THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (12-8, 9-5 NSIC), currently fifth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings, continues its four-game homestand this weekend with a pair of games inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU begins the weekend taking on No. 1/2 ranked and NSIC leading Minnesota State University (19-2, 13-2 NSIC) on Friday with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m., while on Saturday the Mustangs face Winona State University (13-8, 8-7 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m.
•MSU is ranked No. 1 nationally in this week's D2 College Sports Communicators Top 25 and is No. 2 in the NABC Top 25.
•Both MSU and WSU played on Tuesday night with MSU suffering an 85-70 road loss to Minnesota Duluth, while WSU earned a 78-67 road win over Concordia-St. Paul.
•The games this weekend will be the first time SMSU has played an opponent for a second time this season. SMSU defeated WSU in Winona on Dec. 1, 78-65, before suffering a 93-89 loss at MSU on Dec. 2.
•As of Jan. 30, SMSU, which has played four teams ranked among the top 12 nationally, including two teams ranked No. 1, has the 10th toughest schedule in Division II with its 20 opponents combining for a winning pct. of .607.

    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.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS MINNESOTA STATE
•SMSU and MSU meet for the 71st time with MSU leading 49-21 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•MSU leads 21-11 in games played in Marshall, but SMSU has won the last two inside the R/A Facility.
•MSU's 93-89 win on Dec. 2, 2023, in Mankato, snapped a four-game win streak in the series for SMSU.
•MSU has won 17 of the last 25 games overall since the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 11-21 all-time versus MSU.
 
    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WINONA STATE
•SMSU and WSU meet for the 117th time with WSU leading 73-43 in a series that started in 1968-69.
•WSU holds a 30-12 advantage since 2004-05, but SMSU has won eight of the last 13 games since the 2016-17 season. SMSU has won four of the last five games, including 78-65 in Winona on Dec. 1, 2023.
•WSU holds a 29-25 advantage in games played in Marshall, including winning last season in overtime.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 12-16 all-time versus WSU.
 
    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 15th season as head coach and has an overall record of 233-185, including 159-144 in NSIC play.  
•The 2012-13 and 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year, Bigler has led SMSU to eight 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 in team history, 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.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS   
•SMSU earned a pair of blowout home victories last weekend, defeating UMary (83-51) and Northern State (80-46). Senior Jake Phipps averaged 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, while shooting 64 percent (14-of-22) from the field.
•SMSU's plus-28 rebound margin versus UMary on Jan. 26 was the program's largest margin since holding a plus-25 advantage versus Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 6, 2016.
•SMSU limited Northern State to 29.6 percent shooting on Jan. 27. It's the first time SMSU has held an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting since Jan. 3, 2020, at Augustana (27.9).
•Junior Dunwa Omot enters the weekend having scored 977 points in 76 career games.
•Omot was named the NSIC Player of the Week on Jan. 8 after averaging 21.5 points, while shooting 64 percent (14 of 22) from the field, including 8 of 14 from 3-point range in victories over Bemidji State and St. Cloud State.
•Freshman Aeron Stevens has made 90 of 123 free throw attempts this season. The freshman school record for free throws made (97) and attempted (129) was set by Bob Throngard during the program's first season in 1967-68.
•SMSU has two victories over top 12 teams this season, including defeating No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 11. It was the program's first-ever over a No. 1 ranked team. SMSU also defeated No. 12 Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 9.
•Senior Cliff Cofield became the 27th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points in the win over SCSU on Jan. 6. Cofield's career-high 31 points with a career-high 10 field goals and a career-high five 3-pointers in a win over Truman State on Nov. 26 was the most points scored by a Mustang player since Kenny Byers scored 33 at Minnesota Crookston on Jan. 31, 2020.
•SMSU scored a season-high 89 points and shot a season high 61.5 percent (32 of 52) from the field in a Dec. 2 loss at Minnesota State.

    MUSTANGS IN THE NSIC STATS   
•In NSIC games only, Phipps ranks first in the league in field goal pct. (57.5), sixth in free throw pct. (83.7), fourth in blocked shots (1.4), 10th scoring (16.3) and 10th in rebounding (6.8). Senior Cliff Cofield is third in the NSIC in assists (4.2) and sixth in steals (1.4), while sophomore Jakob Braaten is second in assist/turnover ratio (2.7) and 12th in assists (3.3).
•SMSU leads the NSIC in field goal pct. defense (41.6) and is second in field goal pct. (49.3) and second in free throw pct. (78.7).

