THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (13-10, 9-9 NSIC) concludes the regular season this week with a pair of key games as teams jockey for a spot in the 12-team NSIC Tournament. The top six teams in both division qualify for the NSIC Tournament.
•SMSU opens the week hosting Wayne State College (13-10, 10-7 NSIC) on Thursday for 'Senior Night' with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside the R/A Facility. On Saturday, the Mustangs battle No. 5 ranked and NSIC-leading Augustana University (21-2, 15-2 NSIC) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
•SMSU begins the week tied for fifth place in the NSIC South Division standings, one-game behind fourth-place Winona State.
•SMSU can clinch a spot in the NSIC Tournament with one victory or one Sioux Falls loss this week.
•SMSU lost earlier this season at Wayne State (68-65) and at home to Augustana (103-74).
BROADCAST INFO
•Both games 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.
SENIOR NIGHT SET FOR THURSDAY
•SMSU will honor both of its seniors,
Kenny Byers and
Grant Kramer, prior to Thursday's game.
•Byers has played in 116 games with 83 starts, while ranking 13th in team history with 1,239 points.
•Kramer has played in 78 games with 36 starts and has scored 404 career points.
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 203-163, including 137-128 in NSIC play. He earned his 200th career victory on Jan. 22, 2022, versus Bemidji State.
•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
•SMSU has had 11 games decided by four points or less or in overtime this season. SMSU has lost three games with the opponent scoring the game-winning points with four seconds or less in regulation and is 4-6 in games decided by four points or less.
•SMSU shot 81 percent (17 of 21) from the field in the second half last Saturday night in the win at Winona State. It was the first time SMSU shot 80 percent or higher in a half since Dec. 13, 2014, at Minot State.
•Senior
Kenny Byers ranks 13th in team history with 1,239 points in 116 games and is five points shy of tying Sam Leggett for 12th on the scoring list.
•Sophomore
Jake Phipps ranks third in team history in field goal pct. (57.7) and ninth in blocked shots (71).
•SMSU has shot a higher field goal percentage than its opponent in 16 of 23 games.
•For the season, senior
Kenny Byers leads SMSU in scoring (14.7), ranks first in field goals made (134) and is second in assists (72).
•Phipps ranks first in rebounding (6.4), second in field goals made (125), second in scoring (13.0), second in field goal pct. (52.7) and third in 3-pointers (20).
•Redshirt freshman
Dunwa Omot has connected on a team-high 49 3-pointers and is averaging 11.8 ppg.
•Sophomore
Cliff McCray has recorded a team-high 85 assists and has a team-leading 39 steals.
•SMSU has recorded the same or outrebounded its opponent in 17 of 23 games.
•SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 77 percent from the free throw line and is plus-3.7 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 71 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.
SMSU IN THE NSIC/NCAA STATS
•In NSIC games only, SMSU ranks sixth in field goal pct. defense (44.1), sixth in the NSIC in scoring defense (72.5), sixth in field goal pct. (47.6) and 10th in scoring offense (71.1). SMSU also ranks while ranking third in free throw pct. (77.6), second in 3-point field goal pct. (38.6) and sixth in rebound margin (+1.6).
•
Jake Phipps ranks ninth in the NSIC in field goal pct. (46.8) and third in blocked shots (1.3),
Cliff McCray ranks 11th in assists (3.6) and tied for first in steals (1.7), while
Dunwa Omot ranks 10th in 3-point field goals per game (2.2).
•In the latest NCAA statistics (Feb. 14), SMSU ranks 23rd in free throw pct. (77.3), 49th in fewest fouls (332), 66th in rebound margin (+3.7), 67th in 3-point field goal pct. (36.7) and 69th in field goal pct. (47.1).
Cliff McCray ranks 57th in total steals (42) ;
Jake Phipps ranks 56th in total blocks (31). A complete listing of the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.
MUSTANGS EARN SPLIT ON THE ROAD LAST WEEKEND
•SMSU split a pair of road games versus NSIC South Division teams last weekend, losing to No. 19 Upper Iowa (67-56) before earning a road victory at Winona State (79-71).
