SMSU ON SATURDAY
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (7-4, 5-1 NSIC), winners of five straight games, continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday inside the R/A Facility in Marshall taking on St. Cloud State University (7-4, 5-1 NSIC) with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
•SMSU, which has played eight of its 11 games away from Marshall, has won four straight NSIC games, including a 78-66 home victory over Minnesota State on Thursday.  
•Mekhi Shaw scored a career-high 23 points and tied a career-high with six steals in Thursday's victory, while Micah Schlaak added 16 points with six steals and three blocked shots. 
•SMSU closed the game with 16 steals and forced 19 turnovers. It was the first time SMSU registered 15 or more steals in a game since the 2016-17 season. 
•Prior to this season, the last time SMSU started 5-1 in conference play occurred during the 2017-18 season. The last time SMSU started 6-1 in conference play came in 2016-17 when the team started 8-1. 
•SCSU had its six-game win streak end, while suffering its first conference loss on Thursday night with an 82-77 road setback to Sioux Falls. 
•Following Saturday, SMSU will have two weeks off before returning to play on Jan. 3, 2026, hosting Sioux Falls. 

    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 NSIC games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS ST. CLOUD STATE 
•SMSU and SCSU meet for the 71st time with SCSU leading 42-28 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•SMSU has won the last six games, including the only meeting last season in St. Cloud, 63-60. 
•SMSU has won nine of the last 11 since the 2016-17 season, including three straight in Marshall. 
•SCSU's last victory in the series occurred on Dec. 13, 2019, in Marshall. 
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 12-11 all-time versus SCSU.

    BRAATEN EARNS NSIC AND NABC WEEKLY HONOR
•Senior Jakob Braaten was named the NABC/D2CIDA National Player of the Week on Dec. 16 and the NSIC South Division Player of the Week on Dec. 15. He is the first SMSU player in team history to earn national player of the week accolades. 
•Braaten averaged 16.3 points, 10 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 steals, while shooting 68 percent (19 of 28) from the field and a perfect 9 of 9 from the free throw line in three games. 

    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring with senior Jakob Braaten averaging a team-high 16.4 ppg with junior Aeron Stevens averaging 12.6 ppg. Braaten also leads the team in assists (63), steals (21) and rebounding (5.7).   
•Redshirt freshman Micah Schlaak ranks third in scoring at 12.2 ppg, while leading the team with 24 3-pointers. 
•Junior Mekhi Shaw is averaging 11.6 ppg and has registered 24 steals and 26 assists. 
•Senior Mason Lund is averaging 5.1 rpg and is scoring 9.6 ppg with 17 3-pointers. 
•SMSU is shooting 47 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.0 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 76 points per game, while opponents are averaging 72 ppg.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS   
•SMSU's 16 steals in the win over Minnesota State on Thursday was its highest total since recording 15 versus MSU on Jan. 21, 2017.
•SMSU shot a season-high 58.8 percent in the win at Winona State last Sunday.
•Mekhi Shaw led the Mustangs on Thursday with a career-high 23 points with 10 field goals including three 3-pointers. 
•Jakob Braaten recorded his 10th career 20-point scoring game and fourth this season in last Saturday's win at Concordia. 
•SMSU scored a season-high 104 points, made a season-high 39 field goals and drilled a season-high 15 3-pointers in the win over North Central on Dec. 8. 
•As of Dec. 18, SMSU ranks first in Division II in fouls per game (12.1), 31st in turnovers per game (11.2) and 36th in 3-point field goal pct. (38.2). Braaten ranks 13th in Division II in assists per game (5.7) and 12th in total assists (63). A complete listing of where SMSU ranks in the latest NCAA statistics can be found on pages 15-16. 