    SMSU IN THE NCAA STATS   
•In the latest Division II national statistics (Jan. 30), SMSU ranks 22nd in free throw pct. (77.6), 26th in turnovers per game (10.4), 38th in assist/turnover ratio (1.3), 57th in field goal pct. (47.5), 61st in field goal pct. defense (42.3) and 65th in scoring defense (69.7).
•Aeron Stevens ranks 31st in free throw attempts (123) and 39th in free throws made (90).
•Cliff Cofield ranks 37th in free throw pct. (88.5), 28th in steals (39) and 71st in total assists (79), while Jake Phipps ranks 51st in field goal pct. (55.9) and 54th in field goals made (124).
•SMSU in the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.

    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
•For the season, SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring with senior Jake Phipps scoring a team-high 15.5 ppg and is also the leader in rebounding at 6.7 rpg. He is shooting a team-high 56 percent from the field.
•Senior Cliff Cofield is averaging 12.4 ppg with a team-high 79 assists and team-high 39 steals.  
•Freshman Aeron Stevens ranks third on the team with 12.4 ppg and has made a team-high 90 free throws.
•Junior Dunwa Omot is scoring 11.1 ppg while connecting on a team-high 32 3-pointers.
•Sophomore Mason Lund is averaging 7.3 ppg and is second in rebounding (5.2).  
•SMSU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 78 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.3 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 75 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 ppg.

    PHIPPS MOVING UP IN THE SMSU RECORD BOOKS
•Senior Jake Phipps ranks 10th in team history with 1,366 points in 115 games. He is nine points shy of tying Matt Fletcher (2004-08) for ninth all-time in scoring and 32 points away from tying Joey Bartlett (2013-17) for eighth all-time.
•He is also second all-time in blocked shots (138), fifth in field goal pct. (56.0, 556 of 992), fifth in field goals made (556) and ninth in rebounds (664).

    COFIELD IN THE SMSU RECORD BOOK
•Senior Cliff Cofield, who became the 27th SMSU player in team history to score 1,000 career points on Jan. 6, ranks second in program history in steals (166) and third in assists (357).

    MUSTANG CAREER 20-POINT GAMES
•Four current SMSU players, senior Cliff Cofield, senior Jake Phipps, junior Dunwa Omot and freshman Aeron Stevens have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Cofield recorded his first career 20-point game earlier this season versus No. 1 NW Missouri State and later scored a career-high 31 versus Truman State.
•Omot has reached the 20-point mark twice this season and 15 times in his career, including one 30-point game. Phipps has reached 20 points four times this season and 15 times in his career, while Stevens has reached the mark twice this season.
20 or More Point Games This Season
    31    Cliff Cofield    Truman State, 11/26/23
    26    Aeron Stevens    UMary, 1/26/24
    24    Jake Phipps    St. Cloud State, 1/6/24
    23    Dunwa Omot    Bemidji State, 1/5/24
    22    Jake Phipps    Minnesota Duluth, 12/9/23
    21    Jake Phipps    MSU Moorhead, 1/12/24
    21    Aeron Stevens    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/23
    20    Jake Phipps    Upper Iowa, 11/25/23
    20    Cliff Cofield    NW Missouri State, 11/11/23
    20    Dunwa Omot    St. Cloud State, 1/6/24

    JAKOB BRAATEN NOTES
•Has played in 18 games with 10 starts and is averaging 5.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg. Missed two games with an injury.  
•Dished out career-high six assists vs. Northern State (1/27/24).
•Tied career-high with eight rebounds vs. UMary (1/26/24).
•Scored a career-high 16 points with three 3-pointers vs. Upper Iowa (11/25/23).
•Played in 25 games with 17 starts last season and averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg.  
•Sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt.

    MASON LUND NOTES
•Has started all 20 games and is scoring 7.3 ppg and is second on the team averaging 5.2 rpg.
•Tied career-high with 10 rebounds vs. St. Cloud State (1/6/24).
•Connected on three 3-pointers and tied season-high with 15 points vs. Northern State (1/27/24).
•Missed the last 15 games a season ago due to injury.
•Played in the first 13 games with six starts and averaged 7.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Scored career-high 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting with two 3-pointers vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).

    CLIFF COFIELD NOTES
•Changed last name from McCray to Cofield this past summer.
•Has started all 20 games and is averaging 12.4 ppg with a team-high 79 assists.
•Scored career-high 31 points on 10 of 14 shooting with five 3-pointers vs. Truman State (11/26/23).
•Scored 20 points in win over No. 1 NW Missouri State (11/11/23).
•Started all 28 games last season and averaged 8.0 ppg, while leading the team with 87 assists.
•Season-high 10 rebounds and scored 11 points for second career double-double at Minot State (1/7/23).
•Tied career-high with eight assists vs. Newman (11/12/22).
•Started all 27 games, while averaging 9.5 ppg and dishing out a team-high 92 assists in 2021-22.
•Played and started nine games in 2021, while averaging 7.7 ppg and a team-high 6.0 rpg.
•Led the team in 2021 with 41 assists.

