THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (4-7, 1-4 NSIC) concludes a three-game homestand inside the R/A Facility this Saturday, Dec. 21, taking on the University of Sioux Falls (8-3, 4-1 NSIC) in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with game time set for 4 p.m.
•SMSU, which snapped a four-game losing streak last Saturday with a triple overtime win over conference leading Minnesota Duluth, will look to avenge an earlier season loss to USF on Saturday. USF defeated SMSU 74-56 in the conference opener for both teams on Nov. 30 in Sioux Falls, S.D. SMSU held a 32-30 halftime advantage in the first meeting, but USF scored 44 points and limited SMSU to 26 percent shooting in the second half.
•Saturday's game is the last for SMSU in the calendar year. Following Saturday's game, SMSU returns to action on Friday, Jan. 3, at Augustana. SMSU's next home game will be on Jan. 10, 2020, versus Concordia-St. Paul.
 
    BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday's games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS SIOUX FALLS  
•SMSU and Sioux Falls meet for the 35th time Saturday with SMSU leading 21-13 in a series that started in 1968-69.
•SMSU holds an 8-7 advantage in conference games since USF joined the NSIC in 2012-13.    
•SMSU leads the series 15-1 in games played in Marshall with USF's lone victory coming last season on Dec. 1, 2018.
•SMSU has won six of the last nine games since Dec. 19, 2015. USF won earlier this season on Nov. 30 in Sioux Falls, 74-56.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 9-7 all-time versus Sioux Falls.
•A complete listing of each game is located on page 18.

    LAST MEETING VERSUS SIOUX FALLS
•SMSU was limited to 24 points on 26 percent shooting in the second half as the University of Sioux Falls rallied from a halftime deficit to earn a 74-56 victory on Nov. 30 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
•USF shot a blistering 60 percent from the field in the second half and closed the game shooting 50 percent (23 of 46) overall. The Cougars dominated on the glass, holding a 41-19 rebound advantage, leading to an 11-0 scoring edge on second chance points. USF also made 25 of 33 from the free throw line.
•SMSU finished the game shooting 39 percent (19 of 49), including 7 of 21 from 3-point range. The Mustangs shot 55 percent in the first half, including making 6 of 12 from 3-point range.
•Nick Dufault scored 17 points to pace the Mustangs, while making a career-high seven free throws.
•Cliff McCray added a career-high 14 points on 6 of 13 shooting, while Kenny Byers chipped in with 12 points.
•Chase Grinde scored a game-high 19 points with seven rebounds to lead the Cougars. Pal Teathloach scored eight points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds for the Cougars.
•The SMSU/USF game box score is located on page 19.  

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•Last Saturday's game was just the third triple overtime game in program history. SMSU lost at Michigan Tech (101-95) during the 1975-76 season and also lost at Concordia-St. Paul (109-104) on Feb. 13, 2010.
•SMSU scored a season-high 89 points in the victory over UMD last Saturday and also tied a season-high with 33 field goals made and tied a season-high with 11 3-pointers made.  
•UMD's 35.1 percent shooting last Saturday was the lowest by an SMSU opponent this season.
•SMSU committed just eight turnovers in 55 minutes during last Saturday's three-overtime victory over UMD.
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (15.8), rebounding (9.0), steals (15) and has recorded a team-high six double-doubles.  
•Junior Nick Dufault, who scored a career-high 28 points in the win over Minnesota Duluth last Saturday, has connected on a team-high 28 3-pointers. He ranks fourth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (43.1).
•Dufault also ranks 15th in program history with 121 3-point field goals made. He needs two 3-pointers to move into a tie for 14th place and three 3-pointers to move into a tie for 13th.
•Both Byers (vs. St. Cloud State) and Dufault (vs. Minnesota Duluth) connected on a team season-high 11 field goals made last weekend. Byers' 16 rebounds versus UMD was also a team season-high.
•Sophomore Grant Kramer has dished out a team-high 24 assists.
•Freshman Cliff McCray has reached double figure scoring in six of the last seven games.    
•Freshman Andy Stafford has played in the last four games and will not redshirt this season.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents four times through 11 games this season, but is plus 1.1 in rebound margin. Last season, SMSU outrebounded its opponent just twice in its last 21 games and finished last in the NSIC in rebound margin (minus-8.5).  
•SMSU is shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 60 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.1 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 69 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71 points per game.


