THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (12-9, 8-8 NSIC) continues NSIC South Division play this Friday and Saturday with a pair of key road 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 weekend taking on No. 19 (NABC) Upper Iowa University (20-4, 14-4 NSIC) on Friday with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. inside Dorman Gymnasium, while on Saturday the Mustangs battle Winona State University (13-8, 9-7 NSIC) at McCown Gymnasium with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m.
•SMSU begins the weekend in fifth place in the NSIC South Division standings, one-game behind fourth place Winona State, while Upper Iowa is currently in second place in the division.
•SMSU split with WSU and UIU in December inside the R/A Facility, with the Mustangs defeating WSU (50-49), before losing to UIU the next day (82-80).

    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.

    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 202-162, including 136-127 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 left in regulation and is 4-6 in games decided by four points or less.
•SMSU dished out a season-high 20 assists in the victory over Minnesota State last Friday.
•Senior Kenny Byers ranks 14th in team history with 1,215 points in 114 games and is 11 points shy of tying Charlie Taylor for 13th on the scoring list.
•Sophomore Jake Phipps ranks second in team history in field goal pct. (58.0).
•SMSU has shot a higher field goal percentage than its opponent in 15 of 21 games.
•For the season, senior Kenny Byers leads SMSU in scoring (15.0), ranks first in field goals made (124) and is second in assists (63).
•Phipps ranks first in rebounding (6.5), second in field goals made (118), second in scoring (13.4), second in field goal pct. (52.9) and third in 3-pointers (18).
•Redshirt freshman Dunwa Omot has connected on a team-high 41 3-pointers and is averaging 11 ppg.
•McCray has recorded a team-high 82 assists and has a team-leading 39 steals.
•SMSU has recorded the same or outrebounded its opponent in 15 of 20 games.
•SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 77 percent from the free throw line and is plus-3.8 in rebound margin.
•SMSU is averaging 72 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.

    SMSUS IN THE NSIC/NCAA STATS
•In NSIC games only, SMSU ranks fifth in field goal pct. defense (44.2) and ninth in the NSIC in scoring defense (72.9). The Mustangs rank fifth in field goal pct. offense (47.7) and ninth in scoring offense (71.5), while ranking third in free throw pct. (77.8), third in 3-point field goal pct. (37.7) and sixth in rebound margin (+1.6).
•Jake Phipps ranks 10th in the NSIC in field goal pct. (47.6) and third in blocked shots (1.3), while sophomore Cliff McCray ranks seventh in assists (3.9) and second in steals (1.7).
•In the latest NCAA statistics (Feb. 8), SMSU ranks 22nd in free throw pct. (77.4), 54th in fewest fouls (302), 65th in rebound margin (+3.8) and 66th in field goal pct. (47.2). Cliff McCray ranks 56th in total steals (39) ; Jake Phipps ranks 55th in total blocks (28). A complete listing of the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.

    MUSTANGS SPLIT TWO MORE HOME GAMES LAST WEEKEND
•SMSU split a pair of home games versus NSIC South Division teams last weekend, earning an 81-71 victory over Minnesota State, before losing 61-60 on a field goal with two seconds left to Concordia-St. Paul.
•Kenny Byers scored a team-high 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists in the victory over MSU.
•Dunwa Omot added 17 points with three 3-pointers, while Anthony Costello came off the bench to score 10 points to pace the Mustangs.
•SMSU shot 62 percent in the second half and closed the game shooting 55 percent.
•CSP's Marcus Skeete hit a contested jumper with two seconds to stun the Mustangs on Saturday night.
•Omot led four Mustang players in double figures with 14 points on 6 of 11 shooting. Byers (12), Grant Kramer (11) and Jake Phipps (10) also finished in double-digits in scoring with Kramer pulling down a game-high nine rebounds.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS UPPER IOWA
•SMSU and UIU meet for the 33rd time with SMSU leading 21-11 in a series that started in 1979-80.
•UIU has won the previous three games, including 82-80 earlier this season in Marshall.
•SMSU won five straight games in the series prior to UIU's current three-game winning streak.
•SMSU leads 8-5 in games played in Fayette, Iowa.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 13-10 all-time versus UIU.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WINONA STATE
•SMSU and WSU meet for the 113th time with WSU leading 72-40 in a series that started in 1968-69.
•WSU holds a 29-9 advantage since 2004-05 and has won four of the last six games.
•The teams have split the last four games with SMSU winning earlier this season, 50-49, in Marshall.
•WSU holds a 42-11 advantage in games played in Winona.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 9-15 all-time versus WSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 18.

