THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team opens the 2021-22 regular season with a pair of games this Friday and Saturday in St. Paul, Minn., at the DoubleTree by Hilton Roseville Minneapolis Classic hosted by Concordia-St. Paul.
•SMSU opens play on Friday taking on Rogers State University (Okla.) with game time set for 4 p.m. The Mustangs close the weekend facing Newman University (Kan.) on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. Both games will be played at CSP's Gangelhoff Center.
•Both Rogers State and Newman are members of the Mid-America Athletic Association (MIAA).

    BROADCAST INFO
•Friday's game only will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Live stats and video broadcast of both games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS ROGERS STATE AND NEWMAN
•SMSU will be meeting both Rogers State and Newman for the first time in program history.
•SMSU last played a member of the MIAA two seasons ago defeating Central Missouri, 62-58, in Warrensburg, Mo.
•SMSU played a pair of MIAA opponents to open the 2018-19 season in Marshall, losing to Emporia State (Kan.), before defeating Fort Hays State (Kan.).

    SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 29-25 all-time in season openers having won eight of its last 15 and 16 of its last 24 season lid-lifters.
•SMSU however has lost its last three of its last four season openers, including last season at Minot State, 66-61.
•SMSU has opened the season on the road six times in the last seven seasons.

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 13th season as head coach and has an overall record of 190-153, including 128-119 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 won back-to-back NSIC South Division championships in 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.
•SMSU's 71 combined victories from 2016-19 was the best three-year stretch in program history.
•Bigler's complete bio is found on page 18.    

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE IN 2021-22   
•SMSU returns 10 letter winners from last season's unusual season, playing just 11 games and finishing with a 3-8 team. The team had numerous players miss games due to COVID protocols.
•SMSU will be bolstered this season by the return of senior guard Kenny Byers, a 2019-20 All-NSIC second team honoree, who sat out last season. Byers led SMSU in scoring (16.3), rebounding (6.9), assists (95) and steals (43) in 2019-20 and scored 20 or more points nine times, while recording eight double-doubles.
•The Mustangs return several starters from last season including sophomore center Jake Phipps, who averaged 11.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg while shooting a team-high 62 percent from the field.
•Sophomore guard Cliff McCray dished out a team-high 41 assists in nine games last season and averaged 7.7 ppg. •Redshirt freshman guard Sam Schwartz poured in 9.3 ppg and ranked third on the squad with 12 3-pointers in his first season.
•Senior guard Grant Kramer also returns after appearing in five games last season and averaging 7.0 ppg. SMSU also had six true or redshirt freshmen play last season who gained valuable experience and return this season.
•SMSU finished the 2020-21 season shooting 44 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 62 percent from the free throw line and was minus-5.7 in rebound margin. SMSU averaged 63 points per game, while opponents averaged 73 ppg.

    SMSU WINS LONE EXHIBITION GAME
•Southwest Minnesota State won its lone exhibition game of the preseason on Oct. 29 defeating Division III St. Olaf College, 78-55 in Marshall.
•Kenny Byers paced the Mustangs with 16 points on 5 of 9 shooting and dished out a team-high four assists. Dunwa Omot connected on three 3-pointers and finished scoring 15 points to help in the victory. Anthony Costello, a transfer from Dakota State University, made 6 of 12 field goals and poured in 14 points. Jake Phipps was the other Mustang in double-figure scoring with 11 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
•SMSU forced St. Olaf into 21 turnovers, leading to 31 points and held a 31-22 rebound advantage. The Mustangs outscored the Oles 42-18 in points in the paint.
•SMSU closed the game making 29 of 51 field goals, including 7 of 17 from 3-point range.

    KENNY BYERS RETURNS IN 2021-22
•Senior Kenny Byers, who sat out all of last season, returns to the team this season after earning second team All-NSIC in 2019-20.
•Byers led SMSU in nearly every offensive category two seasons ago averaging a team-high 16.3 points per game and ranked first on the team with 6.9 rebounds per game.
•He was the team leader in both assists (95) and steals (43) and closed the season shooting 44.9 percent (180 of 401) from the field and 70.5 percent (86 of 122) from the free throw line.
•His eight double-doubles ranked fifth among all NSIC players during the 2019-20 regular season.
•In NSIC play, Byers ranked fifth in the league in steals (1.5), 10th in scoring (17.3), 12th in rebounding (6.7), 12th in assists (3.5), 16th in assist/turnover ratio (1.1), 18th in field goal percentage (45.0) and 19th in free throw percentage (75.2).

