THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (6-14, 3-11 NSIC) looks to snap a three-game losing streak with a pair of road games versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division opponents this Friday and Saturday.
•SMSU will open the weekend on Friday, Jan., 31, to take on the University of Minnesota Crookston (9-11, 5-9 NSIC) with game time set for 7:30 p.m. inside Lysaker Gymnasium.
•UMC senior guard Harrison Cleary has scored 2,629 career points and is 29 points shy of passing Gage Davis (1,932) for the NSIC's all-time scoring lead (NSIC games only). Former SMSU All-American Ryan Bruggeman ranks third all-time with 1,523 points in NSIC games. Cleary has scored 30 or more points seven times this season and has reached 20 or more points 14 times. He currently ranks first in Division II in field goal attempts and free throws made and is second in scoring.
•On Saturday, Feb. 1, SMSU takes on Bemidji State University (8-10, 5-9 NSIC) to conclude the weekend with tip-off slated for 6 p.m. at the BSU Gymnasium. BSU enters the weekend having lost six straight games, including four straight at home.  
 
    BROADCAST INFO
•Both 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.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•SMSU is 2-2 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and is a combined 39-21 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU lost a pair of close home games last weekend to Winona State and Upper Iowa. SMSU trailed WSU 51-50 with 3:30 left before losing 63-55, and then held a seven-point lead versus UIU with 1:10 left, before suffering an 80-77 loss.
•SMSU's current five-game home losing streak is its longest since losing 14 straight between the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
•During SMSU's current three-game losing streak, opponents have combined to make 37 3-pointers, while SMSU has made 17. In the two losses last weekend, WSU and UIU combined to outscore SMSU 30-10 in fast-break points.
•Kenny Byers led SMSU in scoring in both games last weekend, pouring in 17 in the loss to WSU and 16 versus UIU. Byers tied a career-high with eight assists in the loss to UIU on Saturday.
•Cliff McCray pulled down a career-high nine rebounds in the loss to WSU and also added eight points. He scored 11 points with eight rebounds in the loss to UIU.
•Weston Baker Magrath scored 14 points on 7 of 9 shooting versus UIU and was 4 of 4 with eight points versus WSU.  
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (17.5), rebounding (7.7), assists (63), steals (30) and has recorded a team-high seven double-doubles. Byers ranks tied for seventh among all NSIC players with seven 10 or more rebound games this season, while his seven double-doubles ranks fifth.
•Junior Nick Dufault, who missed two games in early January with an injury, has connected on a team-high 41 3-pointers and is second on the squad in scoring (12.0). He ranks tied for fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.5) and tied for 12th in program history with 134 3-point field goals made. He needs one more 3-pointer to move into 11th all-time and 28 to move into 10th place.
•Freshman Cliff McCray ranks third on the team in scoring (9.0) and second with 38 assists.    
•Junior Weston Baker Magrath has a team-high 37 blocked shots ranking seventh in team single-season history. The record is 55 set by Mark Ornatek in 1979-80.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents seven times through 20 games this season. 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).  
•For the season, SMSU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 64 percent from the free throw line and is minus-0.1 in rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 66 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.

    SMSU VICTORIES OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS SEASONS
•Southwest Minnesota State has posted a combined record of 77-43 the past three-plus seasons (start of 2016-17 to current) which includes two NSIC South Division titles and three straight appearances in the NSIC Tournament championship game.
•The 71 victories entering this season was the best three-year run in program history.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•SMSU and UMC meet for the 37th time on Friday with SMSU leading 33-3 in a series that started in 1994-95.
•UMC won the first-ever game, 87-78 in Marshall, while the teams split the first four games in the series.
•SMSU leads the series 30-1 since UMC joined the NSIC in 1999-2000.
•SMSU has won the last 22 games overall with UMC's last win coming on Jan. 16, 2004, in Crookston. SMSU holds an 18-1 lead in games played in Crookston.
•SMSU won last season's lone meeting, 100-78 in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 11-0 all-time versus UMC.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.
 
    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS BEMIDJI STATE
•SMSU and BSU meet for the 97th time on Saturday with SMSU leading 55-41 in a series that started during the 1968-69 season.
•BSU leads 25-20 in games played in Bemidji, including winning the last match-up (96-86) on Jan. 14, 2017.
•SMSU won twice last season, 84-62 during the regular season in Marshall and then earned a 75-62 victory in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
•SMSU has won five of the last six meetings, since Feb. 6, 2015. Prior to the current streak, BSU won five straight from Feb. 18, 2011, to Jan. 31, 2014.   
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 7-6 all-time versus BSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series are on page 19.

    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 185-138, including 125-107 in NSIC 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.

    SCOUTING MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•The Golden Eagles (9-11, 5-9 NSIC) split two home games last weekend, beating UMary 71-68 on Friday, before suffering a 91-68 loss to Minot State.
•Senior guard Harrison Cleary is averaging a team-high 27.7 ppg, with a team-leading 62 3-pointers and 85 assists. He is also shooting 92 percent from the free throw line.
•Cleary has scored 2,629 career points and is 29 points shy of passing Gage Davis (1,932) for the NSIC's all-time scoring lead (NSIC games only).
•Senior guard Malcolm Cohen is scoring 9.7 ppg and has connected on 34 3-pointers.
•UMC is shooting 42 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 81 percent from the free throw line and is minus-5.4 in rebound margin.
•UMC is averaging 74 points per game, while opponents are averaging 79 points per game.
•Dan Weisse is in his sixth season as head coach with a record 53-108. He was an assistant at MSU Moorhead for three seasons before coming to UMC.

