THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (10-3, 5-2 NSIC) returns to action on Friday night with a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match-up at the University of Minnesota Crookston (3-9, 2-4 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. at UMC's Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn.
•It's the only game of the weekend for SMSU which will return home on Jan. 10-11, 2025, taking on MSU Moorhead and Minot State. It's the first of four straight home games for SMSU.
•SMSU last played on Dec. 21 earning an 84-72 home victory over the University of Sioux Falls.
•SMSU's 10-3 start is the program's best since the 2016-17 team opened the year 13-1.  
•A preview for UMC can be found on page 4.

    BROADCAST INFO
•Friday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Live stats, radio and video broadcasts of all NSIC games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SMSU DROPS OUT OF NABC TOP 25 POLL; RANKED NO. 21 IN D2CSC TOP 25
•SMSU dropped out of this week's NABC Top 25 poll released on Tuesday. SMSU, which was ranked No. 24 on Dec. 17, received six votes in this week's poll.
•SMSU was ranked No. 18 in the first regular season poll on Nov. 19, dropped to No. 22 on Nov. 26, moved No. 18 on Dec. 3, was not ranked on Dec. 10, before back into the poll at No. 24 on Dec. 17. This season marks the first time SMSU has been ranked in the NABC Top 25 regular season poll since the 2016-17 season.
•SMSU was ranked No. 21 in the D2 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Top 25 poll on Dec. 17. The Mustangs were also ranked third in the Dec. 17 D2CSC Central Region poll.
•This week's NABC Top 25 poll can be found on page 19.
 
    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•SMSU and UMC meet for the 41st time with SMSU leading 35-5 in a series that started in 1994-95.
•SMSU leads the series 32-3 since UMC joined the NSIC in 1999-2000. SMSU's victory last season in Crookston snapped a two-game winning streak for UMC in the series. UMC's win in Marshall on Jan. 28, 2023, snapped a 23-game losing streak in the series.
•SMSU is 17-3 all-time in games played in Crookston, including earning a 77-67 victory last season on Jan. 20, 2024.  
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 13-2 all-time versus UMC.

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 16th season as head coach with an overall record of 250-193, including 169-149 in NSIC play.  
•SMSU has played 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 10 winning seasons, including one 28-win season, one 25-win season and three 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.

    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring and six averaging nine points or more.
•Sophomore Aeron Stevens is averaging a team-high 16.3 ppg and also leads the team averaging 7.1 rpg.  
•Junior Jakob Braaten has dished out a team-high 50 assists, is second in scoring at 13 ppg and is third in rebounding at 6.4 rpg.
•Senior Dunwa Omot is third in scoring at 11.9 ppg and is first on the team with 21 3-pointers.
•Sophomore Steven Kramer is fourth in scoring at 10.9 ppg.
•Junior Mason Lund ranks second on team with 6.5 rpg, is fifth in scoring at 9.2 ppg and is second with 19 3-pointers.
•Sophomore Mekhi Shaw has recorded a team-high 28 steals, ranks second with 29 assists and is scoring 9.0 ppg.
•SMSU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.4 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 76 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 ppg.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS   
•Head coach Brad Bigler recorded the 250th victory of his career on Dec. 21.
•SMSU has shot the same or more free throws than its opponents in 12 of 13 games.
•Aeron Stevens recorded the team's first double-double of the season on Dec. 21 with 19 points and 10 rebounds.
•Mekhi Shaw tied a career-high with 17 points at Augustana on Dec. 19.
•SMSU is 3-0 versus Top 25 teams this season which includes defeating a No. 1 ranked team for a second consecutive season.

    NCAA WEEKLY STATISTICS   
•In the latest Division II national statistics (Dec. 31), SMSU ranks fourth in fouls per game (12.6), 12th in turnovers per game (10.2), 43rd in free throw pct. (76.3), 50th in scoring defense (68.5) and 51st in field goal pct. defense (41.2).
•Aeron Stevens ranks 47th in free throws made (55) and 62nd in free throws attempted (70).
•Mekhi Shaw ranks 24th in steals (28) and 55th in steals per game (2.15).
•Jakob Braaten ranks 76th in assists (50).

