THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team, which is receiving votes in the NABC preseason Top 25, opens the 2024-25 regular season with a pair of home games this Friday and Saturday inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU opens play on Friday facing No. 16 ranked Fort Hays State University (Kan.) with game time set for 7 p.m. before closing the weekend on Saturday with a 6 p.m. match-up versus the University of Nebraska Kearney. Both schools are members of the Mid-American Athletic Association (MIAA).
•The two games are part of four that will be played inside the R/A Facility this weekend. On Friday at 5 p.m., Nebraska Kearney will take on Concordia-St. Paul, while on Saturday at 4 p.m. Fort Hays State will battle Concordia-St. Paul.
•This season marks the 58th season for SMSU men's basketball compiling an all-time record of 732-842.
•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 six NCAA tournaments (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2024).
•SMSU has recorded 27 winning seasons in program history with 20 coming in the last 27 years.
•A preview for both FHSU and UNK can be found on page 4.

    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 home games NSIC games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
 
    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS FORT HAYS STATE
•SMSU and Fort Hays State meet for the seventh time with the series tied at 3-3.
•Friday will be the fifth time SMSU has opened a season versus FHSU.
•The teams last played on Nov. 10, 2018, in Marshall with SMSU earning a 96-85 victory.
•The series is tied 1-1 in games played in Marshall.   
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 2-3 all-time versus FHSU.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS NEBRASKA KEARNEY
•SMSU and Nebraska Kearney meet for the third time with UNK leading 2-0.
•UNK earned victories in Kearney, Neb., during the 1975-76 and 1984-85 seasons.
•SMSU is 17-12 all-time versus current members of the MIAA.

    SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 31-26 all-time in season openers having won 10 of its last 18 and 18 of its last 27 season lid-lifters.
•SMSU, which defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State to begin last season in St. Joseph, Mo., will be opening the season at home for the first time since the 2018-19 season and just the second time since the 2013-14 season.
•SMSU is opening a season versus Fort Hays State for the fifth time since the 2013-14 season.

    2023-24 WIN TOTAL RANKS TIED FOR SEVENTH IN TEAM HISTORY
•SMSU's 19 victories last season tied for the seventh highest win total in the program's 54-year history.
•The program has reached 20 or more victories six times with the last coming during the 2017-18 season.   

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 16th season as head coach and has an overall record of 240-190, including 164-147 in NSIC play.  
•SMSU has appeared in four NCAA tournaments (2012, 2017, 2018, 2024) during his time as head coach.
•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).
•The 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.
•Bigler's complete bio is found on page 15.

    ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE IN 2024-25   
•SMSU returns seven letter winners and three starters from last season's 19-13 team that advanced to the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in team history and first since 2018. SMSU tied for fifth in the NSIC with a record of 14-8. SMSU's season came to an end with a loss to Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Mankato, Minn.
•SMSU's lone senior, guard Dunwa Omot, was named a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC this season. Omot played in 29 games last season (he missed three games with an injury) with 26 starts, averaging 11 points per game and leading SMSU with 55 3-pointers. He scored double figures in 19 games, including three 20-point games. He shot 46 percent (110 of 242) from the field, while adding 55 assists and 31 steals.  
•The Mustangs return four players that started 12 or more game last season. Joining Omot as a returning double-digit scorer from a year ago is sophomore forward Aeron Stevens, who ranked second on the team with both scoring (11.8) and rebounding (4.9). Stevens shot 46 percent (117 of 252) from the field and set program freshman records last season for free throws made (127) and free throws attempted (174). He scored a career-high 27 points on 11 of 16 shooting with five 3-pointers in a home victory over Winona State.
•Junior guard Mason Lund started all 32 games last season averaging 7.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, while shooting 47 percent (88 of 187) from the field.
•Also returning is junior guard Jakob Braaten, who played in 30 games with 12 starts a season ago, ranking second on the team with 78 assists, while averaging 5.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg .
•Sophomore guard Mekhi Shaw came off the bench in all 32 games last season and ranked second on the team with 37 steals. He shot 47 percent (63 of 135) from the field while scoring 4.9 ppg and dishing out 44 assists.
•Junior forward Caleb Schlaak and sophomore forward Matt Thompson are returning letter winners that combined to play in 12 games last season.
•SMSU added four-year transfer sophomore guard Steven Kramer, who played 31 games with five starts last season for the University of South Dakota. He averaged 2.7 ppg and 2.4 rpg, while shooting 40 percent (30 of 76) from the field, including 8 of 23 from 3-point range. He scored a season-high 11 points with five assists in a career-high 29 minutes versus Montana and closed the season dishing out 50 assists and recording 10 steals.
•The roster also includes four redshirt freshmen players in guards Nathan Fenske and Buay Koak, along with forward Calvin Buss and center Ethan Koltz.
•True freshmen include guards Landon Pokorski and Isaiah Schafer and forward Micah Schlaak.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS    
•Sophomore  Aeron Stevens set the school freshman record for free throws made and attempted in a single-season in 2023-24. He made 127 of 174 from the foul line with the 127 free throws made ranking eighth in team single-season history. Bob Throngard held the previous freshman record of 97 free throws made and 129 attempted during the program's first season in 1967-68.
•SMSU finished with three victories over Top 25 teams last season, including defeating No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 11, 2023. It was the program's first-ever over a No. 1 ranked team. SMSU also defeated No. 12 Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 9, 2023, and No. 24 Minot State on Feb. 23, 2024.
•Senior Dunwa Omot became the 28th player in team history to reach 1,000 career points last season and currently ranks 21st all-time with 1,108 points. He ranks 10th in team history with 164 3-point field goals and is fourth in 3-point field goal pct. (42.8) and fourth in free throw pct. (84.3).