    SCOUTING BEMIDJI STATE
•The Beavers (8-10, 5-9 NSIC), which host Sioux Falls on Friday, have lost six straight games (three in overtime), including two at home last weekend to Minot State (74-67) and UMary (78-77).
•Junior guard Nick Wagner leads the team averaging 17.4 ppg and has connected on a team-high 64 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Logan Bader is scoring 11.8 ppg with 38 3-pointers and leads the team with 7.7 rpg.
•BSU is shooting 49 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-3.8 in rebound margin.
•BSU is scoring 81 points per game, while opponents are averaging 76 per game.
•Mike Boschee is in his eighth season at BSU with a record of 94-119. He was head coach at Central College (Iowa) for nine seasons with a record of 115-115.

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics (Jan. 27) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 27th in total blocked shots, 40th in field goal pct. defense, 45th in blocked shots per game and 60th in scoring defense.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked 16th in blocked shots and 25th in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks 27th in field goals attempted, 49th in field goals made and 61st in total rebounds.

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NSIC STATISTICS
•The current 2019-20 NSIC team and individual statistics (NSIC games only) are located on pages 14-15.
•Kenny Byers ranks sixth in steals, eighth in scoring, ninth in rebounding, 10th in assists, 17th in free throw pct. and 18th in field goal pct.
•Nick Dufault ranks sixth in 3-point field goal pct. and sixth in 3-point field goals per game.  
•Weston Baker Magrath ranks fifth in blocked shots.
•Cliff McCray ranks eighth in steals.  
•SMSU ranks third in field goal pct. defense, third in scoring defense and eighth in 3-point field goal pct.

    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 eight times this season and 10 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    Wayne State, 1/4/20
    24    Kenny Byers    Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
    23    Kenny Byers    Minnesota State, 1/11/20
    23    Kenny Byers    Sioux Falls, 12/21/19
    23    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/21/17
    22    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/24/18
    21    Kenny Byers    Concordia-St. Paul, 1/10/20
    21    Kenny Byers    Augustana, 1/3/20
    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 20 games and is averaging 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
•Leads the team with 37 blocked shots ranking seventh in team single-season history.
•Season-high 18 points vs. Minnesota Morris (11/22/19) and season-high seven rebounds at Minnesota State (12/6/19).
•Scored 14 points on 7 of 9 shooting vs. Upper Iowa (1/25/20).   
•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 all 20 games and leads team in scoring (17.5), rebounding (7.7), assists (63) and steals (30).
•Has scored 20 or more points eight times and has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
•Has scored double figures in all but one game this season.
•Scored career-high 27 points vs. St. Cloud State (12/13/19).
•Grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•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 all 20 games with 18 starts and is averaging 4.2 ppg and 4.6 rpg.
•Grabbed career-high 11 rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/11/20).
•Scored 10 points vs. Arkansas-Monticello with four field goals and also scored 10 points with four field goals at Augustana.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    NICK DUFAULT NOTES
•Has played in 18 games with nine starts and ranks second in scoring (12.0).
•Missed first two games of January with an injury.
•Has made a team-high 41 3-pointers.
•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 five times, including twice this season.
•Ranks fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.5).
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers last season.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Has missed 14 games with an injury.
•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 all 20 games with two starts and is averaging 3.7 ppg and 3.1 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 missed last nine games with an injury.
•Has played in 11 games with seven starts and is averaging 5.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg with 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 all 20 games and is averaging 9.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points and tied career-high with four assists vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Made career-high three 3-pointers vs. Sioux Falls (12/21/19).
•Scored 14 points with career-high six field goals at Sioux Falls (11/30/19).
•Grabbed season-high nine rebounds vs. Winona State (1/24/20).
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has appeared in all 20 games and is averaging 5.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored career-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting at Minot State (1/17/20).
•Career-high seven rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/11/20).
•Career-high five blocked shots vs. Concordia (1/10/20).
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    ANDY STAFFORD NOTES
•Did not play in the first seven games with a planned redshirt season. Has played in 13 games with four starts and is averaging 6.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points with three 3-pointers vs. Concordia (1/10/20).  
•Has scored double figures in five games.
•Scored 13 points with three 3-pointers at Wayne State (1/4/20).
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.

    KEVIN TOTUSEK NOTES
•Has played in three 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 3-6 at home this season after finishing the 2018-19 season 12-5 at home.
•SMSU is a combined 125-50 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 3-8 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 95-94 in 189 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    3-6    46.3    35.0    69.8    34.1    70.1    12.3    
Away    3-8    42.4    37.2    60.5    34.5    62.3    13.1          
    
    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 2-2 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and is a combined 39-21 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 was 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 277-203 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13. The South holds a 17-15 lead this season as of Jan. 19.
•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 232-92 (.716) in 324 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    3-6    1-6    2-0
    Totals    232-92    152-67    80-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 641 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.

    REPLACING ALL-AMERICAN RYAN BRUGGEMAN
•One of several key players SMSU had to replace from last season's team was All-American 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 program's all-time leader in field goals made, free throws made, assists, free throw percentage and steals.
•Bruggeman in early January signed a professional contact to play for Delteco Gipuzkoa BC located in San Sebastian, Spain, which is a second tier league team in the Spain Basketball League. He most recently played for HKK Zrinjski HT Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I. In 11 games, Bruggeman averaged 10.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.6 apg and 1.3 spg.

    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 374-408 in 782 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 1,467 games compiling an all-time record of 677-790.
•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.