•SMSU was held to 19 first half points in the loss to UIU and finished the game shooting 35 percent, which ranks as the third-lowest this season.
•
Dunwa Omot led the Mustangs with a team-high 17 points on 5 of 10 shooting with three 3-pointers.
•Omot and
Kenny Byers powered SMSU to the victory over WSU with Omot scoring 23 points on 6 of 7 shooting, including 5 of 5 from 3-point range.
•Byers would play the do-it-all role, scoring 20 points while adding eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
•SMSU shot 59 percent from the field, including 81 percent in the second half.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WAYNE STATE
•SMSU and WSC meet for the 78th time on Thursday with WSC leading 42-35 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•SMSU leads the series 23-16 in games played in Marshall, but WSC has won three of the last four inside the R/A Facility, including twice last season.
•SMSU has won 17 of the last 23 games since Dec. 3, 2011, but WSC has won the previous three games.
•SMSU head coach
Brad Bigler is 19-8 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 42nd time on Saturday with Augustana leading 26-15 with the first meeting in 1972-73.
•AU has won the past six games with SMSU's last victory coming on Feb. 24, 2018.
•AU, which holds an 13-5 advantage in games played in Sioux Falls, holds an 8-4 advantage since the 2016-17 season.
•SMSU head coach
Brad Bigler is 8-17 all-time versus Augustana
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 18.
EARLIER THIS SEASON VERSUS WSC & AU
•SMSU lost at Wayne State (68-65) Dec. 2, and lost to Augustana (103-74) on Dec. 4 in Marshall.
•Box scores from both games can be found on pages 19-20.
SCOUTING WAYNE STATE
•Wayne State is 13-10 overall, 10-7 NSIC, and is 3-4 in its last seven games.
•Redshirt freshman Justin Eagins is scoring 16.5 ppg with 52 3-pointers.
•Junior Jordan Janssen is averaging a 15.1 ppg and 7.3 rpg, while shooting 54 percent. He missed three games with an injury.
•Junior Nate Mohr is averaging 12.2 ppg with 45 3-pointers, despite missing six games.
•Redshirt freshman Alec Millender had dished out a team-high 57 assists and is scoring 9.8 ppg.
•WSC is shooting 45 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 74 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.3 in rebound margin.
•WSC is averaging 72 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 points per game.
•Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his sixth season at WSC with a record of 79-85. He has also been head coach at Valley City State and Wisconsin-Superior.
SCOUTING AUGUSTANA
•Augustana, ranked among the Top 11 nationally in two polls, is 21-2 overall, 15-2 NSIC, and will play at Sioux Falls on Thursday. The Vikings can clinch the NSIC South Division and overall championship with a win on Thursday.
•AU has won 15 straight games with its only losses at Wayne State (Nov. 23) and at Upper Iowa (Dec. 17).
•Senior Tyler Riemersma, who has been named NSIC South Player of the Week five times this season, is averaging a team-high 18.2 ppg and 11 rpg.
•Junior Isaac Fink is scoring 15.7 ppg with 52 3-pointers and averaging 5.6 rpg.
•Senior Adam Dykman is averaging 13.2 ppg with 41 3-pointers.
•AU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-8.1 in rebound margin.
•AU is averaging 78 points per game, while opponents are averaging 65 points per game.
•Head coach Tom Billeter is in his 19th season with a record of 354-195. He led the Vikings to the 2016 NCAA Championship. He has a career record of 451-247 in 23 seasons overall having spent four seasons as head coach at North Dakota State.
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 13th in team history with 1,239 points in 116 games, connecting on 484 field goals, including 60 3-pointers and 211 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 AND BYERS EARN NSIC WEEKLY AWARD
•Sophomore
Jake Phipps has been named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week twice this season on Nov. 22 and Dec. 20.
•Senior
Kenny Byers was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Jan. 10.
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.
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 eight times this season and 19 times in his career, which includes one 30-point game.
