THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (7-15, 4-12 NSIC) returns home for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match-ups versus North Division opponents this Friday and Saturday inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU will face Minnesota State University Moorhead (14-8, 10-6 NSIC) on Friday, Feb. 7, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m.
•SMSU concludes the weekend with a 6 p.m. match-up versus Northern State University (17-5, 13-3 NSIC) on Saturday, Feb. 8, for the annual "Hawaiian Night" game.  
•SMSU begins the weekend tied for sixth place in the NSIC South standings, while MSUM is third and NSU is in first place in the North Division standings.    
•This will be final two regular season games versus teams from the NSIC North Division.
 
    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 3-3 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and is a combined 40-22 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•In the last five games, SMSU opponents have combined to make 60 3-pointers, while SMSU has made 30.
•SMSU's current five-game home losing streak is its longest since losing 14 straight between the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons.
•SMSU split a pair of road games last weekend versus NSIC North Division opponents. SMSU opened with a 77-63 victory over Minnesota Crookston on Friday night, before losing 78-64 to Bemidji State on Saturday.  
•Kenny Byers scored a career-high 33 points on 11 of 18 shooting, while making 10 of 14 free throws in the win at UMC, while Jake Phipps and Nick Dufault each scored 10 points in the victory.  
•Dufault scored 27 points on 10 of 19 shooting with a career-high seven 3-pointers in the loss at BSU. Byers added 17 points and five rebounds. Phipps pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds and chipped in with eight points.  
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (18.2), rebounding (7.5), assists (67), steals (35) 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 50 3-pointers and is second on the squad in scoring (12.7). He ranks fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (42.1) and 12th in program history with 143 3-point field goals made. He needs 19 more 3-pointers to move into ninth all-time.
•Freshman Cliff McCray ranks third on the team in scoring (8.6) and second with 40 assists.    
•Junior Weston Baker Magrath has a team-high 42 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 eight times through 22 games this season and ranks 10th in the NSIC in rebounding margin (0.0). 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, 37 percent from 3-point range, 66 percent from the free throw line and is minus-0.2 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 78-44 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 MSU MOORHEAD
•SMSU and MSU Moorhead meet for the 105th time with MSUM leading 59-45 in a series that started during the 1968-69 season.
•The series is tied 24-24 in games played in Marshall with SMSU winning the last game played inside the R/A Facility, 113-105 in overtime on Jan. 27, 2017.
•MSUM has won nine of the last 15 games since the 2009-10 season.
•The teams split two games last season in Moorhead with MSUM winning 98-78 during the regular season, but SMSU earned an 86-81 victory in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.   
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 6-9 all-time versus MSUM.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 18.
 
    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS NORTHERN STATE
•SMSU and Northern State meet for the 97th time with NSU leading 65-31 in series that started in 1972-73.
•NSU leads 25-19 in games played in Marshall and has won the last two and three of the last four played inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU's last win at home came in overtime on Nov. 19, 2015, in a non-conference match-up. SMSU's last NSIC victory at home versus NSU occurred on Jan. 3, 2014.
•NSU has won nine the last 12 meetings overall since the 2014-15 season.
•The teams played twice last season with NSU winning 91-81 in Aberdeen during NSIC play and then earning a 72-68 victory in the championship game of the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.  
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-10 all-time versus NSU.
•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 186-139, including 126-108 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 MSU MOORHEAD
•The Dragons (14-8, 10-6 NSIC) have won three straight games, including defeating Minnesota State (88-63) and Concordia-St. Paul (85-72) last weekend in Moorhead.
•Sophomore guard Gavin Baumgartner was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Week on Monday averaging 26 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the two victories.
•Baumgartner leads the team averaging 17.2 ppg and has made 44 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Bryce Irsfeld is scoring 12.9 ppg and has connected on 36 3-pointers.
•MSUM is shooting 49 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 70 percent from the free throw line and is plus-5.0 in rebound margin.
•MSUM is averaging 79 points per game, while opponents are averaging 75 points per game.
•Chad Walthall is in his 10th season as head coach with a record 205-99 He was an assistant at MSU Moorhead for three seasons before coming to UMC.

    SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE
•The Wolves (17-5, 13-3 NSIC), which play at Sioux Falls on Friday, have won eight of their last nine games. NSU beat Concordia-St. Paul (88-60) and Minnesota State (96-62) at home last weekend.  
•Senior guard Parker Fox leads the team averaging 20.9 ppg and also is averaging a team-high 9.3 rpg. He is shooting 60.5 percent from the field and ranks ninth in Division II with 184 field goals made.
•Sophomore guard Mason Stark is scoring 15.8 ppg with 49 3-pointers and is shooting 60.2 percent from the field and 59.8 percent from 3-point range.
•NSU is shooting 50 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.0 in rebound margin.
•NSU is scoring 82 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71 per game.
•Saul Phillips is in his first season as head coach. He served as head coach at North Dakota State (2007-14) and Ohio University (2014-19) before arriving at NSU.

    SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics (Feb. 4) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 19th in total blocked shots, 32nd in blocked shots per game, 51st in field goal pct. defense, and 60th in scoring defense.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked 15th in blocked shots and 23rd in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks 25th in field goals attempted, 37th in field goals made and 74th 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 fourth in steals, eighth in scoring, 10th in rebounding, 14th in assists, 17th in free throw pct. and 18th in field goal pct.
•Nick Dufault ranks third in 3-point field goal pct. and sixth in 3-point field goals per game.  
•Weston Baker Magrath ranks fourth and Jake Phipps ranks 10th in blocked shots
•SMSU ranks second in field goal pct. defense, third in scoring defense and seventh 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 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 22 games and is averaging 6.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Leads the team with 42 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 22 games and leads team in scoring (18.2), rebounding (7.5), assists (67) and steals (35).
•Has scored 20 or more points nine times and has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
•Has scored double figures in all but one game this season.
•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 22 games with 20 starts and is averaging 3.9 ppg and 4.5 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 20 games with 11 starts and ranks second in scoring (12.7).
•Missed first two games of January with an injury.
•Has made a team-high 50 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. (42.1).
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers last season.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.

    KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Has missed 16 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 21 games with two starts and is averaging 3.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Missed the Bemidji State game 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 13 games with seven starts and is averaging 5.1 ppg and 2.7 rpg with 27 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 22 games and is averaging 8.6 ppg and 4.1 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 22 games and is averaging 5.6 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
•Scored career-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting at Minot State (1/17/20).
•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 15 games with four starts and is averaging 6.4 ppg and 3.0 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 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    3-6    46.3    35.0    69.8    34.1    70.1    12.3    
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 is 3-3 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and is a combined 40-22 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 285-211 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13. The South holds a 25-23 lead this season as of Feb. 1.
•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 643 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 375-409 in 784 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 1,469 games compiling an all-time record of 678-791.
•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.