THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (9-4, 5-3 NSIC) continues road play this Friday and Saturday with the first of eight straight games versus NSIC North Division foes.
•SMSU will take on the University of Mary (7-5, 3-5 NSIC) on Friday night with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. at the McDowell Center on the campus of UMary in Bismarck, N.D.
•SMSU will conclude the weekend on Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at Minot State University (7-5, 4-4 NSIC) inside the MSU Dome in Minot, N.D. MSU will host Sioux Falls on Friday night before taking on SMSU.
•SMSU is a combined 43-27 versus NSIC North Division teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU, which has won four straight and five of its last six, returns home on Jan. 13 versus MSU Moorhead to open a four-game homestand.
•SMSU's last five-game winning streak occurred last season when SMSU opened the season 5-1.

    BROADCAST INFO
•All 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 14th season as head coach and has an overall record of 214-169, including 143-132 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.

    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
•For the season, SMSU has three players averaging double figures in scoring with sophomore Dunwa Omot leading the way at 15.5 ppg while connecting on a team-high 22 3-pointers with a team-leading 17 steals.
•SMSU lead the NSIC (league games only) in scoring defense (62.4) and opponent field goal pct. (39.4) and ranks last in scoring offense (63.4).
•Junior Jake Phipps is scoring 10.4 ppg, while shooting 55 percent and leads the team averaging 7.1 rebounds per game
•Senior Anthony Costello is averaging 11.6 ppg and has made 17 3-pointers.
•Junior Cliff McCray is scoring 8.3 ppg and has dished out a team-leading 47 assists.
•Freshman Mason Lund is tied for second on the team lead with 17 3-pointers and is averaging 7.7 ppg.
•SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 77 percent from the free throw line and is plus-0.4 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 68 points per game, while opponents are averaging 62 ppg.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•Through games of Jan. 3, SMSU ranks sixth in Division II in fouls per game (12.8), 14th in scoring defense (61.5), 14th in 3-point field goal pct. defense (28.4), 18th in field goal pct. defense (39.1) and 25th in free throw pct. (77.8). Jake Phipps ranks 67th in blocked shots (17).
•SMSU has played outstanding defense in the second half in five of its last six games. The Mustangs held Winona State to 26.7 percent shooting and limited Upper Iowa to 27.3 percent shooting. In the win over Concordia-St. Paul, SMSU held CSP to 30.8 percent, while limiting Northland to 32.3 percent and Sioux Falls to 28.1 percent.
•During SMSU's current four-game winning streak, sophomore Dunwa Omot is averaging 20.5 points per game, while connecting on 31 of 52 field goals (59.6 percent), including 8 of 14 from 3-point range. He has also made 12 of 13 free throw attempts and has dished out nine assists with seven steals and grabbed three rebounds.
•Redshirt freshman Jakob Braaten returned the line-up last Saturday at Sioux Falls after missing three games due to an injury.
•Phipps ranks fifth in team history in field goal pct. (56.3, 341 of 606) and is sixth in blocked shots (94).
•Senior Anthony Costello has scored 929 career points in 92 combined games at Dakota State (2018-20) and SMSU (2021-23). He scored 551 points in 52 games at DSU and has scored 378 in 40 games at SMSU.
•Omot ranks second in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (50.6, 79 of 156).
•Omot's 56.6 3-point field goal pct. (56 of 99) last season set a program single-season record, while his 87.5 free throw pct. ranks seventh in team single-season history.
•Phipps grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds at Wayne State on Dec. 3. He is the first SMSU player to grab 15 rebounds in a game since Kenny Byers had 15 at Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 14, 2019.
•SMSU held Winona State to 46 points and 18 field goals, the lowest by an SMSU opponent in both categories this season.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS UMARY
•SMSU and UMary meet for the 21st time with SMSU leading 16-4 in a series that started in 2005-06.
•SMSU leads 5-3 in games played in Bismarck, but lost the last game played at UMary on Jan. 18, 2020.
•SMSU, which won last season's lone meeting played in Marshall, has won five of the last six in the series since the 2016-17 season.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 10-4 all-time versus UMary.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS MINOT STATE
•SMSU and MSU meet for the 15th time with SMSU holding a 12-2 advantage.
•SMSU leads 6-1 in games played in Minot, including winning, 89-75, last season in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament.
•Last season's regular season scheduled game in Marshall was ruled a 'no-contest' because of COVID protocols.
•MSU's two victories in the series came during the opening two weekends of the shortened 2021 season when the teams split four games played in Minot and Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 12-2 all-time versus MSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series is located on page 17.

    SMSU EARNS FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN LAST SATURDAY
•SMSU closed with a 24-12 run in the final eight minutes to rally and earn a big 64-54 road win over the University of Sioux Falls last Saturday.
•Dunwa Omot led the Mustangs with a team-high 20 points, while Anthony Costello added 17 points with 15 coming in the second half. Omot connected on 8 of 11 from the field and was 4 of 4 from the foul line, while Costello finished 7 of 11 shooting with a team-high two 3-pointers.
•The Mustangs shot 54 percent (26 of 48) from the field, while making 5 of 11 3-pointers. SMSU was red-hot in the second half, making 15 of 26 field goals (58 percent) with three 3-pointers.
•The Cougars were limited to 33 percent (22 of 66) shooting including 8 of 34 from 3-point range. The SMSU defense was outstanding in the second half limiting USF to just 28 percent shooting.

