THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (5-9, 2-6 NSIC) will have its first home games of the 2020 calendar year this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, with a pair of rematches versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division opponents inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU will open the weekend on Friday facing Concordia University-St. Paul (5-7, 3-5 NSIC) with game time set for 7:35 p.m., while on Saturday, SMSU concludes the weekend versus Minnesota State University Mankato (7-7, 5-3 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 6 p.m.
•This will be the second time SMSU has faced both opponents this season. In early December, CSP won 75-70 in St. Paul, while MSU earned a 67-57 victory in Mankato.
•SMSU returns to the R/A Facility after splitting a pair of road games last weekend, losing 64-61 to No. 24 Augustana, before snapping a two-game losing streak with a 62-59 victory over Wayne State.
 
    BROADCAST INFO
•Friday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL, while Saturday's will be on 94.7 FM KKCK with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Friday's game will be broadcast live regionally on Midco Sports Network with David Brown and Brad Newitt.  
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•Former Mustang guard Ryan Bruggeman, an All-American last season, recently 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 recorded 10.9 ppg, 2.6rpg, 3.6apg and 1.3 spg.
•SMSU ranks 31st in Division II (Jan. 6) in field goal percentage defense (41.0) and 74th in scoring defense (70.4).
•SMSU split a pair of road games last weekend, losing 64-61 to No. 24 Augustana, before earning a 62-59 victory over Wayne State.
•Freshman Andy Stafford scored a career-high 13 points, including 11 in the final five minutes of the game, in the win over WSC. Kenny Byers scored a team-high 24 points with 11 rebounds in the victory.
•In the loss to Augustana, SMSU missed a field goal with under 30 seconds left that would've given SMSU the lead. Byers scored 21 points on 10 of 16 shooting in the setback. Redshirt freshman Brian Dayman tied a career-high with 10 points in the loss.
•SMSU limited AU and WSC to a combined 31 percent (38 of 121) shooting in last weekend's games. Both teams shot less than 30 percent in the second half.  
•SMSU committed 20 turnovers in the win at Wayne State last Saturday. It was the first time SMSU committed 20 turnovers in a game since Dec. 2, 2016, at Upper Iowa.
•Augustana's 27.9 percent shooting last Friday was the lowest by an SMSU opponent this season was the first time an SMSU opponent shot less than 30 percent in a game since Wayne State (28.0) on Dec. 4, 2010.
•SMSU's triple overtime victory versus Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 14 was just the third triple overtime game in program history. SMSU scored a season-high 89 points in the victory and also tied a season-high with 33 field goals made and tied a season-high with 11 3-pointers made.  
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (17.3), rebounding (8.6), assists (33), steals (18) and has recorded a team-high seven double-doubles. Byers ranks tied for third among all NSIC players with seven 10 or more rebound games this season, while his seven double-doubles ranks tied for third among all NSIC players and ninth nationally.
•Junior Nick Dufault, who missed last weekend's two games with an injury, has connected on a team-high 30 3-pointers and ranks fourth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (42.7). Dufault also ranks tied for 14th in program history with 123 3-point field goals made. He needs one more 3-pointer to move into a tie for 13th and 11 to move into 12th.
•Freshman Cliff McCray has reached double figure scoring in eight of the last 10 games.    
•Sophomore Grant Kramer, who ranks third on the team with 24 assists, has missed the last three games due to injury.  
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents five times through 14 games this season, but is plus-0.4 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 44 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 62 percent from the free throw line and is plus-0.4 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 68 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
•SMSU and CSP meet for the 43rd time with SMSU leading 30-12 in a series that began during the 1980-81 season. A complete listing of each game is located on page 18.
•SMSU has won 13 of the last 18 games since Feb. 11, 2011, but CSP has won the last two games, including 75-70, earlier this season on Dec. 7 in St. Paul.
•SMSU is 18-3 all-time in games played in Marshall, including winning the past four games. CSP's last victory in Marshall came on Feb. 20, 2015.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 13-8 all-time versus CSP.

    LAST MEETING VERSUS CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
•CSP rallied in the final minute of the game, out-scoring SMSU 7-1 in the final 47 seconds, to earn a 75-70 win on Dec. 7, 2019, in St. Paul. CSP's Jordan Coblin hit a 3-pointer with under a minute remaining to give the Golden Bears a 71-69 lead.
•SMSU, which trailed for much of the game, including by 13 points with eight minutes remaining, had taken a 69-68 lead with 1:09 on the clock following a 3-pointer by Grant Kramer.
•Coblin scored 21 points with eight assists and seven rebounds in the victory, while teammate Cody Carlson scored a game-high 27 points on 10 of 16 shooting with three 3-pointers. The Golden Bears shot 50 percent from the field.
•Nick Dufault paced the Mustangs with 20 points which included five 3-pointers, while Kenny Byers added 17 points and 12 rebounds. SMSU closed the game shooting just 37 percent from the field.
•The SMSU/CSP game box score is located on page 17.  

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU and MSU meet for the 63rd time with MSU leading 45-17 in a series that started during the 1969-70 season. A complete listing of each game is located on page 20.
•MSU leads 18-9 in games played in Marshall, which includes a 75-67 victory last season on Dec. 7, 2018.
•MSU has won 13 of the last 17 games overall since the 2012-13 season, which includes winning the previous four and five of the last six games since Jan. 20, 2018. SMSU's lone victory in that span was on Feb. 26, 2018, in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 7-17 all-time versus MSU.

