THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (8-5, 4-4 NSIC) continues home action inside the R/A Facility this Saturday taking on the University of Mary (5-8, 4-4 NSIC) with game time set for 3:30 p.m.
•The game is the first of seven straight versus Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division foes.
•SMSU was originally scheduled to play host to Minot State on Friday 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.
•SMSU, which did not play any conference games versus NSIC North Division teams last season, is a combined 40-24 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced during the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU, which is coming off a 72-71 home overtime loss to the University of Sioux Falls on Sunday, is tied for fourth place in the NSIC South Division standings.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Saturday'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 198-158, including 132-123 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.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•In the latest NCAA statistics (Jan. 4), SMSU ranks 36th in free throw pct. (76.1), 46th in rebound margin (+5.5) and 71st in scoring defense (68.2). Cliff McCray ranks 22nd in total steals (28);  Jake Phipps ranks 34th in total blocks (18) and 62nd in field goal pct. (56.5); Kenny Byers ranks 53rd in free throws made (48). A complete listing of the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.
•Sophomore Jake Phipps is tied for the team lead in scoring (14.2), ranks first in rebounding (7.2), ranks second in field goal pct. (56.5) and is third in 3-pointers (14).
•Senior Kenny Byers ranks tied for first on the squad in scoring (14.2) and is second in assists (39).
•Redshirt freshman Dunwa Omot has connected on a team-high 20 3-pointers.
•Sophomore Cliff McCray has recorded a team-high 48 assists and has a team-leading 28 steals.
•SMSU has held 10 of its 13 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 13 games.
•SMSU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-5.5 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 71 points per game, while opponents are averaging 68 points per game.

    MUSTANGS LOSE OVERTIME THRILLER TO OPEN THE NEW YEAR
•SMSU opened the 2022 calendar year with a 72-71 overtime home loss to Sioux Falls on Sunday as the Cougars' Jack Thompson hit a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds left in overtime to secure the victory.
•SMSU was led by Kenny Byers, who scored a team-high 23 points, while Cliff McCray added 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Dunwa Omot also reached doubles figures in scoring with 13 points.
•Byers put SMSU in the lead with nine seconds remaining in overtime with a pair of free throws.
•The Mustangs had three players foul out, including McCray and Jake Phipps. Phipps, SMSU's leading scorer entering the game, played just 17 minutes and was limited to 2 of 6 shooting and four points.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS UMARY
•SMSU and UMary meet for the 20th time on Saturday with SMSU leading 15-4 in a series that started in 2005-06.
•SMSU leads 10-1 in games played inside the R/A Facility, including winning the past three games. UMary's lone victory in Marshall occurred on Dec. 11, 2015.
•UMary won the last meeting, 75-60, in Bismarck, N.D., on Jan. 18, 2020.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 9-4 all-time versus UMary.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SCOUTING UMARY
•UMary has a record of 5-8, 4-4 NSIC, heading into Friday's game at Sioux Falls.
•The Marauders have won two straight, including an 80-78 home win over Minot State last Sunday.  
•Junior Kai Huntsberry is averaging a team-high 18 points per game, a team-high 58 assists and also leads the team with 20 3-pointers.
•Junior Jacob Jackson (9.5) and junior Gertautas Urbonavicius (9.4) both average more than nine points per game.
•Junior Kam Warrens leads the team in rebounding at 6.4 per game.
•UMary is shooting 43 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.6 in rebound margin.
•UMary is averaging 70 points per game, while opponents are averaging 77 points per game.
•Head coach Jack Nelson is in his first season at UMary. He was the associate head coach at the University of Sioux Falls the past three seasons.  

    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 20th in team history with 1,085 points in 106 games, connecting on 417 field goals, including 57 3-pointers and 194 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 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 has reached 20 points three times this season and 14 times in his career, which includes one 30-point game.
•Phipps reached 20 points four times this season and five times 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
    25    Jake Phipps    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/17/21
    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    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 13 games and is averaging 2.4 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 13 games and is averaging 14.2 ppg and 5.0 rpg.
•Ranks 20th in team history with 1,085 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 13 games and is averaging 8.6 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 13 games and is averaging 7.0 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 13 games and is averaging 11.4 ppg and has dished out a team-high 48 assists.
•Has five or more assists in four 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 13 games and is averaging 8.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg.
•Leads the team with 20 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 13 games is averaging 14.2 ppg and a team-high 7.2 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 13 games and is averaging 4.5 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored season-high 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting at Concordia-St. Paul (12/17/21).
•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.  

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU did not have any conference games versus NSIC North Division opponents 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.
•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 AND AWAY IN 2021-22
•SMSU, which is 2-3 at home this season, has a home record of 105-57 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    2-3    45.5    28.9    74.0    39.8    71.6    13.8    
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 237-104 (.695) in 341 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    2-3    1-3    1-0
    Totals    237-104    155-78    82-26

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has made on at least one 3-point field goal in 674 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 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 381-424 in 805 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 1,500 games compiling an all-time record of 690-810.
•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.