    MUSTANG DEFENSE ONE OF THE BEST IN TEAM HISTORY    
•For the second straight season in 2023-24, SMSU closed the NSIC campaign (22 games) ranking first in scoring defense (68.0), while ranking first in field goal pct. defense (39.7).
•SMSU closed the regular season limiting four of its final five opponents to less than 40 percent shooting, including three to 33 percent or less.
•SMSU opponents shot 41.1 percent shooting last season ranking as the second lowest in team history. The 2022-23 team set the school record at 39.9 percent.

    MUSTANGS IN THE FINAL NSIC STATS   
•In the final NSIC stats (league games only), SMSU ranked first in scoring defense (68.0), first in field goal pct. defense (39.7), first in field goal pct. (48.6), fourth in 3-point field goal pct. (35.6), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.35), sixth in 3-point field goal pct. defense (32.6) and sixth in free throw pct. (75.3).
•Aeron Stevens finished 16th in free throw pct. (74.6).

    SMSU IN THE FINAL 2023-24 NCAA STATS   
•In the final 2023-24 Division II national statistics, SMSU ranked 18th in field goal pct. defense (41.1), 33rd in turnovers per game (10.6), 30th in scoring defense (67.8) and 50th in field goal pct. (47.4).
•Aeron Stevens ranked 45th in free throw attempts (174) and 70th in free throws made (127).
•SMSU in the NCAA stats can be found on page 15.

    MUSTANG CAREER 20-POINT GAMES
•Two current SMSU players, senior Dunwa Omot and sophomore Aeron Stevens have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Omot has reached the 20-point mark 16 times, including one 30-point game, while Stevens has reached the mark four times.
20 or More Point Games During 2023-24 Season for
Returning SMSU Players
    27    Aeron Stevens    Winona State, 2/3/24
    26    Aeron Stevens    UMary, 1/26/24
    23    Dunwa Omot    Bemidji State, 1/5/24
    22    Aeron Stevens    MSU Moorhead, 2/24/24
    21    Aeron Stevens    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/23
    20    Dunwa Omot    Minot State, 3/3/24
    20    Dunwa Omot    St. Cloud State, 1/6/24

    JAKOB BRAATEN NOTES
•Played in 30 games with 12 starts last season and averaged 5.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Missed two games with an injury.  
•Grabbed a career-high nine rebounds in three games.
•Dished out career-high six assists vs. Northern State (1/27/24).
•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.

    CALVIN BUSS NOTES
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    NATHAN FENSKE NOTES
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    BUAY KOAK NOTES
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    STEVEN KRAMER NOTES
•Spent two seasons (2022-24) at the University South Dakota.
•Played in 31 games with five starts last season averaging 2.7 ppg and 2.4 rpg.
•Scored a season-high 11 points with five assists vs. Montana  (1/6/24).
•Closed the season dishing out 50 assists and recording 10 steals.

    ETHAN KOLTZ NOTES
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    MASON LUND NOTES
•Started all 32 games last season averaging 7.0 ppg and was third on the team averaging 4.8 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).
•Played in the first 13 games in 2022-23 with six starts and averaged 7.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg, before missing the last 15 games due to injury.
•Scored career-high 16 points on 6 of 11 shooting with two 3-pointers vs. Mt. Marty (11/26/22).

