THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (7-17, 4-14 NSIC) will look to snap a three-game losing streak when it heads to the road for one final time during the regular season with a pair of games versus NSIC South Division opponents.  
•SMSU will take on Upper Iowa University (15-9, 12-6 NSIC) on Friday, Feb. 14, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. inside Dorman Gym in Fayette, Iowa.
•SMSU closes the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 15, with a 5:30 p.m. match-up at Winona State University (14-10, 11-7 NSIC) at McCown Gym in Winona, Minn.  
•SMSU begins the weekend in eighth place in the NSIC South standings, while UIU is second and WSU is in third place in the division standings.    
•SMSU lost to both Upper Iowa and Winona State three weeks ago in Marshall.
•The Mustangs will close the regular season at home on Feb. 21-22, before playing on the road for the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Feb. 26.
 
    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 finished 3-5 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and are now a combined 40-24 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU opponents have made the same or made more 3-point field goals than SMSU in nine straight games. The last time SMSU made more 3-pointers than their opponent came on Jan. 10 versus Concordia-St. Paul.  
•The Mustangs lost a pair of hard-fought home games last weekend versus NSIC North Division opponents. SMSU lost to MSU Moorhead last Friday, 67-52, before losing to Northern State on Saturday, 74-66.
•SMSU led MSU Moorhead 49-47 with just over nine minutes left in the game, but MSUM rallied to close the game on a 20-3 run. The Mustangs committed 16 turnovers--its second highest total of the season--in the game.
•Grant Kramer scored led the Mustangs with 11 points on 4 of 4 shooting with three 3-pointers in the loss to MSUM.   
•In the loss to NSU, the game was tied at 63 with 3:15 left in the game, but NSU pulled away late to earn the win.
•Jake Phipps scored 16 points and pulled down six rebounds in the setback, while Andy Stafford added 13 points.  
•SMSU's current seven-game home losing streak is its longest since losing 14 straight between the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
•SMSU attempted a season-low 45 field goals and made a season-low two free throws in the loss to MSU Moorhead last Friday.
•SMSU made a season-high 19 free throws versus Northern State on Saturday.
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (17.3), rebounding (7.2), assists (73), steals (37) and has recorded a team-high seven double-doubles.  
•Junior Nick Dufault, who missed two games in early January with an injury, has connected on a team-high 52 3-pointers and is second on the squad in scoring (12.7). He ranks fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.9) and 12th in program history with 145 3-point field goals made. He needs 17 more 3-pointers to move into ninth all-time.
•Freshman Cliff McCray ranks third on the team in scoring (8.5) and second with 42 assists.    
•Junior Weston Baker Magrath has a team-high 46 blocked shots ranking fifth in team single-season history. The record is 55 set by Mark Ornatek in 1979-80.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents nine times through 24 games this season and ranks 10th in the NSIC in rebounding margin (-0.1). Last season, SMSU finished last in the NSIC in rebound margin (minus-8.5).  
•For the season, SMSU is shooting 45 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 66 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.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS UPPER IOWA
•SMSU and Upper Iowa meet for the 31st time with SMSU leading 21-9 in a match-up that started in 1979-80.
•UIU won earlier this season on Jan. 25 in Marshall with a come-from-behind 80-77 victory.
•SMSU leads 8-4 in games played in Fayette, including winning last season, 91-87.
•UIU's win on Jan. 25 snapped a five-game SMSU winning streak in the series. Prior to the streak, UIU had won six of the previous seven games.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 13-8 all-time versus UIU.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.

    LAST TIME VERSUS UPPER IOWA
•Upper Iowa rallied for a dramatic 80-77 victory over SMSU on Jan. 25, 2020, in Marshall. SMSU held a 75-68 lead with 1:19 left in the game, but UIU rallied back to score 12 points in the final 64 seconds to earn the victory.
•UIU's Jake Hilmer converted a three-point play with five seconds left to give the Peacocks a 78-77 lead.
•SMSU had five players score in double figures with Kenny Byers leading the way with 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Jake Phipps and Weston Baker Magrath each scored 14 points.
•Jareese Williams scored a game-high 24 points for the Peacocks, which made 11 3-pointers in the victory.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WINONA STATE
•SMSU and Winona State meet for the 111th time with WSU leading 71-39 in a series that started in 1968-69.
•WSU holds a 28-8 advantage since 2004-05, but the series is tied 6-6 in the last 12 meetings. WSU has won three of the last four games.
•WSU earned a 66-53 victory earlier this season on Jan. 24 in Marshall.
•WSU hold a 41-11 advantage in games played in Winona, winning the past two meetings, including last season, 85-67.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-14 all-time versus WSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series are on page 19.

    LAST TIME VERSUS WINONA STATE
•Winona State connected on 11 3-pointers and held SMSU to just three 3-pointers in earning a 63-55 victory on Jan. 24, 2020, in Marshall.
•WSU held a 51-50 lead with 3:30 left in the game before closing the game on a 12-5 run.  
•WSU's Kevion Taylor was outstanding all game as he scored 27 points on 8 of 15 shooting with five 3-pointers and also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
•Kenny Byers led the Mustangs with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Andy Stafford chipped in with 10 points off the bench and grabbed five rebounds.