    KYLE LUEDTKE NOTES
•Transfer from Division I Omaha, where he played in 81 games over four seasons and scored 287 points.
•Has played in all 18 games with 14 starts and is averaging 7.3 ppg with 28 3-pointers.
•Poured in 16 points with four 3-pointers at Minnesota State (12/2/23).
•Scored season-high 19 points with five 3-pointers at Winona State (12/1/23).

    LANCE MOSLEY NOTES
•Has not appeared in a game this season.
•Played in two games last 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 played in 17 games with 14 starts and is averaging 11.1 ppg with a team high 32 3-pointers. Missed three games and most of a fourth with an injury.
•Named NSIC Player of the Week on Jan. 8, 2024.
•Scored season-high 23 points with five 3-pointers vs. Bemidji State (1/5/24).
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2022-23 after starting all 28 games and averaging a team-high 16.6 ppg with a team-high 52 3-pointers.
•Scored 20 or more points eight times with one 30-point game.
•Scored career-high 30 points on 12 of 19 shooting with 12 rebounds vs. Minot State (2/21/23).  
•Named NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Jan. 23, 2023, after scoring 28 points on 10 of 17 shooting vs. Minnesota Duluth (1/21/23) and scoring 27 points vs. St. Cloud State (1/20/23).
•Played in all 27 games with eight starts in 2021-22 averaging 11.9 ppg and 1.8 rpg, while leading the team with 56 3-pointers.
•Shot 56.6 percent on 3-pointers in 2021-22 ranking first in school history.
•Scored 28 points with six 3-pointers at Minot State (2/23/22)
•Played in four games and averaged 1.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg in 2021.

    JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has started all 20 games and leads the team in rebounding (6.7), scoring (15.5), field goal pct. (55.9) and blocked shots (23).
•Tied season-high 10 field goals with season-high 24 points and vs. St. Cloud State (1/6/24).
•Recorded a double-double at Wayne State (11/21/23) and vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/9/23).
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2022-23 after starting all 28 games and averaging 13.3 ppg and a team-high 7.0 rpg.
•Scored career-high 28 points on 12 of 17 shooting with three 3-pointers vs. Upper Iowa (2/10/23).
•Grabbed career-high 15 rebounds at Wayne State (12/3/22).
•Started all 27 games in 2021-22, averaging 12.7 ppg and a team-high 6.4 rpg.
•Recorded a team-high five double-doubles in 2021-22.
•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.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.

    CALEB SCHLAAK NOTES
•Transfer from Truman State (Mo.) where he played five games in 2022-23.
•Has played in four games this season and has scored six points.

    MEKHI SHAW NOTES
•Has played in all 20 games and is averaging 5.3 ppg with 30 assists.
•Scored career-high 11 points on 3 of 3 shooting with four rebounds vs. UMary.
•Has scored 10 points in three other games.  
•Redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

    AERON STEVENS NOTES
•Has played in all 20 games and is averaging 12.4 ppg and 5.0 rpg.
•Recorded first career double-double with a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds vs. UMary (1/26/24).  
•Scored 21 points with seven field goals vs. Concordia-St. Paul (12/8/23).
•Scored 18 points at Minnesota State (12/2/23).  
•Only true freshman expected to play this season for SMSU.

    MATT THOMPSON NOTES
•Has played in eight games and has scored six points.
•Connected on 3-pointers vs. Upper Iowa (11/25/23) and Truman State (11/26/23).  
•Redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

    HOME AND AWAY IN 2023-24
•SMSU is 6-1 at home this season and has a home record of 125-65 since head coach Brad Bigler took over in 2009-10.
•SMSU, which is 6-7 in road/neutral site games in 2023-24, is 108-120 in 228 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 2023-24:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    6-1    51.7    31.6    77.8    36.4    80.6    9.7    
Away    6-7    45.1    37.4    77.4    32.9    71.8    10.7

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2023-24 season marks the 28th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 257-112 (.696) in 369 games with 23 winning 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    6-5    5-5    1-0
    2022-23    10-5    8-3    2-2
    2023-24    6-1    6-1    0-0
    Totals    257-112    173-84    84-28

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•SMSU has made at least one 3-point field goal in 736 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.