•Phipps reached 20 points five times this season and six times in his career, while Omot has reached the 20-point mark four times 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
Dunwa Omot Minnesota Duluth, 1/28/22
25
Jake Phipps Concordia-St. Paul, 12/17/21
24
Jake Phipps Northern State, 1/14/22
24
Dunwa Omot UMary, 1/8/22
24
Kenny Byers Wayne State, 1/4/20
24
Kenny Byers Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
23
Dunwa Omot Winona State, 2/12/22
23
Kenny Byers St. Cloud State, 1/29/22
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
Kenny Byers Minnesota State, 2/4/22
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 Winona State, 2/12/22
20
Dunwa Omot St. Cloud State, 1/29/22
20
Kenny Byers Northern State, 1/14/22
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 played in 23 games with 18 starts and is averaging 2.9 ppg and 3.2 rpg.
•Scored career-high 10 points on 4 of 4 shooting with two 3-pointers vs. Minnesota Crookston (1/21/22).
•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 23 games and is averaging a team-high 14.7ppg and ranks second with 6.0 rpg.
•Ranks 13th in team history with 1,239 points in 116 games.
•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 12 games with two starts.
•Scored season-high five points vs. Minnesota Crookston (1/21/22).
•Played in eight games with two starts last season and averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.4 rpg.
•Scored career-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 23 games and is averaging 8.4 ppg and 3.2 rpg.
•Scored season-high 18 points on nine field goals at St. Cloud State (1/29/22).
•Has scored double figures in 10 games.
•Scored 16 points o 7 of 12 shooting vs. Bemidji State (1/22/22).
•Spent three seasons (2018-21) at Dakota State University before transferring to SMSU.
ALEX HILLESHEIM NOTES
•Has played in three games and grabbed one rebound at Minnesota Duluth (1/28/22).
•Played in five games in 2020-21 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 21 games and is averaging 6.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg. •Missed two games due to COVID protocols.
•Second on the team with 34 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 23 games and is averaging 9.6 ppg and has dished out a team-high 85 assists.
•Tied career-high with eight assists at Northern State (1/14/22) and has five or more assists in eight 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 in 2020-21 with 41 assists.
•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 23 games with five starts and is averaging 11.8 ppg and 1.6 rpg.
•Leads the team with 49 3-pointers.
•Has scored 20 or more points in four games.
•Scored 25 points with five 3-pointers at Minnesota Duluth (1/28/22).
•Scored 23 points with five 3-pointers at Winona State (2/12/22).
•Poured in 24 points of 9 of 17 shooting with two 3-pointers vs. UMary (1/8/22).
•Played in four games and averaged 1.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg in 2020-21.
JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has started all 23 games is averaging 13 ppg and a team-high 6.4 rpg.
•Has a team-high four double-doubles this season.
•Scored a career-high 25 points with 12 field goals at Concordia-St. Paul (12/17/21).
•Scored 24 points on 10 of 15 shooting at Northern State (1/14/22).
•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.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.
SAM SCHWARTZ NOTES
•Has played in 23 games and is averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.4 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 three 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 finished 3-3 versus NSIC North Division teams in 2021-22 after not having any conference games versus NSIC North Division opponents in 2020-21.
•SMSU is a combined 43-27 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 3-5 record versus the NSIC North Division in 2019-20; 5-3 in 2018-19; 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.
•Now through eight seasons of conference play, the NSIC South holds a 325-237 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 5-5 at home this season, has a home record of 108-59 since
Brad Bigler took over in 2009-10.
•SMSU, 8-5 in road/neutral site games this season, is 95-104 in 199 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 5-5 47.4 33.7 77.0 35.6 71.5 12.0
Away 8-5 47.0 38.8 77.6 35.7 71.3 12.8
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 240-106 (.693) in 346 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 5-5 4-5 1-0
Totals 240-106 158-80 82-26
CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has made on at least one 3-point field goal in 684 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 2-1 in overtime games this season earning a 71-69 victory at Minnesota State on Dec. 18, losing 72-71 to Sioux Falls on Jan. 2 and earning a 93-86 double overtime win at St. Cloud State on Jan. 29.
•SMSU is 50-40 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is now 8-6 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 386-429 in 815 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 1,510 games compiling an all-time record of 695-815.
•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.