THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (7-17, 4-14 NSIC) will look to snap a five-game losing streak this weekend with its final two home games of the 2019-20 season on Friday and Saturday at the R/A Facility.   
•SMSU will take on Wayne State College (10-19, 7-13 NSIC) on Friday, Feb. 21, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m., before closing the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 22, with a 6 p.m. match-up versus Augustana University (16-10, 11-9 NSIC)
•SMSU begins the weekend in eighth place in the NSIC South standings, while WSC is sixth and AU is in fifth place in the division standings.    
•SMSU lost at Augustana in early January, but defeated Wayne State one night later in the first meeting versus both teams.
•SMSU will play on the road for the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The official tournament bracket will be released on Saturday night.
 
    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
•In most seasons, the final regular season home game is "Senior Night". But that won't take place this weekend as the 2019-20 roster does not feature any seniors.
•SMSU's current seven-game home losing streak is its longest since losing 14 straight during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. SMSU's last home victory came on Dec. 14 in triple overtime versus Minnesota Duluth.
•SMSU opponents have made the same or made more 3-point field goals than SMSU in 11 straight games. The last time SMSU made more 3-pointers than their opponent occurred on Jan. 10 versus Concordia-St. Paul.  
•The Mustangs dropped a pair of close road games last weekend to Upper Iowa and Winona State. SMSU had the lead in both games with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation.
•In Friday's loss at UIU, Kenny Byers led the team with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jake Phipps and Andy Stafford both added 11 points. The Mustangs held the Peacocks to 35 percent shooting, but UIU made 20 of 24 free throws, compared to just 7 of 10 for SMSU.
•In the loss at WSU, SMSU held an eight-point advantage with 11 minutes remaining, but WSU used a 19-3 run to rally for the victory. Cliff McCray scored a career-high 16 points and pulled down five rebounds for the Mustangs.  
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (16.7), rebounding (7.0), assists (77), steals (39) 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 53 3-pointers and is second on the squad in scoring (11.4). He ranks seventh in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.5) and 12th in program history with 146 3-point field goals made. He needs 16 more 3-pointers to move into ninth all-time.
•Freshman Cliff McCray ranks third on the team in scoring (8.8) and second with 45 assists.    
•Junior Weston Baker Magrath has a team-high 50 blocked shots ranking fifth in team single-season history. The record is 55 set by Mark Ornatek in 1979-80.
•For the season, SMSU is shooting 45 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 67 percent from the free throw line and is even in rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 65 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WAYNE STATE
•SMSU and Wayne State meet for the 74th time with WSC leading 39-34 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•SMSU leads the series 22-14 in games played in Marshall, but WSC won last season's game inside the R/A Facility snapping a 19-game losing streak in Marshall.
•SMSU has won 16 of the last 19 games overall since Dec. 3, 2011, including earlier this season on Jan. 4 in Wayne, Neb., 62-59.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 18-5 all-time versus WSC.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.

    LAST TIME VERSUS WAYNE STATE
•Andy Stafford scored a career-high 13 points, including 11 late in the second half, to help SMSU earn a 62-59 road victory over Wayne State on Jan. 4.
•Stafford closed the game making 5 of 7 shots, including a perfect 3 of 3 from 3-point range.  
•Kenny Byers led the Mustangs with 24 points and 11 rebounds.
•The Mustangs, which played the game with just seven players because of injuries, finished the game shooting 42 percent (22 of 52), including 7 of 15 from 3-point range.
•SMSU committed a season-high 20 turnovers, but held a 43-32 rebound edge.
•Jordan Janssen paced the Wildcats with 25 points and 11 rebounds. WSC shot 35 percent (21 of 60) for the game and connected on 4 of 12 from 3-point range.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS AUGUSTANA
•SMSU and Augustana meet for the 39th time with Augustana leading 23-15 with the first meeting occurring in 1972-73.
•Augustana holds a 10-8 advantage in games played in Marshall, including winning the past five games. SMSU's last win in Marshall came on Dec. 6, 2013.  
•Augustana is hold a 5-4 advantage since Dec. 20, 2016, including earning a 64-61 victory in Sioux Falls earlier this season on Jan. 3.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-14 all-time versus Augustana.
•Game-by-game results of the series are on page 19.