    2022-23 ALL-NSIC RETURNERS   
•SMSU senior center Jake Phipps and junior guard Dunwa Omot both earned All-NSIC second team honors in 2022-23.
•Omot led SMSU in scoring (16.6), 3-point field goals made (52) and free throw percentage (87.0), while ranking second in both assists (63) and steals (38).
•Phipps led SMSU in rebounding (7.0), field goal pct. (55.1) and blocked shots (38), while ranking  second in scoring (13.3) and fourth in 3-point field goals made (25).

    MUSTANG DEFENSE ONE OF THE BEST IN 2022-23
•SMSU limited opponents to 39.9 percent shooting from the field and 30.5 percent from 3-point range last season setting team single-season records in both categories.
•SMSU's 64.5 points per game allowed last season ranks as the third-lowest in team history.
•SMSU led the NSIC last season (league games only) in scoring defense (64.5), opponent field goal pct. (39.8) and 3-point field goal pct. defense (30.6).

    MUSTANGS AND THE CENTURY MARK
•SMSU last scored 100 points in a game on 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 0-1 in overtime games this season following an 88-87 road loss to No. 1 MSU Moorhead on Jan. 12.
•SMSU, which has lost three straight overtime games, last earned an overtime victory on Feb. 17, 2022, versus Wayne State.
•SMSU is 51-43 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is 8-6 in double overtime and 1-3 in triple overtime games all-time.

    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 PICKED 7TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish seventh in the 15-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•SMSU senior center Jake Phipps was named a 'Player to Watch'.
•Minnesota Duluth was selected as preseason favorite with UMD senior guard Drew Blair named the preseason Player of the Year.

    NEW LOOK NSIC REGULAR SEASON AND TOURNAMENT
•Due to Upper Iowa University leaving for the Great Lake Valley Conference, the NSIC is a 15-team conference in 2023-24.
•The NSIC regular season championship will be based on the 22-game unbalanced schedule with each team playing eight teams twice and another six teams once.
•The 12-team NSIC Men's Basketball Tournament begins on Feb. 28 with the top four seeds receiving a first round bye. First round games will be played on campus with the quarterfinals, semifinals and championships set to take place March 2-5 at the Sanford Health Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2023-24 campaign marks the 55th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 408-445 in 853 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 26 times in 54 seasons.
•SMSU has captured one regular season championship (2000-01), two NSIC South Division titles (2016-17) and (2017-18) and two tournament championships (2012) and (2017).

    MUSTANG HISTORY
•SMSU is in its 57th season of men's basketball in 2023-24.
•SMSU has played 1,562 games compiling an all-time record of 725-837.
•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 26 winning seasons in program history with 19 coming in the last 26 years.

    SCOUTING MINNESOTA STATE
•MSU, 19-2 overall and ranked No. 1/2 in this week's national polls, had its four-game win streak snapped on Tuesday with an 85-70 loss at Minnesota Duluth.
•Senior guard Malik Willingham is averaging a team-high 18.4 points with a team-leading 83 assists while making 49 3-pointers. Younger brother, junior guard Kyreese Willingham is averaging 13.7 ppg with 26 3-pointers.
•Junior guard transfer Justin Eagins has made a team-high 51 3-pointers and is scoring 13.5 ppg.
•Senior forward transfer Dylan Peeters ranks fourth on the team with 10.6 ppg and leads the team with 7.0 rpg.
•MSU is shooting 50 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-6.3 in rebound margin.
•MSU is averaging 90 points per game, while opponents are averaging 73 points per game.
•Head coach Matt Margenthaler is in his 23rd season with a record of 472-211.

    SCOUTING WINONA STATE
•The Warriors are 13-8 overall, 8-7 NSIC, and are coming off a 78-67 road win over Concordia-St. Paul on Tuesday. WSU plays at Sioux Falls on Friday night before facing SMSU.  
•Junior guard Connor Dillon, who was named NSIC Player of the Week on Monday, scored 41 points in Tuesday's win at CSP. Dillon is averaging a team-high 22.3 points with 58 3-pointers and 56 assists.  
•Junior guard transfer Olumide Adelodun and is averaging 10.4 ppg and 6.0 rpg after joining the roster spring semester.
•Junior forward Connor Drew is scoring 10.4 ppg and has 29 3-pointers.
•WSU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 69 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.5 in rebound margin.
•WSU is averaging 72 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.
•Head coach Todd Eisner is in his ninth season at WSU with a record of 128-105. He has also been head coach at Viterbo, Bellevue, Benedictine and Midland recording a career record of 535-263 in 26 seasons as a head coach.