    SCOUTING ROGERS STATE
•RSU finished last season 11-12 overall and tied for seventh place in the MIAA with a record of 11-11.  
•RSU was picked to finish seventh (coaches) and eighth (media) in the 14-team 2021-22 MIAA preseason polls.
•RSU lost 106-57 at Oklahoma on Nov. 1 in its lone exhibition game.
•The Hillcats bring back senior guard Devin Pullum, who averaged 15.7 points per game, dished out a team-high 72 assists and led the team with 46 3-pointers. He was named third team All-MIAA in 2021.
•RSU head coach Justin Barkley is in his 12th season and has led RSU to a winning record every season. RSU was selected for the 2020 NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid, but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.    
•RSU shot 44 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 78 percent from the free throw line and was minus-1.5 in rebound margin last season.
•RSU averaged 75 points per game, while opponents averaged 76 points per game.

    SCOUTING NEWMAN
•Newman finished last season 4-18 overall and tied for seventh place in the MIAA with a record of 11-11.  
•Newman was picked to finish 14 in both the coaches' and media 2021-22 MIAA preseason polls.
•RSU lost 106-57 at Oklahoma on Nov. 1 in its lone exhibition game.
•The Jets return junior guard Branden Bunn, who was second on the team last season averaging 12 points per game and making a team-high 57 3-pointers.
•Newman head coach R.J. Allen is in his fifth season.     
•Newman shot 42 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 73 percent from the free throw line and was minus-0.1 in rebound margin last season.
•Newman averaged 68 points per game, while opponents averaged 79 points per game.

    SMSU IN THE FINAL NCAA & NSIC WEEKLY STATISTICS   
•In the final 2020-21 NCAA statistics, SMSU ranked 33rd in 3-point field goal pct. (38.4).
•In the 2020-21 NSIC final stats, Cliff McCray ranked second in assists per game (5.2) and fifth in steals per game (2.0).
•Jake Phipps ranked seventh in blocked shots per game (1.3), while
•The final NCAA statistics can be found on page 17, while the final NSIC stats are on page 15-16.
 
    SMSU PICKED 7TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 13th overall and seventh in the South Division in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•SMSU senior guard Kenny Byers was named a "Player to Watch".
•Minnesota State and Wayne State each were chosen as the South Division favorites. MSU Moorhead was selected as the overall preseason favorite.  

    NEW LOOK NSIC FORMAT TOURNAMENT  
•SMSU is set to play 22 conference games this season, including two versus each team within the NSIC South Division and one each versus the NSIC North Division.
•New this season, the men's teams will play first, followed by the women's game in half of the NSIC doubleheaders.
•Also new this season, the NSIC Sanford Tournament will feature just 12 teams, with the top six in each division qualifying for the tournament. The top two teams in each division receive a spot in the quarterfinals.
•The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game will all be played at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

    MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES  
•Two current SMSU players, senior Kenny Byers along with sophomore Jake Phipps have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Byers reached 20 points nine times during the 2019-20 season and has 11 times in his career, which includes one 30-point game.
•Phipps reached 20 points in the season finale versus Sioux Falls last season.
20 or More Point Games in Career
    33    Kenny Byers    Minnesota Crookston, 1/31/20
    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
    22    Jake Phipps    Sioux Falls, 2/21/21
    21    Kenny Byers    Concordia-St. Paul, 1/10/20
    21    Kenny Byers    Augustana, 1/3/20
    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 2021-22 season

    LOGAN BENSON NOTES
•Played in seven games with two starts last season.
•Scored two points and two rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/24/21)
•Sat out the 2019-20 season as a redshirt.

    KENNY BYERS NOTES
•Sat out the 2020-21 season.
•Started all 29 games in 2019-20 and led team in scoring (16.3), rebounding (6.9), assists (95) and steals (43).
•Named second team All-NSIC in 2019-20.
•Scored 20 or more points nine times and recorded eight double-doubles in 2019-20.
•Scored double figures in all but three games.
•Scored career-high 33 points at Minnesota Crookston (1/31/20).  
•Grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•Named to the 2019 NSIC All-Tournament team.