    SCOUTING UMARY
•The Marauders are 7-5 overall, 3-5 NSIC, and is coming off a road split last weekend, losing to Bemidji State (77-67) before defeating Minnesota Crookston (80-76).
•Junior transfer guard Zyon Smith is averaging a team-high 12.6 points with a team-high 25 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Kam Warrens averages 12.5 ppg with 18 3-pointers and ranks second on the team in rebounding at 5.6 rpg.
•UMary is shooting 44 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 71 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.0 in rebound margin.
•UMary is averaging 74 points per game, while opponents are averaging 72 points per game.
•Head coach Jack Nelson is in his second season at UMary with a record of 18-22. He was the associate head coach at the University of Sioux Falls for three seasons prior to UMary.  
 
    SCOUTING MINOT STATE
•The Beavers, 7-5 overall, 4-4 NSIC, will host Sioux Falls on Friday night.
•MSU had its three-game winning streak snapped last Saturday with a road loss to Bemidji State (81-73).
•Senior Cam'ron Dunfee is scoring a team-leading 14.3 ppg with a team-best 29 3-pointers.
•Junior Khari Broadway averages 12.8 ppg with a team-high 16 steals.
•MSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 73 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.6 in rebound margin.
•MSU is averaging 78 points per game, while opponents are averaging 73 points per game.
•Head coach Matt Murken is in his 11th season with a record of 136-149.

    MUSTANG CAREER 20-POINT GAMES  
•Three current SMSU players, senior Anthony Costello,  junior Jake Phipps and sophomore Dunwa Omot have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Omot has reached the mark four times this season and five times in his career, Phipps has reached 20 points six times in his career, while Costello's lone 20-point game occurred earlier this season.
20 or More Point Games in Career
    28    Dunwa Omot    Minot State, 2/23/22
    25    Dunwa Omot    Minnesota Duluth, 1/28/22
    25    Jake Phipps    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/17/21
    24    Dunwa Omot    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/16/22
    24    Jake Phipps    Northern State, 1/14/22
    24    Dunwa Omot    UMary, 1/8/22
    23    Dunwa Omot    Winona State, 2/12/22
    22    Jake Phipps    Minnesota State, 12/18/21
    22    Jake Phipps    Sioux Falls, 11/23/21
    22    Jake Phipps    Sioux Falls, 2/21/21
    21    Dunwa Omot    Northland, 12/19/22
    21    Anthony Costello    Newman, 11/12/22
    21    Jake Phipps    Davenport, 11/20/21
    20    Dunwa Omot    Sioux Falls, 12/31/22
    20    Dunwa Omot    Mount Marty, 11/26/22
    20    Dunwa Omot    St. Cloud State, 1/29/22
Bold indicates 2022-23 season

    JAKOB BRAATEN NOTES
•Has played in 10 games with three starts and is averaging 6.7 ppg and 3.0 rpg. Missed three games with an injury.
•Scored season-high 11 points with five field goals at Wayne State (12/3/22) and also scored 11 points at Winona State (12/9/22).
•Pulled down career-high eight rebounds vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).
•Sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt.

    NOAH CHAMBERLAIN NOTES
•Has played in seven games with three starts.
•Grabbed career-high six rebounds vs. Minnesota State (12/17/22).
•Played in 15 games with two starts last season.
•Scored five points vs. Minnesota Crookston (1/21/22).
•Played in eight games with two starts in 2021 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.
•Sat out the 2019-20 season as a redshirt.

    ANTHONY COSTELLO NOTES
•Has played in all 13 games with seven starts and is averaging 11.6 ppg and 3.6 rpg.  
•Has scored double figures in 10 games.
•Scored season-high 21 points on 10 of 12 shooting vs. Newman (11/12/22).
•Grabbed season-high seven rebounds vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).
•Played in all 27 games last season averaging 8.4 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored season-high 18 points on nine field goals at St. Cloud State (1/29/22).
•Scored double figures in 12 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 two games this season.
•Scored one point vs. Northland (12/19/22).
•Played in three games and grabbed one rebound at Minnesota Duluth (1/28/22) last season.
•Played in five games in 2021 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).

    JAKE LAYMAN NOTES
•Has played in three games this season and scored eight points.
•Scored five points with five rebounds vs. Northland (12/9/22).
•Sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt.

    MASON LUND NOTES
•Has played in all 13 games with six starts and is averaging 7.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Grabbed a career-high nine rebounds vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).
•Scored season-high 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting with two 3-pointers vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).
•Scored 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting with six rebounds vs. Newman (11/12/22).

    CLIFF MCCRAY NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is scoring 8.3 ppg and leads the team with 47 assists.
•Tied career-high with eight assists vs. Newman (11/12/22).
•Scored season-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds at Rogers State (11/11/22).
•Started all 27 games averaging 9.5 ppg and dished out a team-high 92 assists last season.
•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 2021 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.