    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 186-141, including 126-110 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 UPPER IOWA
•Upper Iowa is 15-9 overall, 12-6 NSIC, following a road split last weekend, losing to UMary (85-71), before defeating Minot State (94-71).
•Junior forward Jareese Williams is averaging 13.8 ppg and leads the team with 75 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Joe Smoldt is scoring 12.4 ppg with 48 3-pointers.
•Jake Hilmer had dished out 115 assists and is averaging 12.5 ppg.
•UIU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 72 percent from the free throw line and is minus-4.8 in rebound margin. UIU ranks 15th in the NSIC in rebounding margin through 18 league games.
•UIU is averaging 82 points per game, while opponents average 81 points per game.  
•Head coach Brooks McKowen is in his seventh season at UIU with a record of 110-91. He led the Peacocks to the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
•McKowen was an assistant coach at SMSU from 2011-13.

    SCOUTING WINONA STATE
•Winona State is 14-10 overall, 11-7 NSIC, and is coming off two road victories over Minot State (73-68) and UMary (86-83). WSU will host Sioux Falls on Friday night.
•Junior guard Kevion Taylor is scoring 20.0 ppg and leads the team in rebounding (7.6), while connecting on a team-high 89 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Caleb Wagner is averaging 20.4 ppg with 54 3-pointers.   
•Junior forward Andrea Lo Biondo is scoring 9.1 ppg and averaging 6.4 rpg.  
•WSU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is minus-3.7 in rebound margin.
•WSU is averaging 77 points per game, while opponents average 74 points per game.  
•Head coach Todd Eisner is in his fifth season with a record  of 74-66. He recorded 417 career victories as a head coach at Midland (Neb.), Benedictine (Kan.), Bellevue (Neb.) and Viterbo (Wis.).  

    SMSU VICTORIES OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS SEASONS
•SMSU has posted a combined record of 78-46 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.

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics (Feb. 10) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 22nd in total blocked shots, 30th in blocked shots per game, 58th in scoring defense, 71st in 3-point field goal pct. and 74th in field goal pct. defense.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked 16th in blocked shots and 23rd in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks 29th in field goals attempted and 51st in field goals made.

    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 third in steals, 10th in scoring, 10th in rebounding, 14th in assists, 17th in free throw pct. and 19th in field goal pct.
•Nick Dufault ranks sixth in 3-point field goals per game.  
•Weston Baker Magrath ranks fourth, while Jake Phipps ranks 11th in blocked shots.
•SMSU ranks third in field goal pct. defense, third in scoring defense and sixth in 3-point field goal pct.
•SMSU ranks last in both scoring offense and free throw pct. and 15th in 3-point field goal pct. 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 nine times this season and 11 times in his career, which includes one 30-point game this season, while Dufault has three 20-point games this season and five in his career.
20 or More Point Games in Career
    33    Kenny Byers    Minnesota Crookston, 1/31/20
    28    Nick Dufault    Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
    27    Nick Dufault    Bemidji State, 2/1/20
    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 all 24 games and is averaging 6.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Leads the team with 46 blocked shots ranking fifth 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 24 games and leads team in scoring (17.3), rebounding (7.2), assists (73) and steals (37).
•Has scored 20 or more points nine times and has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
•Has scored double figures in all but two games.
•Scored career-high 33 points at Minnesota Crookston (1/31/20).  
•Scored 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 24 games with 22 starts and is averaging 3.9 ppg and 4.4 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 22 games with 13 starts and ranks second in scoring (12.7).
•Missed first two games of January with an injury.
•Has made a team-high 52 3-pointers.
•Made career-high seven 3-pointers at Bemidji State (2/1/20).
•Career-high 28 points with a career-high 11 field goals vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•Has scored 20 or more points three times this season.
•Ranks fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.9).
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers last season.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Has missed all but six games with an injury.
•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 21 games with two starts and is averaging 3.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Missed last three games with an injury.
•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).
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    GRANT KRAMER NOTES
•Missed nine games with an injury.
•Has played in 15 games with seven starts and is averaging 5.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg with 28 assists.
•Made three 3-pointers vs. MSU Moorhead (2/7/20).
•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 24 games and is averaging 8.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg.
•Has scored double figures in 11 games.
•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 24 games and is averaging 6.2 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
•Scored career-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting at Minot State (1/17/20).
•Poured in 16 points vs. Northern State (2/8/20).
•Career-high 10 rebounds at Bemidji State (2/1/20).
•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 17 games with four starts and is averaging 6.6 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points with three 3-pointers vs. Concordia (1/10/20).  
•Has scored double figures in six 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 3-8 at home this season after finishing the 2018-19 season 12-5 at home.
•SMSU is a combined 125-52 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 4-8 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 96-95 in 191 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    3-8    46.3    36.7    69.9    33.5    68.1    12.5    
Away    4-9    43.4    38.3    63.7    33.6    63.5    13.0    
              
    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 finished 3-5 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and is a combined 40-24 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•This season was just the second time in eight seasons SMSU had a losing record versus the North Division.
•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 South finished with a 34-30 advantage this season.
•Now through eight seasons, the NSIC South holds a 294-218 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13.  
•In 2018-19, the North finished 38-26, which is the only time in now-eight seasons the North has 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 232-94 (.711) in 326 games with three losing seasons (including this season).
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    3-8    1-8    2-0
    Totals    232-94    152-69    80-25

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 645 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 375-411 in 786 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 1,471 games compiling an all-time record of 678-793.
•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.