    EARLIER THIS SEASON VERSUS UIU & WSU
•SMSU rallied to defeat Winona State (50-49) in Marshall on Dec. 10, but lost to Upper Iowa (82-80) on Dec. 11 in Marshall.
•Box scores from both games can be found on pages 19-20.

    SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
•UIU is 20-4 overall, 14-4 NSIC, and has been ranked among the Top 25 most of the season. The Peacocks split two road games last weekend, defeating Wayne State (79-63) before losing to Augustana (92-83).
•Junior Joe Smoldt is scoring 17.8 ppg with 74 3-pointers to pace UIU.
•Junior Jake Hilmer is averaging 16.9 ppg and had dished out a team-high 94 assists.
•Senior Jareese Williams is averaging a team-high 18.8 ppg and ranks second on the team with 43 3-pointers, but has missed the last 10 games with an injury.
•UIU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 80 percent from the free throw line and is minus-0.3 in rebound margin.
•UIU is averaging 84 points per game, while opponents are averaging 76 points per game.
•Head coach Brooks McKowen is in his ninth season with a record of 144-114. He led the Peacocks to a Division II school record 22 victories and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. He was an assistant coach at SMSU from 2011-13.

    SCOUTING WINONA STATE
•WSU, which plays host to Sioux Falls on Friday, is 13-8 overall, 9-7 NSIC.
•The Warriors lost twice on the road last weekend to Augustana (64-60) and Wayne State (76-55).
•Senior Devin Whitelow is scoring 10.1 ppg with a team-leading 90 assists.
•Junior Alec Rosner is averaging a team-high 17.5 ppg with 45 3-pointers.
•Redshirt freshman Luke Martens is scoring 10.8 ppg with a team-leading 7.7 rpg.   
•WSU is shooting 73 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 73 percent from the free throw line and is minus-2.6 in rebound margin.
•WSU is averaging 73 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 points per game.
•Head coach Todd Eisner is in his seventh season at WSU with a record of 91-76. He has also been head coach at Viterbo, Bellevue, Benedictine and Midland. Eisner has won more than 500 games in his career.

    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 14th in team history with 1,215 points in 114 games, connecting on 474 field goals, including 60 3-pointers and 207 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 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.
•Senior Kenny Byers was named the NSIC South Division Player of the Week (Jan. 10) following his play in SMSU's 77-73 home victory over the University of Mary on Jan. 8.
•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.

    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 seven times this season and 18 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 three 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    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    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 21 games with 20 starts and is averaging 3.0 ppg and 3.1 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 21 games and is averaging 15 ppg and 5.9 rpg.
•Ranks 14th in team history with 1,215 points in 114 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 11 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 21 games and is averaging 8.6 ppg and 3.3 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 this season and grabbed one rebound at Minnesota Duluth (1/28/22).
•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 19 games and is averaging 6.7 ppg and 5.5 rpg. •Missed two games due to COVID protocols.  
•Second on the team with 30 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 21 games and is averaging 9.6 ppg and has dished out a team-high 82 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 21 games with three starts and is averaging 11 ppg and 1.6 rpg.
•Leads the team with 41 3-pointers.
•Scored 25 points with five 3-pointers at Minnesota Duluth (1/28/22).
•Scored 20 points with five 3-pointers at St. Cloud State (1/29/22).
•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 21 games is averaging 13.4 ppg and a team-high 6.5 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 21 games and is averaging 4.4 ppg and 2.6 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, 7-4 in road/neutral site games this season, is 94-103 in 197 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    7-4    47.0    37.6    78.0    36.4    72.0    12.9

    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 682 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 385-428 in 813 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 1,508 games compiling an all-time record of 694-814.
•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.