    MAJOK MAJOUK NOTES
•Has played in 12 games and is averaging 4.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg.
•Grabbed career-high eight rebounds vs. Augustana (12/1/22).
•Scored season-high 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting with four 3-pointers vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).
•Scored four points with six rebounds vs. Newman (11/12/22).
•Sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt.

    LANCE MOSLEY NOTES
•Has played in two games this season scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds vs. Northland (12/19/22).
•Played in two games with one rebound last season.
•Played in three games in 2021 scoring two points vs. Minnesota State (1/23/21).

    DUNWA OMOT NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is averaging a team-high 15.5 ppg with a team-high 22 3-pointers.
•Has scored 20 or more points four times this season.
•Made 9 of 11 field goals and scored 21 points vs. Northland (12/19/22).
•Scored season-high 24 points with four 3-pointers vs. Concordia-St. Paul (12/16/22).
•Grabbed season-high seven rebounds at Upper Iowa (12/10/22).
•Played in all 27 games with eight starts last season averaging 11.9 ppg and 1.8 rpg.
•Led the team with 56 3-pointers.
•Shot 56.6 percent on 3-pointers in 2021-22 ranking first in school history, while his 87.5 free throw pct. ranks seventh in team single-season history.
•Scored 20 or more points in five games.
•Scored a career-high 28 points with six 3-pointers at Minot State (2/23/22)
•Scored 25 points with five 3-pointers at Minnesota Duluth (1/28/22).
•Played in four games and averaged 1.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg in 2021.

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is averaging 10.4 ppg and team-high 7.1 rpg.
•Season-high 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting vs. Northland (12/19/22).
•Grabbed career-high 15 rebounds at Wayne State (12/3/22).
•Recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Sioux Falls (11/22/22).
•Started all 27 games last season averaging 12.7 ppg and a team-high 6.4 rpg.
•Recorded a team-high five double-doubles last 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 was named NSIC South Player of the Week in 2021-22.
•Started 10 of 11 games in 2021 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 10 games with seven starts and is averaging 3.4 ppg and 2.0 rpg.
•Scored seven points vs. Concordia-St. Paul (16/16/22).
•Scored eight points with two 3-pointers vs. Truman State (11/19/22).
•Played in 26 games last season averaging 3.7 ppg and 2.1 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 2021 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 appeared in two game this season scoring four points and grabbing six rebounds vs. Northland (12/19/22).
•Played in three games and scored two points vs. Newman (11/13/21) and Minnesota Morris (11/29/21) last season.
•Played in three games in 2021 and had one rebound.  

    HOME AND AWAY IN 2022-23
•SMSU is 5-2 at home this season after finishing 6-5 at home in 2021-22. SMSU has a home record of 114-61 since Brad Bigler took over in 2009-10.
•SMSU, which is 4-2 in road/neutral site games this season, is 100-108 in 208 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 2022-23:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    5-2    44.3    37.0    82.1    34.4    69.3    9.3    
Away    4-2    49.4    34.5    69.4    32.0    65.5    15.5    

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2022-23 season marks the 27th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 246-108 (.694) in 354 games with 22 winning and four losing seasons all-time.
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    6-5    5-5    1-0
    2022-23    5-2    3-1    2-1
    Totals    246-108    162-81    84-27

    NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU is a combined 43-27 versus North Division teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU finished with 3-3 mark versus NSIC North Division teams in 2021-22.
•SMSU recorded 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.
•Through nine 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.  

    SMSU PICKED 7TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish eighth overall and fifth in the South Division in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•SMSU junior forward Jake Phipps was named a "Player to Watch".
•Wayne State was chosen as the South Division favorite, while Minnesota Duluth was selected as the North Division and overall preseason favorite.  

    NSIC FORMAT CONTINUES FOR SECOND YEAR  
•SMSU will play 22 conference games this season, including two versus each team within the NSIC South Division and one each versus the NSIC North Division.
•For the second straight season half of the NSIC doubleheaders will feature the men's game first followed by the women's game.
•Also again this season, the NSIC Sanford Tournament will feature 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.

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•SMSU has made on at least one 3-point field goal in 701 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 was 3-1 in overtime games last season earning a 71-69 victory at Minnesota State on Dec. 18, losing 72-71 to Sioux Falls on Jan. 2, earning a 93-86 double overtime win at St. Cloud State on Jan. 29 and beating Wayne State, 60-55 in Marshall on Feb. 17.
•SMSU is 51-40 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is 8-6 in double overtime and is 1-2 in triple overtime games all-time.

    SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 30-26 all-time in season openers having won nine of its last 17 and 17 of its last 26 season lid-lifters following this season's victory at Rogers State.
•SMSU has opened the season on the road seven times in the last eight seasons.

    SMSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
•SMSU has made five NCAA Tournament appearances (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018) 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.  

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2022-23 campaign marks the 54th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 392-433 in 825 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 26 times in 53 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
•SMSU is in its 56th season of men's basketball in 2022-23.
•SMSU has played 1,527 games compiling an all-time record of 706-821.
•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 25 winning seasons in program history with 18 coming in the last 25 years.