THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (2-3, 1-0 NSIC) returns to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this week with two games, including its first home game of the 2025-26 season. SMSU will also host a non-conference game on Monday morning as part of 'Elementary Day' inside the R/A Facility.
•SMSU begins the week with a road game on Thursday night at Augustana University (3-3, 1-0 NSIC) in Sioux Falls, S.D., with tip-off slated for 5:30 p.m. inside the Elmen Center.  
•SMSU will host Wayne State College (4-3, 0-1 NSIC) on Saturday with game time slated for 2 p.m. inside the R/A Facility. 
•SMSU will also host Division III North Central University (2-5) on Monday morning, Dec. 8, with game time set for 11 a.m. SMSU has invited more than nearly 1,000 elementary students from several schools in Marshall and the surrounding area to attend the game for free and cheer on the Mustangs. The game will be considered an exhibition for NCU, a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). NCU won a share of the UMAC regular season championship last year and was picked to win the league this season. 

    BROADCAST INFO 
•All three 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 AUGUSTANA 
•SMSU and AU meet for the 49th time with AU leading 32-16 with the first meeting in 1972-73.
•AU won both games last season and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings since the 2019-20 season. SMSU's lone victory during that time occurred on Dec. 16, 2023, in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Pentagon. 
•AU holds a 17-6 advantage in games played in Sioux Falls, including earning a 62-59 win last season. 
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 9-22 all-time versus Augustana. 

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WAYNE STATE 
•SMSU and WSC meet for the 84th time with WSC leading 45-38 in a series that started in 1969-70.
•SMSU holds a 26-16 advantage in games played in Marshall, including winning the previous three games. 
•The teams split two match-ups last season with each team winning on its home court.  
•WSC has won six of the last nine games since the 2020-21 season.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 22-11 all-time versus WSC.

    SERIES HISTORY VERSUS NORTH CENTRAL 
•SMSU and NCU meet for the first time ever on Monday morning.
•SMSU last played a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) on Dec. 19, 2022, defeating Northland (Wis.) 81-48. 

    MUSTANGS BY THE NUMBERS
•SMSU has three players averaging double figures in scoring with senior Jakob Braaten scoring a team-high 16.6 ppg with junior Aeron Stevens averaging 16.4 ppg. Braaten also leads the team in assists (18) and is tied for first in steals (8).   
•Junior Mekhi Shaw is averaging 10 ppg and has registered eight steals and 12 assists. 
•Redshirt freshman Micah Schlaak ranks fourth in scoring at 9.0 ppg, while leading the team with seven 3-pointers.  
•SMSU is shooting 43 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.0 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 69 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71 ppg.

    MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS   
•SMSU's overtime win versus Jamestown on Sunday snapped a five-game overtime losing streak and was its first overtime win since the 2021-22 season.
•Micah Schlaak led SMSU with a career-high 14 points with four 3-pointers in the win over Jamestown. 
•Brayson Boike scored a career-high 10 points with four field goals in the win over Jamestown.
•SMSU scored a season-high 79 points and shot a season-high 54 percent in its NSIC opening win at Sioux Falls.
•SMSU is shooting 79.2 percent from the free throw line ranking 35th in Division II (as of Nov. 25). 
•As of Dec. 1, SMSU ranks second in Division II in fouls per game (12.) and 34th in turnovers per game (10.8). 
•Jakob Braaten recorded his eighth career 20-point scoring game in Saturday's loss to MSU Moorhead. 
•Aeron Stevens scored 21 points in the loss to MSU Moorhead for his 11th 20-point game of his career. 
•SMSU returns 10 letter winners and four starters from last season's 21-9 team that won a share of the NSIC regular season championship with a record of 16-6. It was the third regular season championship (2001, 2009, 2025) in team history along with two division championships (2017, 2018). The team also advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season and seventh in team history.   

    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 263-202, including 181-153 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 during his tenure (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. 

    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.

    2024-25 WIN TOTAL RANKS SIXTH IN TEAM HISTORY
•SMSU recorded 21 victories last season for the sixth time in the program's 58 seasons and has now recorded seven 20-win seasons. 
•It was the program's first 20-win season since 2017-18. 

    BRAATEN AND STEVENS EARN ALL-NSIC ACCOLADES    
•Senior guard Jakob Braaten was named All-NSIC first team, while junior forward Aeron Stevens was named All-NSIC second team last season.

    2024-25 DEFENSE STRONG ONCE AGAIN    
•For the third straight season, SMSU closed NSIC play (22 games) ranking first in the league in scoring defense (66.0) and field goal pct. defense (41.5). 
•SMSU opponents are shooting 41.8 percent this season ranking as the fourth lowest in team history. 
•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.

    SMSU IN THE FINAL 2024-25 NCAA STATISTICS   
•Complete NCAA statistics are located on pages 15-16. 
•In the final 2024-25 Division II national statistics, SMSU ranked fourth in fouls per game (12.6), 21st in scoring defense (66.7), 26th in field goal pct. defense (41.8), 25th in free throw pct. (77.1), 44th in field goal pct. (47.6), 46th in 3-point field goal pct. defense (31.8) and 47th in turnovers per game (11.0).  