    OMOT IN THE SMSU RECORD BOOK    
•Senior Dunwa Omot ranks 14th in team history with 1,263 points and is 51 points from tying Kenny Byers (2017-22) for 13th on the all-time scoring list.
•He also ranks seventh in 3-point field goals made (185), fifth in free throw pct. (84.1) and eighth in 3-point field goals attempted (457). (see charts on page 4).

    MUSTANG CAREER 20-POINT GAMES
•Four current SMSU players, senior Dunwa Omot, junior Jakob Braaten, sophomore Aeron Stevens and sophomore Steven Kramer have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Omot has reached the 20-point mark 19 times (three times this season), including one 30-point game, Stevens has reached the mark seven times, (three times this season), Braaten twice this season, while Kramer has done it once.
20 or More Point Games This Season
    29    Aeron Stevens    Fort Hays State, 11/8
    26    Jakob Braaten    Minnesota State, 12/13
    25    Dunwa Omot    Minnesota Duluth, 12/6
    25    Aeron Stevens    Minnesota State, 11/16
    21    Steven Kramer    Minnesota State, 12/13
    21    Dunwa Omot    Minnesota State, 11/16
    20    Dunwa Omot    Sioux Falls, 12/21
    20    Aeron Stevens    Upper Iowa, 11/24
    20    Jakob Braaten    Upper Iowa, 11/24

    JAKOB BRAATEN NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is averaging 13 ppg and 6.4 rpg.
•Dished out career-high eight assists at Winona State (12/14/24).
•Scored a career-high 26 points at Minnesota State (12/13/24).
•Career-high with five steals vs. Minnesota State (11/16/24).
•Tied a career-high with nine rebounds at Augustana (12/19/24).
•Played in 30 games with 12 starts last season while averaging 5.9 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
•Played in 25 games with 17 starts in 2022-23 and averaged 5.9 ppg and 3.6 rpg.  
•Sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt.

    CALVIN BUSS NOTES
•Has played in 12 games with one start and is averaging 4.3 ppg and 2.3 rpg. Missed the Concordia-St. Paul game due to injury.
•Scored career-high 11 points on 5 of 5 shooting in first career start vs. Briar Cliff (11/30/24).
•Scored seven points with two 3-pointers vs. Fort Hays State (11/8).
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    NATHAN FENSKE NOTES
•Has not appeared in any games.
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    BUAY KOAK NOTES
•Has not appeared in any games.
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    STEVEN KRAMER NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is averaging 10.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg.
•Scored career-high 21 points at Minnesota State (12/13/24).
•Scored 18 points with eight field goals and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds vs. Wayne State (11/26/24).
•Spent two seasons (2022-24) at the University South Dakota.
•Played in 31 games with five starts in 2023-24 averaging 2.7 ppg and 2.4 rpg.
•Closed the season dishing out 50 assists and recording 10 steals.

    ETHAN KOLTZ NOTES
•Has not appeared in any games.
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    MASON LUND NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is averaging 9.2 ppg and 6.5 rpg.
•Scored career-high 18 points with four 3-pointers at Winona State (12/14/24).
•Scored 16 points vs. Wayne State (11/26/24).
•Pulled down career-high 17 rebounds at Upper Iowa (11/24/24).
•Started all 32 games last season averaging 7.0 ppg and was third on the team averaging 4.8 rpg.
•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.

    DUNWA OMOT NOTES
•Has started all 13 games and is averaging 11.9 ppg with a team-high 21 3-pointers.
•Scored season-high 25 points vs. Minnesota Duluth with nine field goals.
•Has led the team in 3-pointers the past three seasons.
•Poured in 18 points with seven field goals vs. Briar Cliff (11/30).
•Scored season-high 21 points vs. Minnesota State (11/16).
•Played in 29 games with 26 starts last season and averaged 11 ppg with a team high 55 3-pointers.
•Named All-NSIC second team in 2022-23 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.
•Twice named NSIC Player of the Week during his career.