    SMSU VICTORIES OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS SEASONS
•Southwest Minnesota State has posted a combined record of 75-36 the past three-plus seasons (start of 2016-17 to current) which includes two NSIC South Division titles and three appearances in the NSIC Tournament championship game.
•The 71 victories entering this season is the best three-year run in program history.

    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 183-131, including 123-100 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.

    SMSU SPLITS TWO NSIC HOME GAMES
•SMSU hosted its first two NSIC games of the season last weekend, losing to St. Cloud State 77-70 on Friday, before earning a thrilling 89-82 triple overtime win over Minnesota Duluth on Saturday night.
•In the loss to SCSU, Kenny Byers led SMSU with a career-high 27 points on 11 of 19 shooting with three 3-pointers. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists.
•Weston Baker Magrath added 10 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots.
•The game was tied at 61 with 6:30 remaining in the second half, but SCSU scored four straight points and never trailed again.
•SMSU finished the game shooting 51 percent (28 of 55) from the field, including a solid 10 of 19 from 3-point range. •The Mustangs struggled from the foul line, making just 4 of 11.
•In the win over UMD, Nick Dufault scored a career-high 28 points, while teammate Kenny Byers added 24 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
•Brian Dayman added six points and eight rebounds for the Mustangs, while Andy Stafford scored a career-high six points and pulled down four rebounds.
•SMSU finished the game shooting 42 percent (33 of 79) from the field, including 11 of 31 from 3-point range.
•The Mustangs shot 48 percent in the overtime frames and made five 3-pointers.
•SMSU finished the game committing just eight turnovers in the 55-minute game.

    SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS
•Sioux Falls heads to Marshall with an 8-3 overall record, including 4-1 in NSIC play.
•The Cougars split two games last weekend, losing 100-65 to Minnesota Duluth on Friday, before earning a 73-67 win over St. Cloud State on Saturday night.
•Sophomore guard Chase Grinde has a team-high 26 assists and is scoring a team-high 11.5 ppg.
•Junior forward Austin Slater is scoring 11.4 ppg and is coming off a 20-point game last Saturday on 6 of 8 shooting versus SCSU.
•Junior forward Teathloach Pal is averaging 10 ppg and 10.3 rpg, while shooting 60 percent from the field.
•Freshman guard Jack Thompson has connected on a team-high 13 3-pointers.
•Head coach Chris Johnson is in his 12th season at USF with a record of 203-146. He is the program's all-time leader in victories.
•USF is shooting 44 percent from the field, 28 percent from 3-point range, 69 percent from the free throw line and is plus-7.6 in rebound margin.
•USF is averaging 71 points per game, while opponents average 70 points per game.  

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics (Dec. 17) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 49th in turnovers per game and 29th in total blocked shots.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked seventh in blocked shots and 14th in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks seventh with six double-doubles, 28th in total rebounds and 48th in rebounding.

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NSIC STATISTICS
•The current 2019-20 NSIC statistics (NSIC games only) are located on pages 14-15.
•Kenny Byers ranks sixth in rebounding, 11th in scoring, 12th in steals and 13th in free throw pct.
•Nick Dufault ranks third in 3-point field goal pct., third in 3-point field goals per game and 10th in scoring.  
•Weston Baker Magrath ranks first in blocked shots.

    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 has reached 20 points three times this season and five times in his career, while Dufault has two 20-point games this season and four in his career.
20 or More Point Games in Career
    28    Nick Dufault    Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
    27    Kenny Byers    St. Cloud State, 12/13/19
    24    Kenny Byers    Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
    23    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/21/17
    22    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/24/18
    20    Nick Dufault    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/7/19
    20    Kenny Byers    Central Missouri, 11/9/19
    20    Kenny Byers    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/18
    20    Kenny Byers    Crown, 11/24/18
Bold indicates 2019-20 season

    WESTON BAKER MAGRATH NOTES
•Has started 11 games and is averaging 7.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
•Leads the team with 27 blocked shots.
•Season-high 18 points vs. Minnesota Morris (11/22/19).
•Played previous 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
•Has started 11 games and leads team in scoring (15.8), rebounding (9.0) and steals (15).
•Scored career-high 27 points vs. St. Cloud State (12/13/19).
•Grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•Has recorded six double-doubles this season.
•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.
•Played as a true freshman in 2017-18.

