THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (5-1, 1-0 NSIC), winners of five straight, return to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a pair of games this Thursday and Saturday.
•On Thursday night, SMSU travels to Wayne, Neb., to face Wayne State College (4-3, 1-0 NSIC) at Rice Auditorium with game time set for 5:30 p.m.
•SMSU returns home on Saturday afternoon with a match-up versus Augustana University (6-1, 0-1 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 3:30 p.m. inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU enters Thursday's game having won five straight for the first time since winning five in a row during the 2018-19 season. SMSU is looking for its first six-game winning streak since winning 10 in a row during the 2017-18 season.
•SMSU has won two straight road games for the first time since Dec. 15, 2018, (Minnesota Duluth) and Dec. 30, 2018 (Sioux Falls).

    BROADCAST INFO
•Both game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Live stats, radio and video broadcasts of all games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    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 195-154, including 129-119 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 16.

    SMSU EARNS NON-CONFERENCE VICTORY ON MONDAY NIGHT
•SMSU used a 14-0 run midway through the second half to pull away and earn an 83-60 victory over Minnesota Morris in non-conference play on Monday night.
•Cliff McCray led five Mustangs in double figure scoring tying a career-high with 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists.
•Jake Phipps, Grant Kramer, Kenny Byers and Anthony Costello all finished with 12 points, while Sam Schwartz pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds and dished out a career-high six assists.
•SMSU held a 50-38 rebound advantage and outscored UMM, 17-3, on second chance points. The Mustangs closed the game shooting 45 percent (33 of 73) from the field, while making 7 of 22 from 3-point range.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•As of Nov. 29, SMSU ranks 19th in Division II in scoring defense (62.2) and 22nd in rebound margin (+9.2) and 31st in free throw pct. (79.1). A complete listing of the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.
•SMSU's 50 rebounds during Monday night's victory over Minnesota Morris was the first time SMSU recorded 50 rebounds in a game since Feb. 26, 2011, versus Minnesota State.
•Redshirt freshman Sam Schwartz set career-highs in both rebounds (11) and assists (6) in the win over UMM.
•Sophomore Jake Phipps leads the team in scoring (16.2), rebounding (8.0), and field goal pct. (59.1).
•Redshirt freshman Dunwa Omot has connected on a team-high 13 3-pointers. He has made three or more 3-pointers three of six games.
•Sophomore Cliff McCray and senior Kenny Byers each have a team-high 24 assists, while McCray has recorded a team-high 12 steals.
•Byers is closing in on becoming the 25th player in team history to score 1,000 career points. He has poured in 985 points in 99 career games, making 382 field goals, including 56 3-pointers and has made 165 free throws.
•SMSU has held all six opponents to 69 or less points, including a season-low 58 in a victory over Newman (Kan.) on Nov. 13.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponent in all six games this season.
•SMSU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-9.2 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 70 points per game, while opponents are averaging 63 points per game.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WAYNE STATE
•SMSU and Wayne State meet for the 77th time on Thursday with WSC leading 41-35 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•WSC leads the series 24-10 in games played in Wayne, but SMSU won the last match-up inside Rice Auditorium on Jan. 4, 2020. SMSU has won four of the last five games at WSC since the 2015-16 season.
•SMSU has won 17 of the last 22 games since Dec. 3, 2011, but WSC won both games last season in Marshall, 82-54 and 74-56.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 19-7 all-time versus WSC.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS AUGUSTANA
•SMSU and Augustana meet for the 41st time on Saturday with Augustana leading 25-15 with the first meeting in 1972-73.
•Augustana holds an 11-8 advantage in games played in Marshall, including winning the past six meetings inside the R/A Facility. SMSU's last win at home came on Dec. 6, 2013.
•Augustana holds a 7-4 advantage since Dec. 20, 2016, and has won the past five games, including earning an 84-74 win last season in Sioux Falls, S.D. SMSU's last win in the series was on Feb. 24, 2018, at the NSIC Tournament.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-16 all-time versus Augustana.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 18.

    SMSU SETS PROGRAM SINGLE-GAME RECORD
•This year's Mustang team set a program single-game record in an 84-58 victory over Newman on Nov. 13 connecting on all 15 free throw attempts. The previous single-game record was a 14 for 14 performance versus Minnesota Crookston  Jan. 18, 2002.  

    SCOUTING WAYNE STATE
•Wayne State is 4-3 overall, 1-0 NSIC, entering play on Thursday.   
•WSC earned a 67-64 victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Monday night with Alec Millender hitting a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining.  
•Junior Jordan Janssen is averaging a team-high 16.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg, while shooting 56 percent.
•Redshirt freshman Justin Eagins is scoring 12 ppg with nine 3-pointers.   
•WSC is shooting 44 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-0.9 in rebound margin.
•WSC is averaging 71 points per game, while opponents are averaging 66 points per game.
•Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his sixth season at WSC with a record of 70-78. He has also been head coach at Valley City State and Wisconsin-Superior.  

    SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
•Augustana is 6-1 overall, 0-1 NSIC, suffering its only loss of the season on Nov. 23 at Wayne State.   
•Augustana, which beat Doane and Grand View last weekend, will host Sioux Falls on Thursday night.
•Senior Tyler Riemersma is averaging a team-high 17.1 ppg and 10.9 rpg.
•Junior Isaac Fink is scoring 17 ppg with 15 3-pointers and averaging 6.3 rpg.
•Senior Dylan LeBrun is averaging 10.9 ppg.
•Augustana is shooting 44 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 79 percent from the free throw line and is plus-10.9 in rebound margin.
•Augustana is averaging 74 points per game, while opponents are averaging 63 points per game.
•Head coach Tom Billeter is in his 19th season with a record of 339-194. He led the Vikings to the 2016 NCAA Championship. He has a career record of 436-246 in 23 seasons overall having spent four seasons as head coach at North Dakota State.