    BRAATEN SETS SINGLE-GAME RECORD
•Senior Jakob Braaten set a school single-game record on Dec. 8 dishing out 17 assists in SMSU's win over North Central University. He broke the previous record of 15 held by Marques Pena set during the 2000-01 season. 
•The 17 assists are the highest total in Division II this season and is tied for first among all three NCAA divisions. Robert McCray from Florida State also dished out 17 versus Alcorn State on Nov. 4.  

    BRAATEN MOVES UP IN TEAM RECORD BOOK  
•Senior Jakob Braaten ranks seventh in team history in both steals (133) and in assists (298). 
•See chart on page 4.

    SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER 
•Head coach Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 17th season with an overall record of 268-203, including 185-154 in NSIC play.  
•SMSU has played in five NCAA tournaments (2012, 2017, 2018, 2024, 2025) during his tenure as head coach. 
•SMSU won a share of the 2024-25 NSIC regular season championship, captured 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 under Bigler (2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019). 
•The 2012-13 and 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year, Bigler has led SMSU to 11 winning seasons, with one 28-win season, one 25-win season, and four seasons of 19-or-more victories. 
•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 17.

    MUSTANGS OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 9 
•SMSU opened the season ranked No. 9 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25 preseason poll released on Oct. 28. 
•The No. 9 ranking is the highest for the program in the NABC poll since being ranked No. 9 on March 3, 2009. 
•SMSU was ranked in the NABC Top 25 poll eight times during the 2024-25 season, including a season-best No. 13 on Jan. 28, 2025.

    SMSU PICKED TO WIN NSIC; BRAATEN NAMED SOUTH PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
•SMSU was picked to win both the South Division and overall title in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Senior guard Jakob Braaten was named the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year. 

    MUSTANG CAREER 20-POINT GAMES 
•Six current SMSU players: senior Jakob Braaten, senior Mason Lund, junior Aeron Stevens, junior Mekhi Shaw, junior Steven Kramer and redshirt freshman Micah Schlaak have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Stevens has reached the 20-point mark 11 times, (twice this season), Braaten 10 times in his career (four times this season), Lund three times (once this season), Shaw (once in career), Kramer twice a season ago, while Schlaak has reached the mark once this season. 
20 or More Point Games in 2025-26
    27    Jakob Braaten    Concordia-St. Paul, 12/13
    26    Aeron Stevens    Nebraska Kearney, 11/16
    23    Mekhi Shaw    Minnesota State, 12/18
    22    Jakob Braaten    Wayne State, 12/6
    22    Jakob Braaten    Sioux Falls, 11/25
    21    Micah Schlaak    Winona State, 12/14
    21    Aeron Stevens    MSU Moorhead, 11/29
    20    Mason Lund    Augustana, 12/4
    20    Jakob Braaten    MSU Moorhead, 11/29
    
    BRAYSON BOIKE NOTES 
•Has played in 11 games with six starts and is averaging 4.4 ppg.
•Season-high 11 points and seven rebounds vs. North Central (12/8).

    JAKOB BRAATEN NOTES 
•Named 2025-26 NSIC Preseason South Division Player of the Year. 
•Named 2024-25 All-NSIC first team. 
•Has started all 11 games and is averaging 16.4 ppg. 
•Scored career-high 27 points at Concordia (12/13/25). 
•Dished out team single-game record 17 assists vs. North Central (12/8). 
•Tied a career-high with nine rebounds at Augustana (12/19/24). 
•Sat out the 2021-22 season as a redshirt. 

    CALVIN BUSS NOTES 
•Has played in 11 games averaging 2.2 rpg and 1.5 ppg.
•Season-high four points at Winona State (12/14).  
•Played in 29 games with one start last season and averaged 2.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg. Missed one game due to injury.
•Grabbed career-high nine rebounds at Wayne State (2/11/25).  
•Scored career-high 11 points on 5 of 5 shooting in first career start vs. Briar Cliff (11/30/24).
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    REECE KIRCHER NOTES 
•Has played in one game vs. North Central (12/8).