    BRIAN DAYMAN NOTES
•Has played in 11 games with nine starts and is averaging 4.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg.
•Grabbed career-high nine rebounds vs. Stonehill and recorded eight rebounds vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Scored 10 points vs. Arkansas-Monticello with four field goals.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    NICK DUFAULT NOTES
•Has played in 11 games with four starts and ranks second in scoring (13.7).
•Has made a team-high 28 3-pointers this season.
•Career-high 28 points with a career-high 11 field goals vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•Has scored 20 or more points twice this season.
•Has made career-high five 3-pointers four times, including once this season.
•Ranks fourth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (43.1).
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers last season.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Has missed five games with an injury.
•Has played in six games and is averaging 3.8 ppg and 1.7 rpg.
•Scored 13 points with five field goals, including three 3-pointers vs. Mayville State.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    BRAEDAN HANSON NOTES
•Has played in 11 games with two starts and is averaging 4.4 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
•Career-high nine rebounds vs. Stonehill (11/15/19) and vs. Minnesota Morris (11/22/19).
•Scored season-high 10 points vs. Minnesota Morris.
•Played in 32 games with 22 starts last season, 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).
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    GRANT KRAMER NOTES
•Has played in 11 games with seven starts and is averaging 5.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg.
•Has dished out team-high 24 assists.
•Career-high 14 points vs. Northern Michigan (11/16/19).
•Scored 13 points vs. Stonehill (11/15/19).
•Played in 32 games in 2018-19 and averaged 2.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg.
•Career-high 11 rebounds at Minnesota State (1/12/19).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    CLIFF MCCRAY NOTES
•Has started 11 games and is averaging 9.8 ppg and 3.9 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points and tied career-high with four assists vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Scored 14 points with six field goals at Sioux Falls.
•Has scored in double figures in seven games.
•Grabbed season-high seven rebounds at Central Missouri.
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has appeared in 11 games and is averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.5 rpg.
•Scored eight points with six rebounds at Central Missouri.
•Also scored eight points vs. Northern Michigan.  
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

ANDY STAFFORD NOTES
•Did not play in the first seven games. Has played in four games and is averaging 3.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
•Scored six points with a 3-pointer vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Scored four points with five rebounds vs. St. Cloud State.
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.

    KEVIN TOTUSEK NOTES
•Has played in two games this season.
•Scored one point vs. Minnesota Morris.
•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 is 3-1 at home this season after finishing the 2018-19 season 12-5 at home.
•SMSU is a combined 125-45 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 1-6 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 93-92 in 185 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    3-1    49.2    36.0    66.7    37.2    78.5    11.8    
Away    1-6    39.8    35.8    57.4    35.9    63.0    12.4         
          




    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".

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU is 1-1 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and  is a combined 38-20 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU finished with a 5-3 record versus the NSIC North Division in 2018-19.
•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 263-193 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13. The North holds a 5-3 lead this season.
•In 2018-19, the North finished 38-26, which was 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 232-87 (.727) in 319 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    
    2019-20    3-1    1-1    2-0
    Totals    232-87    152-62    80-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 632 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.

    A LOOK BACK AT SMSU 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.

    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.  

    MUSTANGS REACH 100 AND THEN SOME
•SMSU scored 100 or more points three times in 2018-19, 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 47-39 all-time in overtime games, including 1-0 this season following a triple overtime victory over Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 14.
•SMSU is 7-6 in double overtime games and now 1-2 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 372-401 in 773 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.
•SMSU has one regular season championship (2000-01) and two tournament championships (2012 and 2017).
•SMSU also won NSIC South Division titles in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.

    MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is in its 53rd season of men's basketball in 2019-20.
•SMSU has played 1,458 games compiling an all-time record of 675-783.
•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.