7-4    5-1    
    Totals    229-86    151-61    78-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 621 straight games.
•The last time SMSU failed to connect on 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 scored 100 or more points three times last season, defeating Bethany Lutheran, 101-81, Crown College, 100-81 and Minnesota Crookston, 100-78.
•It was the first time SMSU scored 100 or more three times in a season since 2000-01.
•SMSU is 40-8 all-time when scoring 100 points.

    WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 46-39 all-time in overtime games, including 1-0 last season following an 84-78 win over Wayne State on March 4.
•SMSU is 7-6 in double overtime games and 0-2 in triple overtime games all-time.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
•SMSU has made five NCAA Tournament appearances (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018) in program history since moving to Division II in 1995-96.
•SMSU is 9-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament games appearing in three region championship games with region titles and Elite Eight appearances in both 2001 and 2009.  

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2019-20 campaign marks the 51st season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 371-397 in 768 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 25 times in 50 seasons.
•SMSU has finished in the top half of the NSIC standings in 17 of the last 23 seasons since 1997-98.

    MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is in its 53rd season of men's basketball in 2019-20.
•SMSU has played 1,447 games compiling an all-time record of 671-776.
•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 24 winning seasons in program history with 17 coming in the last 21 years (including this season).