    BUAY KOAK NOTES 
•Has played in one game scoring two points vs. North Central (12/8). 
•Played in three games and was 0 for 2 from the field last season.
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    STEVEN KRAMER NOTES 
•Has not played in a game this season due to injury. 
•Started all 30 games and averaged 9.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg a season ago.
•Tied career-high with 21 points, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line at Wayne State (2/11).
•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 played in one game this season scoring two points vs. North Central (12/8). 
•Played in three game last season grabbing two rebounds at Minnesota Crookston (1/3) and scoring two points vs. Northern State (1/17) and at Northern State (2/22). 
•Sat out the 2023-24 season as a redshirt.

    MASON LUND NOTES 
•Has started 11 games and is averaging 9.6 ppg and 5.1 rpg.
•Scored season-high 20 points at Augustana (12/4).  
•Started all 30 games last season averaging 9.1 ppg with a team-high 5.9 rpg, while ranking second on the team with 49 3-pointers. 
•Pulled down career-high 17 rebounds at Upper Iowa (11/24/24). 
•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. 

    LANDON POKORSKI NOTES 
•Has played 11 games with five starts and is averaging 5.4 ppg with 13 3-pointers.  
•Scored 12 points vs. Wayne State (12/6) with four 3-pointers. 
•Only true freshman to play last season appearing in 15 games averaging 4.7 ppg and 1.7 rpg with 14 3-pointers. 
•Scored career-high 13 points with three 3-pointers at Bemidji State (1/24/25).  

    ISAIAH SCHAFER NOTES 
•Has played in two games averaging 6.0 ppg with four 3-pointers.
•Scored nine points with three 3-pointers vs. North Central (12/8). 
•Sat out the 2024-25 season as a redshirt. 

    CALEB SCHLAAK NOTES 
•Has played in three games.
•Scored five points with three rebounds vs. North Central (12/8). 
•Played in 26 games last season and is averaged 3.2 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
•Scored career-high 11 points with a career-high 15 rebounds vs. Concordia-St. Paul (12/7).   
•Scored nine points on 4 of 4 shooting vs. Briar Cliff (11/30). 
•Transfer from Truman State (Mo.) playing in five games during the 2022-23 season. 

    MICAH SCHLAAK NOTES 
•Has played in 11 games with five starts and is averaging 12.2 ppg, while leading the team with 24 3-pointers. 
•Poured in career-high 21 with five 3-pointers at Winona State (12/14/25). 
•Redshirted during the 2024-25 season.

    MEKHI SHAW NOTES 
•Has played 11 games with six starts and is averaging 11.6 ppg with 26 assists.  
•Scored career-high 23 points with 10 field goals vs. Minnesota State (12/18/25). 
•Played in all 30 games a season ago with six starts while averaging 7.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg and leading the team with 53 steals and finishing second with 76 assists.  
•Redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

    AERON STEVENS NOTES 
•Has started all 11 games and is averaging 12.6 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Scored 26 points on 9 of 16 shooting versus Nebraska Kearney (11/16). 
•Started 29 games last season and averaged 13.9 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Missed one game due to injury. 
•Named 2024-25 All-NSIC second team. 
•Tied career-high with five 3-pointers vs. Minot State (1/11/25). 
•Scored career-high 29 points vs. Fort Hays State (11/8/24) with 14 free throws made. 
•Played in all 32 games in 2023-24 averaging 11.8 ppg and finished second on team with 4.9 rpg.
•Set freshman program record for free throws made (127) and free throw attempts (174) in a season in 2023-24. 

    LUKE STEVENS NOTES 
•Has played in one game and scored two points with two rebounds vs. North Central (12/8).