    CALEB SCHLAAK NOTES
•Has played in all 13 games and is averaging 3.2 ppg and 3.0 rpg.
•Scored career-high 11 points with a career-high 15 rebounds vs. Concordia-St. Paul.   
•Scored nine points on 4 of 4 shooting vs. Briar Cliff (11/30).
•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
•Has played in all 13 games and is averaging 9.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg.
•Leads team with 28 steals and is second with 29 assists.  
•Tied career-high with 17 points with seven field goals, including three 3-pointers at Augustana (12/19/24).  
•Played in all 32 games a season ago and averaged 4.9 ppg with 44 assists.
•Scored season-high 13 points on 6 of 6 shooting at Concordia-St. Paul (2/10/24).
•Redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

    AERON STEVENS NOTES
•Has started 12 games and is averaging 16.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg.
•Missed the Briar Cliff game due to injury.
•Has scored 20 or more points in three games this season.
•Recorded a double-double vs. Sioux Falls (12/21).
•Scored career-high 29 points vs. Fort Hays State (11/8/24) with 14 free throws.
•Poured in 25 points vs. Minnesota State (11/16).
•Played in all 32 games last season averaging 11.8 ppg and finished second on team with 4.9 rpg.
•Set freshman program record for free throws made and free throw attempts in a season.
•Scored season-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 in 2023-24.

    MATT THOMPSON NOTES
•Has played in one game scoring two points and pulling down two rebounds vs. Briar Cliff (11/30).
•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 is 7-1 at home this season and has a home record of 135-68 since head coach Brad Bigler started in 2009-10.
•SMSU, 3-2 in road/neutral site games this season, is 115-125 in 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 2024-25:
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    7-1    49.1    34.9    76.6    35.5    78.8    10.0     
Away    3-2    45.9    31.6    75.6    38.6    72.4    10.2     

    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 267-115 (.698) in 382 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    7-1    3-1    4-0
    Totals    267-115    178-87    89-28

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAME STREAK ENDS
•SMSU's consecutive game streak of making at least one 3-point field goal came to an end earlier this season at 752 games when SMSU finished 0 for 6 in an overtime loss at Upper Iowa on Nov. 24.
•Prior to the Upper Iowa game, the last time SMSU failed to connect on a 3-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU Moorhead at the North Dakota State Classic.

    SMSU PICKED 4TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish fourth in the 15-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•SMSU senior guard Dunwa Omot was named a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC.

    STEVENS SETS FRESHMAN RECORD IN 2023-24    
•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.

    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 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 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 a 79-78 road setback to Upper Iowa on Nov. 24.
•SMSU, which has lost five straight overtime games, last earned an overtime victory on Feb. 17, 2022, versus Wayne State.
•SMSU is 51-45 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 418-450 in 868 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 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 1,587 games compiling a record of 742-845.
•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 MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•The Golden Eagles, 3-9 overall, 2-4 NSIC, last played on Dec. 20-21, winning 73-71 at Northern State before suffering a 90-64 road loss to MSU Moorhead. It was UMC's first-ever victory in Aberdeen, S.D.
•Senior guard Reid Grant is scoring 15.4 ppg and has dished out a team-high 66 assists, while making 27 3-pointers.
•Junior guard Micah Garrett is averaging 10 ppg with 18 3-pointers.
•UMC is shooting 42 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 65 percent from the free throw line and is minus-5.5 in rebound margin.
•UMC is averaging 71 points per game, while opponents are averaging 79 points per game.
•Head coach Bryan Beamish is in his third season at UMC with a 11-57 record. He was an assistant at UMC for eight seasons prior to being named head coach.