    LAST TIME VERSUS AUGUSTANA
•Augustana held off an SMSU rally in the final minute to earn a 64-61 victory on Jan. 3 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
•SMSU was led by Kenny Byers, who scored 21 points on 10 of 16 shooting with seven rebounds. Cliff McCray scored 12 points, while Brian Dayman added 10 points for SMSU, which close the night shooting 49 percent (24 of 49) from the field, including 9 of 18 from 3-point range.
•Augustana's Matt Todd scored a game-high 25 points, including making six free throws in the final 16 seconds of the game.
•The Vikings shot just 28 percent in the game, but made 20 of 24 free throws.

    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 186-143, including 126-112 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 WAYNE STATE
•Wayne State is 10-19 overall, 7-13 NSIC, and has lost its last four games, including two at home in overtime last weekend to Concordia-St. Paul (93-89) and Minnesota State (72-70).  
•Sophomore guard Jordan Janssen leads the team in scoring, 17.1 ppg and rebounding, 10 rpg. He is also shooting 51 percent from the field.  
•Junior guard Nick Ferrarini is scoring 14.6 ppg and has made 62 3-pointers.
•Junior forward Nate Mohr is averaging 12.1 ppg and has made 64 3-pointers.
•WSC is shooting 45 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 71 percent from the free throw line and is minus-1.0 in rebound margin.
•WSC is averaging 73 points per game, while opponents average 78 points per game.  
•Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his fourth season at WSC with a record of 50-56. He has also been head coach at Valley City State and Wisconsin-Superior.

    SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
•Augustana is 16-10 overall, 11-9 NSIC, and will play at Sioux Falls on Friday night. The Vikings have won three straight, including beating Minnesota State (73-66) and Concordia-St. Paul (92-71) at home last weekend.   
•Sophomore guard Matt Todd is averaging 13.1 ppg and has made a team-high 58 3-pointers.
•Junior forward Tyler Riemersma is scoring 13 ppg and is averaging a team-high 10.5 rpg. He is shooting a team-high 50 percent from the field.  
•Head coach Tom Billeter is in his 17th season with a record of 321-187. He has a 412-229 overall record in 22 seasons as a head coach.   
•AU is shooting 43 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-8.7 in rebound margin.
•AU is averaging 80 points per game, while opponents average 73 points per game.  

    SMSU WINS OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS SEASONS
•SMSU has posted a combined record of 78-48 since the start of 2016-17 season (nearly four seasons) 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. 17) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 19th in total blocked shots, 31st in blocked shots per game, 49th in scoring defense and 53rd in field goal pct. defense.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked 16th in blocked shots and 22nd in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks 38th in field goals attempted and 68th 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 fourth in steals, 11th in scoring, ninth in rebounding, 14th in assists, 19th in free throw pct. and 18th in field goal pct.
•Cliff McCray now ranks 14th in steals.
•Nick Dufault ranks ninth in 3-point field goals per game.  
•Weston Baker Magrath ranks fourth, while Jake Phipps ranks 10th in blocked shots.
•SMSU ranks second in scoring defense, third in field goal pct. defense and sixth in 3-point field goal pct.
•SMSU ranks last in scoring offense, free throw pct., assist/turnover ratio 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 played in all 26 games with 25 starts and is averaging 6.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Leads the team with 50 blocked shots ranking fourth 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 26 games and leads team in scoring (16.7), rebounding (7.0), assists (77) and steals (39).
•Has scored 20 or more points nine times and has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
•Has scored double figures in all but three 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 26 games with 23 starts and is averaging 3.7 ppg and is second on the team with 4.2 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 24 games with 13 starts and ranks second in scoring (11.4).
•Missed first two games of January with an injury.
•Has made a team-high 53 3-pointers.
•Ranks seventh in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.5).
•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.
•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 five 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 17 games with nine starts and is averaging 5.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•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 26 games and is averaging 8.8 ppg and 4.0 rpg.
•Has scored double figures in 12 games.
•Career-high 16 points at Upper Iowa (2/15/20).
•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 26 games with one start and is averaging 6.5 ppg and 3.7 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 19 games with five starts and is averaging 7.0 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points with three 3-pointers vs. Concordia (1/10/20).  
•Has scored double figures in seven 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 home season at 12-5.
•SMSU is a combined 125-52 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 4-11 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 96-97 in 193 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    4-11    43.7    37.7    65.1    33.3    62.5    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 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 647 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 375-413 in 788 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 1,473 games compiling an all-time record of 678-795.
•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.