    HOME AND AWAY IN 2025-26 
•SMSU is 3-0 at home this season and has a home record of 143-70 since head coach Brad Bigler started in 2009-10. 
•SMSU, which is 4-4 road/neutral site games this season, is 125-133 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 2025-26: 
        W-L    FG%    3-FG%    FT%    REB    PTS    TO    
Home    3-0    50.8    43.4    71.2    35.0    85.7    11.3
Away    4-4    45.7    35.8    76.5    32.6    72.2    11.1     

    HOME SWEET HOME 
•The 2025-26 season marks the 30th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men's basketball. 
•SMSU has an all-time record of 275-117 (.701) in 392 games with 25 winning seasons (including this season). 
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    12-3    8-3    4-0
    2025-26    3-0    2-0    1-0
    Totals    275-117    185-89    90-28

    MUSTANGS AND THE CENTURY MARK 
•SMSU scored 104 points in a 104-68 win over North Central University earlier this season. 
•SMSU is 42-8 all-time when scoring 100 points, including 10-2 under head coach Brad Bigler. 

    WORKING OVERTIME 
•SMSU is 1-0 in overtime games this season following a 69-66 non-conference win over Jamestown on Nov. 30, 2025.
•The overtime win snapped a five-game overtime losing streak dating back to Feb. 17, 2022. 
•SMSU is 52-45 all-time in overtime games. 
•SMSU is 8-6 in double overtime and 1-3 in triple overtime games all-time. 

    2024-25 DEFENSE STRONG ONCE AGAIN    
•For the third straight season in 2024-25, SMSU closed NSIC play (22 games) ranking first in the league in scoring defense (66.0) and field goal pct. defense (41.5). 
•In 2023-34, SMSU opponents shot 41.1 percent ranking as the second lowest in team history. The 2022-23 team holds the school record at 39.9 percent.

    CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAME STREAK ENDS IN 2024-25 
•SMSU's consecutive game streak of making at least one 3-point field goal came to an end early last season at 752 games. SMSU finished 0 for 6 in an overtime loss at Upper Iowa on Nov. 24, 2024. 
•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 ALL-TIME IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
•SMSU made its seventh NCAA tournament appearance in program history last season since moving to Division II in 1996.
•SMSU, 9-7 all-time in NCAA tournament games, has appeared in three region championship games winning titles and advancing to the Elite Eight in 2001 and 2009. 
•SMSU hosted the Central Region Tournament in 2009.   

    SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC 
•The 2025-26 campaign is the 57th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 
•SMSU has an all-time record of 434-455 in 889 conference games, finishing in the top half of the standings 28 times in 56 seasons. 
•SMSU has won three regular season championships (2000-01, 2008-09 and 2024-25), two South Division titles (2016-17, 2017-18) and two tournament championships (2012, 2017). 

    MUSTANG HISTORY 
•SMSU is in its 59th season of men's basketball in 2025-26 and has played 1,615 games compiling a record of 760-855. 
•SMSU has won three NSIC regular season championships (2001, 2009, 2025), two NSIC South Division championships (2017 & 2018), two NSIC tournament championships (2012, 2017), two NCAA region championships (2001 & 2009) and has appeared in seven NCAA tournaments (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2024, 2025).
•SMSU has recorded 28 winning seasons in program history with 21 coming in the last 28 years. 

    SCOUTING ST. CLOUD STATE
•The Huskies are 7-4 overall, 5-1 NSIC, lost on Thursday night at Sioux Falls. SCSU had won six straight after opening the season with a 1-3 record. 
•Sophomore guard Luke Winkel is scoring 21.8 ppg with 20 3-pointers.
•Junior guard Wyatt Hawks has secured a team-leading 8.5 rpg and is scoring 10.7 ppg.  
•SCSU is shooting 42 percent from the field, 30 percent from 3-point range, 70 percent from the free throw line and is plus-7.0 in rebound margin.
•SCSU is averaging 77 points per game, while opponents are averaging 70 points per game.
•Head coach Quincy Henderson is in his fourth season with a record of 49-51. He was an assistant coach at West Texas A&M for eight seasons prior to taking over at SCSU.