    DUNWA OMOT NOTES
•Played in 29 games with 26 starts last season and averaged 11 ppg with a team high 55 3-pointers. Missed three games and most of a fourth earlier with an injury.
•Reached 1,000 career points on Feb. 9, 2024.
•Named NSIC Player of the Week on Jan. 8, 2024, and has earned the honor twice in his career.
•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 career-high 30 points on 12 of 19 shooting with 12 rebounds vs. Minot State (2/21/23).  
•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.

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

    MEKHI SHAW NOTES
•Played in all 32 games a season ago and averaged 4.9 ppg with 44 assists.
•Scored career-high 13 points on 6 of 6 shooting at Concordia-St. Paul (2/10/24).
•Redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

    AERON STEVENS NOTES
•Played in all 32 games last season averaging 11.8 ppg and finished second on team with 4.9 rpg.
•Set program record for free throws made and free throw attempts by a freshman.
•Scored career-high 27 points with five 3-pointers vs. Winona State (2/3/24).
•Recorded first career double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds vs. UMary (1/26/24).  
•Only true freshman to play last season.

    MATT THOMPSON NOTES
•Played in eight games and scored six points last season.
•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 finished 9-3 at home last season and has a home record of 128-67 since head coach Brad Bigler took over in 2009-10.
•SMSU, which finished 10-10 in road/neutral site games last season, is 112-123 in 235 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    9-3    49.8    35.5    74.6    34.7    76.4    9.7     
Away    10-10    45.9    37.0    76.0    33.0    70.2    11.2      

    HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2024-25 season marks the 29th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 260-114 (.695) in 374 games with 24 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    9-3    8-3    1-0
    2024-25    0-0    0-0    0-0
    Totals    260-114    175-86    85-28

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•SMSU begins the 2024-25 season having made at least one 3-point field goal in 748 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 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 finished 0-2 in overtime games last season following an 88-87 road loss to No. 1 MSU Moorhead on Jan. 12 and a home loss to No. 13 MSU Moorhead on Feb. 24.
•SMSU, which has lost four straight overtime games, last earned an overtime victory on Feb. 17, 2022, versus Wayne State.
•SMSU is 51-44 all-time in overtime games.
•SMSU is 8-6 in double overtime and 1-3 in triple overtime games all-time.

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2024-25 campaign marks the 56th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 413-448 in 861 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 27 times in 55 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 58th season of men's basketball in 2024-25.
•SMSU has played 1,574 games compiling an all-time record of 732-842.
•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 six NCAA tournaments (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2024).
•SMSU has recorded 27 winning seasons in program history with 20 coming in the last 27 years.

    SMSU NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
•SMSU has made six NCAA tournament appearances (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2024) since moving to Division II in 1995-96.
•SMSU is 9-6 all-time in the NCAA tournament appearing in three region championship games with region titles and Elite Eight appearances in 2001 and 2009.  

    SCOUTING FORT HAYS STATE
•The Tigers, ranked No. 16 in the NABA preseason Top 25, finished the 2023-24 season 23-8 overall, placed second in the MIAA and advanced to the NCAA tournament before losing to Minnesota Duluth (59-58) in the first round.
•FHSU was the media pick to win the MIAA and was picked second in the preseason coaches' poll.
•The Tigers return four players who started games during the 2023-24 season, including All-MIAA first team and D2CCA All-Central Region second team selection Kaleb Hammeke. He enters the season with 1,559 points, 441 assists, and 432 rebounds. He ranks fifth in career scoring and fourth in career assists at FHSU. Hammeke averaged a team-best 13.6 ppg and 4.1 apg in 2023-24.
•In 2023-24, FHSU shot 43 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and was plus-2.2 in rebound margin.
•FHSU averaged 66 points per game, while opponents averaged 58 points per game.
•Head coach Mark Johnson is in his 24th season with a record of 451-220. He is the program's all-time leader in victories and has led the Tigers to eight NCAA tournament appearance.

    SCOUTING NEBRASKA KEARNEY
•The Lopers finished the 2023-24 season 5-22 overall, including 2-20 in the MIAA.
•UNK was picked to finish 12th in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll and 13th in the media poll.  
•The Lopers return two players from last season's team.
•Tim Connelly averaged 2.5 ppg in 19 games with one start.
•In 2023-24, UNK shot 44 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range, 70 percent from the free throw line and was minus-3.6 in rebound margin.
•UNK averaged 70 points per game, while opponents averaged 84 points per game.
•Head coach Marty Levinson is in his first season. He was the head coach at Trinity Valley Community College in 2023-24 and served as head coach at Southern Arkansas University Tech from 2017-23.