THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (9-5, 5-4 NSIC) returns to the road this Friday night taking on Northern State University (10-8, 4-6 NSIC) with game time set for 5:30 p.m. at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen, S.D.
•SMSU was originally scheduled to play at MSU Moorhead on Saturday night but the game was canceled due to COVID 19 protocols. Per NSIC guidelines, the game is ruled as a "no contest" and will not be rescheduled. It's the second game SMSU has had canceled this season due to COVID protocols following last Friday's cancellation versus Minot State.
•Friday's game is the second of six straight scheduled versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division opponents.
•SMSU, which defeated NSIC North Division foe UMary at home last Saturday, is a combined 41-24 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced during the 2012-13 season. SMSU did not play any conference games versus NSIC North teams last season.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Friday's 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 199-158, including 133-123 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.

    BYERS NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
•Senior Kenny Byers was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Monday following his play in SMSU's 77-73 home victory over the University of Mary.
•He scored 22 points on 10 of 16 shooting with a team-high nine rebounds, while adding four assists and two steals in the victory.
•It's the first time in his career he has earned the NSIC weekly award.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•In the latest NCAA statistics (Jan. 10), SMSU ranks 22nd in free throw pct. (77.1), 61st in rebound margin (+4.7) and 70th in scoring defense (68.5). Cliff McCray ranks 25th in total steals (30); Jake Phipps ranks 38th in total blocks (20) and 66th in field goal pct. (55.9); Kenny Byers ranks 72nd in free throws made (50). A complete listing of the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.
•Senior Kenny Byers ranks first on the squad in scoring (14.8) and is second in assists (43).
•Sophomore Jake Phipps is second in scoring (13.9), ranks first in rebounding (7.0), ranks second in field goal pct. (55.9) and is third in 3-pointers (15).
•Redshirt freshman Dunwa Omot has connected on a team-high 22 3-pointers.
•Sophomore Cliff McCray has recorded a team-high 53 assists and has a team-leading 30 steals.
•SMSU has held 10 of its 14 opponents to 69 or less points in regulation, including a season-low 49 in a victory over Winona State on Dec. 10.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponent in 10 of 14 games.
•SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 77 percent from the free throw line and is plus-4.8 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 72 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 points per game.

    MUSTANGS FEND OFF UMARY TO EARN HOME WIN LAST WEEKEND
•Dunwa Omot poured in a career-high 24 points on 9 of 17 shooting, while Kenny Byers added 22 points and nine rebounds to pace Southwest Minnesota State to a 77-73 victory over the University of Mary on Jan. 8 in Marshall.
•Sam Schwartz also reached double figures for the Mustangs with 11 points on four field goals, including three 3-pointers.
•The Mustangs shot 63 percent in the second half with four 3-pointers and finished the game shooting 51 percent (29 of 57) with seven 3-pointers.
•Byers connected on a jumper with eight minutes left to tie the score at 50 and then less than a minute later his three-point play put the Mustangs in the lead for good at 62-59.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS NORTHERN STATE
•SMSU and Northern State meet for the 99th time with NSU leading 67-31 in series that started in 1972-73.
•NSU has won the last five games in the series and seven of the last eight. SMSU's lone victory during the current stretch came in Aberdeen on Jan. 27, 2018.
•NSU has won 11 the last 14 meetings overall since the 2014-15 season.
•NSU leads 37-10 in games played in Aberdeen, which includes a victory in the last game on Feb. 26, 2020.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-12 all-time versus NSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE
•Northern State has a record of 10-8 overall, 4-6 NSIC.
•NSU, which hosted the NCAA Central Region Tournament a season ago, lost twice last weekend at Wayne State (69-53) and Augustana (67-50).
•Senior Jordan Belka is averaging a team-high 14.9 points per game with a team-high 102 field goals, including 29 3-pointers. He also leads the club in rebounding at 6.8 per game.  
•Freshman Jacksen Moni is averaging 13.9 ppg with 41 3-pointers, while junior Sam Masten is averaging 13.1 ppg.   
•Junior Augustin Reede has made team-high 49 3-pointers and is averaging 10.3 ppg.
•NSU is shooting 45 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.1 in rebound margin.
•NSU is averaging 73 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 points per game.
•Head coach Saul Phillips is in his third season at NSU with a record of 55-14. He has 270 career victories after serving as head coach at North Dakota State (2007-14) and Ohio University (2014-19).

    BYERS REACHES 1,000 CAREER POINTS
•Senior Kenny Byers became the 25th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points during SMSU's loss to Augustana on Dec. 4.
•Byers ranks 18th in team history with 1,107 points in 107 games, connecting on 427 field goals, including 57 3-pointers and 196 free throws.

    MUSTANGS GET DEFENSIVE IN WIN OVER WSU
•SMSU allowed just 10 second half points and four field goals to Winona State on Dec. 10, marking the first time an SMSU opponent was held to 15 points or less in a half since Michigan Tech scored 15 in the second half on Nov. 17, 2017.
•The last time SMSU held an opponent to less than 50 points in a game was on March 2, 2014, when SMSU defeated Wayne State, 68-45.
•The last time an SMSU opponent was held to five or less field goals in a half came on Dec. 11, 2009, when Northern State had just three field goals in the second half.