    NOAH CHAMBERLAIN NOTES
•Played in eight games with two starts and averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg.
•Scored season-high seven points vs. Minot State (1/8/21) on 3 of 3 shooting with one 3-pointer.
•Scored five points vs. Minnesota State (1/24/21).
•Sat out the 2019-20 season as a redshirt.

    ALEX HILLESHEIM NOTES
•Played in five games averaged 4.0 ppg and 2.0 rpg.
•Scored career-high 13 points on five field goals and grabbed a career-high six rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/24/21).

    GRANT KRAMER NOTES
•Played in five games with three starts after missing the first six games due to injury.
•Scored 11 points with three 3-pointers vs. Wayne State (2/13/21).  
•Played in 20 games with 11 starts in 2019-20 and averaged 7.2 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Scored career-high 18 points on a career-high seven field goals with four 3-pointers at Northern State (2/26/20).
•Scored 17 points with five 3-pointers versus both Wayne State (2/21/20) and Augustana (2/22/20).
•Career-high 11 rebounds at Minnesota State (1/12/19).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.

    CLIFF MCCRAY NOTES
•Played and started nine games and averaged 7.7 ppg and a team-high 6.0 rpg.
•Led the team with 41 assists.
•Scored season-high 13 points vs. Augustana (2/7/21).
•Grabbed season-high nine rebounds vs. Minot State (1/8/21).  
•Started all 28 games in 2019-20 and averaged 8.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 2019-20.
•Career-high 16 points at Upper Iowa (2/15/20).
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.

    LANCE MOSLEY NOTES
•Played in three games last season and scored two points vs. Minnesota State (1/23/21).

    DUNWA OMOT NOTES
•Played in four games and averaged 1.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg.
•Made 3-pointer vs. Wayne State (2/21/21).

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Started 10 of 11 games and is averaged 11.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg.
•Tied career-high with 18 points at Minot State (1/3/21) and at Augustana (2/7/21).
•Appeared in all 29 games with three starts in 2019-20 and averaged 7.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
•Shot a team-high 63.3 percent from the field in 2019-20 ranking third in team history.
•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.

    SAM SCHWARTZ NOTES
•Payed in nine games with four starts and averaged 9.3 ppg and 2.8 rpg.
•Scored career-high 15 points with six field goals vs. Sioux Falls (2/21/21).
•Hit three 3-pointers twice vs. Minot State (1/8-9/21).
•Sat out the 2019-20 season as a redshirt.

    JONATHAN ZINNIEL NOTES
•Played in three games last season and had one rebound.  

    HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU finished 2-6 at home last season after finishing 4-9 in 2019-20.
•SMSU is a combined 128-59 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU finished 1-2 in road/neutral site games last season and are a combined 97-100 in 197 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 2020-21:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    2-6    43.1    34.8    65.6    29.0    61.6    14.0     
Away    1-2    45.8    53.7    56.0    33.7    67.3    14.7   

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU did not have any conference games versus NSIC North Division teams in 2020-21.
•SMSU finished 3-5 versus NSIC North Division teams in 2019-20 and is a combined 40-24 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•The 2019-20 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 in 2019-20.
•Through eight seasons of conference play, the NSIC South holds a 294-218 advantage over NSIC North teams since divisions were formed in 2012-13.  
•The 2018-19 season is the only year in which the North has held an advantage versus the South.  

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2021-22 season marks the 26th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 235-101 (.699) in 336 games with three 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    4-9    2-9    2-0
    2020-21    2-6    1-5    1-1
    2021-22    -    -    -
    Totals    235-101    154-75    81-26

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has made on at least one 3-point field goal in 661 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.

    MUSTANGS AND THE CENTURY MARK
•SMSU did not reach 100 points in 2020-21 and last scored 100 points on Feb. 1, 2019, versus Minnesota Crookston.
•SMSU is 40-8 all-time when scoring 100 points, including 8-2 under head coach Brad Bigler.




    WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU finished 1-0 in overtime games in 2020-21 defeating Sioux Falls in the season finale, 76-69.
•SMSU is 48-39 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is 7-6 in double overtime games and is 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.  

    SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is now 29-25 all-time in season openers following this season's 66-61 loss at Minot State.
•SMSU has opened the season on the road five times in the last six seasons.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2020-21 campaign marked the 52nd season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 378-421 in 799 conference games (through 2021), finishing in the top half of the final standings 25 times in 51 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 55th season of men's basketball in 2021-22.
•SMSU has played 1,487 games compiling an all-time record of 682-805.
•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 24 years.