    LAST MEETING VERSUS MINNESOTA STATE
•MSU held SMSU without a field goal for more than seven minutes late in the second half to snap a tie game and earn a 67-57 victory in Mankato on Dec. 6, 2019.
•SMSU's Cliff McCray drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at 47 with eight minutes remaining, but the Mustangs made just one of nine field goal attempts and committed five turnovers for the remainder of the game. SMSU shot a season-low 31 percent from the field and made 6 of 16 from 3-point range.
•Nick Dufault scored a team-high 15 points with four 3-pointers for the Mustangs, while Kenny Byers recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
•Cameron Kirksey scored a team-high 21 points, with 19 in the second half, to pace the Mavericks, which shot 40 percent in the game with five 3-pointers.  
•The SMSU/MSU game box score is located on page 19. 

    SMSU VICTORIES OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS SEASONS
•Southwest Minnesota State has posted a combined record of 76-38 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 was 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 184-133, including 124-102 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 CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL
•CSP is 5-7 overall, 3-5 NSIC, and is coming off a home sweep last weekend, defeating UMary, 79-65 and Minot State, 71-68.
•Junior guard Lee Higgins was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and shooting 81 percent (17 of 21) from the field.
•Junior guard Jordan Coblin is averaging 17.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg, while shooting 48 percent from the field. He has made a team-high 19 3-pointers. Coblin scored 26 points and added eight rebounds in the win over Minot State.
•Junior forward Cody Carlson is averaging a team-high 6.1 rpg and scoring 13.1 ppg with 15 3-pointers. Carlson scored 17 points with five 3-pointers in the win over UMary.  
•Sophomore guard Noah Kannegiesser is scoring 11.4 ppg with 18 3-pointers.  
•Interim head coach Eric Johnson was named to his current position on Nov. 14, 2019. He served as an assistant coach at CSP since the 2014-15 season.  
•CSP is shooting 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.8 in rebound margin.
•CSP is averaging 74 points per game, while opponents average 75 points per game.  

    SCOUTING MINNESOTA STATE
•MSU, winners of four straight games, are 7-7 overall, 5-3 NSIC, heading into Friday's game at Sioux Falls.
•Senior forward Cameron Kirksey is averaging 19.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, while shooting 52 percent from the field. He scored 23 points in a win over Minot State last Friday and poured in 27 points in a victory over UMary last Saturday.
•Freshman forward Ryland Holt is scoring 15.5 ppg and is shooting 59 percent from the field.
•Senior guard Kevin Krieger has a team-high 28 3-pointers and is averaging 12.3 ppg. He connected on five 3-pointers and scored 23 points in the win over Minot State.
•Head coach Matt Margenthaler is in his 19th season at MSU with a record of 400-172. He has led the Mavericks to 13 NCAA Tournaments.
•MSU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and is plus-4.7 in rebound margin.
•MSU is averaging 7973 points per game, while opponents average 74 points per game.  

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics (Jan. 6) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 31st in field goal pct. defense, 43rd in total blocked shots, 59th in blocked shots per game, 63rd in 3-point field goal pct. and 74th in scoring defense.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked 13th in blocked shots and 19th in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks ninth with seven double-doubles, 35th in total rebounds, 26th in field goals attempted, 50th in field goals made and 65th in rebounding.

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

    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 six times this season and eight 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    Sioux Falls, 12/21/19
    23    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/21/17
    22    Nick Dufault    Crown, 11/24/18
    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 14 games and is averaging 6.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
•Leads the team with 29 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 all 14 games and leads team in scoring (17.3), rebounding (8.6), assists (33) and steals (18).
•Has scored 20 or more points six times and has recorded seven double-doubles 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 14 games with 12 starts and is averaging 5.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
•Scored 10 points vs. Arkansas-Monticello with four field goals and also scored 10 points with four field goals at Augustana
•Grabbed career-high nine rebounds vs. Stonehill and recorded eight rebounds vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    NICK DUFAULT NOTES
•Has played in 12 games with five starts and ranks second in scoring (13.9).
•Missed first two games of January with an injury.
•Has made a team-high 30 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. (42.7).
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers last season.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Has missed eight 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 all 14 games with two starts and is averaging 4.5 ppg and 3.6 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 missed three games with an injury.
•Has dished out 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 14 games and is averaging 10 ppg and 3.9 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 six field goals at Sioux Falls (11/30/19).
•Has scored in double figures in nine 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 all 14 games and is averaging 3.7 ppg and 2.4 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 seven games with two starts and is averaging 4.7 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored 13 points with three 3-pointers at Wayne State
•Scored six points with two 3-pointers at Augustana.
•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 3-2 at home this season after finishing the 2018-19 season 12-5 at home.
•SMSU is a combined 125-46 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 2-7 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 94-93 in 187 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    3-2    49.7    37.3    70.2    34.8    76.6    12.6    
Away    2-7    40.9    38.2    58.6    36.3    62.7    13.3         
          
    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 269-195 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13. The South holds a 9-7 lead this season as of Jan. 4.
•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 232-88 (.725) in 320 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    3-2    1-2    2-0
    Totals    232-88    152-63    80-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 635 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.

    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 373-403 in 776 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 1,461 games compiling an all-time record of 676-785.
•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.