    PHIPPS NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN
•Sophomore Jake Phipps was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week for the second time this season on Dec. 20.
•Phipps averaged 23.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots, while shooting a combined 63 percent (22 of 35) from the field, including connecting on three 3-pointers in SMSU's road victories versus Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State.
•He also earned the award on Nov. 22 after averaging 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.

    SMSU SETS PROGRAM SINGLE-GAME RECORD
•This year's SMSU team set a program single-game record in its 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.  

    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 was scheduled 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  
•Three current SMSU players, senior Kenny Byers, sophomore Jake Phipps redshirt freshman Dunwa Omot have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Byers has reached 20 points four times this season and 15 times in his career, which includes one 30-point game.
•Phipps reached 20 points four times this season and five times in his career, while Omot has reached the 20-point mark one time this 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
    26    Kenny Byers    Parkside, 11/19/21
    25    Jake Phipps    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/17/21
    24    Dunwa Omot    UMary, 1/8/22
    24    Kenny Byers    Wayne State, 1/4/20
    24    Kenny Byers    Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
    23    Kenny Byers    Sioux Falls, 1/2/22
    23    Kenny Byers    Minnesota State, 1/11/20
    23    Kenny Byers    Sioux Falls, 12/21/19
    22    Kenny Byers    UMary, 1/8/22
    22    Jake Phipps    Minnesota State, 12/18/21
    22    Kenny Byers    Upper Iowa, 12/11/21
    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 14 games and is averaging 2.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg.
•Scored career-high eight points on 4 of 4 shooting vs. Augustana (12/4/21).
•Grabbed career-high six rebounds vs. Winona State (12/10/21).
•Played in seven games with two starts last season.
•Sat out the 2019-20 season as a redshirt.

    KENNY BYERS NOTES
•Has started all 14 games and is averaging 14.8 ppg and 5.3 rpg.
•Ranks 18th in team history with 1,107 points.
•Hit game-winning field goal with 5.6 seconds left in overtime to defeat Minnesota State (12/18/21).
•Scored season-high 26 points with 10 field goals at Parkside (11/19). Also scored 23 points vs. Sioux Falls (1/2).
•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 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 seven games and has two points and three 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 14 games and is averaging 8.1 ppg and 3.8 rpg.
•Has scored double figures in seven games including 12 points four times.
•Scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds vs. Newman (11/13/21).
•Spent three seasons (2018-21) at Dakota State University before transferring to SMSU.

    ALEX HILLESHEIM NOTES
•Has played in two games this season.
•Last season played in five games averaging 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 14 games and is averaging 6.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg.
•Second on the team with 19 3-pointers.
•Scored season-high 16 points vs. Augustana (12/4/21).
•Scored 15 points with five 3-pointers at Wayne State (12/2/21).
•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 14 games and is averaging 10.9 ppg and has dished out a team-high 53 assists.
•Has five or more assists in five games.
•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 last season 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 all 14 games and is averaging 9.6 ppg and 1.5 rpg.
•Leads the team with 22 3-pointers.
•Poured in career-high 24 points of 9 of 17 shooting with two 3-pointers vs. UMary (1/8/22).
•Scored 16 points 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 14 games is averaging 13.9 ppg and a team-high 7.0 rpg.
•Scored a career-high 25 points with 12 field goals at Concordia-St. Paul (12/17/21).
•Scored 22 points with 10 rebounds at Minnesota State (12/18/21).
•Twice has been named NSIC South Player of the Week this season.
•Scored 21 points on 9 of 13 shooting with 11 rebounds vs. Davenport (11/20/21).  
•Grabbed career-high 12 rebounds 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 14 games and is averaging 4.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Scored season-high 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting at Concordia-St. Paul (12/17/21).
•Poured in 11 points with three 3-pointers vs. UMary (1/8/22).
•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.  

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU is 1-0 versus NSIC North Division team in 2021-22 after not having any conference games versus NSIC North Division opponents in 2020-21.
•SMSU is a combined 41-24 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•The 2019-20 season (3-5) 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.
•Through eight-plus seasons of conference play, the NSIC South holds a 301-219 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 AND AWAY IN 2021-22
•SMSU, which is 3-3 at home this season, has a home record of 106-57 since Brad Bigler took over in 2009-10.
•SMSU, 6-2 in road/neutral site games this season, is 93-101 in 194 road/neutral site games during the Bigler era.
•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    3-3    46.4    29.6    76.1    38.0    72.5    12.8
Away    6-2    46.9    39.2    78.4    36.0    71.1    12.1

    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 238-104 (.695) in 342 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    3-3    2-3    1-0
    Totals    238-104    156-78    82-26


    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has made on at least one 3-point field goal in 675 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 has not scored 100 points in a game since Feb. 1, 2019, versus Minnesota Crookston (100-78).
•SMSU is 40-8 all-time when scoring 100 points, including 8-2 under head coach Brad Bigler.

    WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 1-1 in overtime games this season earning a 71-69 victory at Minnesota State on Dec. 18, before losing 72-71 to Sioux Falls on Jan. 2.
•SMSU is 49-40 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is 7-6 in double overtime 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 382-424 in 806 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 25 times in 52 seasons.
•SMSU has captured 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 1,501 games compiling an all-time record of 691-810.
•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.