    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.

    PHIPPS EARNS NSIC WEEKLY AWARD
•SMSU sophomore Jake Phipps was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Nov. 22 following his play in a pair of SMSU victories in Kenosha, Wis.
•Phipps averaged 18 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocked shots in SMSU's victories over Wisconsin-Parkside and Davenport (Mich.). He shot a combined 64 percent (16 of 25) from the field, including connecting on three 3-pointers during the two games.

    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.
•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).

    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 has reached 20 points once this season and has 12 times in his career, which includes one 30-point game.
•Phipps reached 20 points twice this season and has three 20-point games in his career.
20 or More Point Games in Career
    33    Kenny Byers    Minnesota Crookston, 1/31/20
    27    Kenny Byers    St. Cloud State, 12/13/19
    26    Kenny Byers    Parkside, 11/19/21
    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, 11/23/21
    22    Jake Phipps    Sioux Falls, 2/21/21
    21    Jake Phipps    Davenport, 11/20/21
    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
•Has started all six games and is averaging 2.0 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
•Made first career 3-pointer at Sioux Falls (11/23/21).
•Played in seven games with two starts last season.
•Scored three points vs. Davenport (11/20/21) and grabbed five rebounds.  
•Sat out the 2019-20 season as a redshirt.

    KENNY BYERS NOTES
•Has started all six games and is averaging 14.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg.
•Tied for team lead with 24 assists.
•Scored season-high 26 points with 10 field goals at Parkside (11/19).
•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.
•Recorded eight double-doubles in 2019-20.
•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
•Has played in three games two points and two rebounds this season.
•Played in eight games with two starts last season 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.

    ANTHONY COSTELLO NOTES
•Has played in all six games and is averaging 8.0 ppg and 4.2 rpg.
•Scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds vs. Newman (11/13/21) and also scored 12 points vs. Minnesota Morris (11/29/21).
•Spent three seasons (2018-21) at Dakota State.

    ALEX HILLESHEIM NOTES
•Has played in two games this season.
•Last season 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
•Has started all six games and is averaging 5.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg.
•Scored season-high 12 points vs. Minnesota Morris (11/29/21).
•Played in five games with three starts last season after missing the first six games due to injury.
•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
•Has started all six games and is averaging 13.2 ppg and is tied for the team lead with 24 assists.
•Tied career-high with 19 points vs. Minnesota Morris (11/29/21).
•Scored 19 points vs. Newman (11/13/21) on 7 of 10 shooting.
•Played and started nine games in 2020-21 and averaged 7.7 ppg and a team-high 6.0 rpg.
•Led the team with 41 assists.
•Started all 28 games in 2019-20 and averaged 8.7 ppg and 3.9 rpg in 2019-20.
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.

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

    DUNWA OMOT NOTES
•Has played in five games and is averaging 9.2 ppg and 1.0 rpg.
•Leads the team with 13 3-pointers.
•Poured in career-high 16 points of 5 of 6 shooting with four 3-pointers vs. Davenport (11/20/21).
•Scored 15 points on 5 of 6 shooting with three 3-pointers vs. Newman (11/13/21).
•Played in four games and averaged 1.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg in 2020-21.

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has started all six games is averaging 16.2 ppg and 8.0 rpg.
•Tied a career-high with 22 points with four 3-pointers at Sioux Falls (11/23/21).
•Named NSIC South Player of the Week on Nov. 22, 2021.
•Scored 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting with 11 rebounds vs. Davenport (11/20/21).  
•Grabbed career-high 12 rebounds and scored 15 points at Parkside (11/19/21).  
•Started 10 of 11 games in 2020-21 and averaged 11.1 ppg and 4.6 rpg.
•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 five blocked shots vs. Concordia (1/10/20).
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    SAM SCHWARTZ NOTES
•Has played in six games and is averaging 3.0 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored five points vs. Rogers State (11/12/21).
•Grabbed career-high 11 rebounds with a career-high six assists vs. Minnesota Morris (11/29/21).
•Played in nine games with four starts in 2020-21 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
•Has played in two games and scored two points vs. Newman (11/13/21) and Minnesota Morris (11/29/21).
•Played in three games in 2020-21 and had one rebound.  

    HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU is 1-0 at home this season after finishing 2-6 last season and 4-9 in 2019-20.
•SMSU is a combined 129-59 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 4-1 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 101-101 in 202 road/neutral site games since Brad Bigler took over as head coach in 2009-10.
•The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2021-22:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    1-0    45.2    31.8    58.8    50.0    83.0    8.0    
Away    4-1    45.9    36.3    79.1    37.8    70.0    13.0

    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 236-101 (.700) in 337 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    1-0    0-0    1-0
    Totals    236-101    154-75    82-26

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has made on at least one 3-point field goal in 667 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 29-26 all-time in season openers following this season's loss to Rogers State.
•SMSU has opened the season on the road six times in the last seven seasons.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2021-22 campaign marks the 53rd season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 378-420 in 798 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 25 times in 52 seasons.
•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 1,493 games compiling an all-time record of 687-806.
•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.