    MUSTANG CAREER 20-POINT GAMES 
•Four current SMSU players: senior Jakob Braaten, senior Mason Lund, junior Aeron Stevens and junior Steven Kramer 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 eight times in his career (twice this season), while Kramer and Lund reached 20 points twice last season. 
20 or More Point Games in 2025-26
    26    Aeron Stevens    Nebraska Kearney, 11/16
    22    Jakob Braaten    Sioux Falls, 11/25
    21    Aeron Stevens    MSU Moorhead, 11/29
    20    Jakob Braaten    MSU Moorhead, 11/29
    
    BRAYSON BOIKE NOTES 
•Has started all five games and is averaging 4.4 ppg.
•Season-high 10 points vs. Jamestown (11/30).
•Scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds at Sioux Falls (11/25)
•Only true freshman to play this season for SMSU. 

    JAKOB BRAATEN NOTES 
•Named 2025-26 NSIC Preseason South Division Player of the Year. 
•Named 2024-25 All-NSIC first team. 
•Has started all five games and is averaging 16.6 ppg. 
•Scored season-high 22 points at Sioux Falls (11/25). 
•Tied career-high with 10 field goals vs. UMary (1/18/25). 
•Scored a career-high 26 points at Minnesota State (12/13/24). 
•Tied a career-high with nine rebounds at Augustana (12/19/24). 
•Played in 30 games with 12 starts in 2023-24 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 five games with 11 total rebounds. 
•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.

    BUAY KOAK NOTES 
•Has not appeared in a game this season. 
•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).
•Scored 21 points at Minnesota State (12/13/24). 
•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 a game this season. 
•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 five games and is scoring 7.0 ppg with 6.4 rpg.
•Scored 17 points versus Nebraska Kearney (11/16).  
•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. 
•Tied career-high 20 points at Northern State (2/22/25). 
•Scored 20 points with four 3-pointers at Bemidji State (1/24). 
•Pulled down career-high 17 rebounds at Upper Iowa (11/24/24). 
•Started all 32 games in 2023-24 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. 

    LANDON POKORSKI NOTES 
•Has played five games and is averaging 5.4 ppg. 
•Scored nine points vs. Nebraska Kearney (11/16) with two 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 not played this season.
•Sat out the 2024-25 season as a redshirt. 

    CALEB SCHLAAK NOTES 
•Has played in one game with two rebounds.
•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). 
•Played in four games in 2023-24 and scored six points. 
•Transfer from Truman State (Mo.) playing in five games during the 2022-23 season. 

    MICAH SCHLAAK NOTES 
•Has played in five games and is averaging 9.0 ppg.
•Leads team with seven 3-pointers. 
•Scored season-high 14 points with four 3-pointers and season-high eight rebounds vs. Jamestown (11/30). 
•Scored 12 points on 5 of 10 shooting at Fort Hays State (11/15).
•Redshirted in 2024-25.

    MEKHI SHAW NOTES 
•Has started five games and is averaging 10 ppg with 12 assists.  
•Scored 16 points at Fort Hays State (11/15). 
•Played in all 30 games a season ago with six starts and averaging 7.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg.
•Led team with 53 steals and was second with 76 assists.  
•Tied career-high with 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting versus Minot State (1/11/25). 
•Played in all 32 games in 2023-24 and averaged 4.9 ppg with 44 assists.
•Redshirted during the 2022-23 season.

    AERON STEVENS NOTES 
•Has started five games and is averaging 16.4 ppg and 4.0 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. 
•Scored 20 or more points five times last season. 
•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. 
•Scored season-high 27 points with five 3-pointers vs. Winona State (2/3/24). 
•Only true freshman to play in 2023-24.

    HOME AND AWAY IN 2025-26 
•SMSU finished 12-3 at home last season and has a home record of 140-70 since head coach Brad Bigler started in 2009-10. 
•SMSU, which is 2-3 road/neutral site games this season, is 123-132 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    0-0    -    -    -    -    -    -
Away    2-3    43.4    31.9    76.1    34.0    69.4    10.8     

    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 272-117 (.699) in 389 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    0-0    0-0    0-0
    Totals    272-117    183-89    89-28




    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. 

    MUSTANGS AND THE CENTURY MARK 
•SMSU scored 103 in the 2024-25 regular season finale at Northern State on Feb. 22. It was the first time SMSU reached the century mark since scoring 100 on Feb. 1, 2019. 
•SMSU is 41-8 all-time when scoring 100 points, including 9-2 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. 

    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, which is 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 will be the 57th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 
•SMSU has an all-time record of 430-454 in 884 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 1,609 games compiling a record of 755-854. 
•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 AUGUSTANA
•The Vikings are 3-3 overall, 1-0 NSIC, and have won two straight including a 94-86 road win at Wayne State to open NSIC play last Tuesday. 
•Sophomore guard Tameron Ferguson is averaging 20.2 ppg with a team-high 11 3-pointers.
•Junior forward Caden Hinker is scoring 15.8 ppg while averaging a team best 9.0 rpg.  
•AU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 70 percent from the free throw line and is plus-4.9 in rebound margin.
•AU is averaging 81 points per game, while opponents average 75 points per game.
•Head coach Cody Schilling is in his second season with a record of 15-21. He was an assistant coach at AU for three seasons prior to taking over as head coach. He served as head coach at Mount Marty (S.D.) from 2017-19, compiling a record of 10-48.  

    SCOUTING WAYNE STATE
•The Wildcats are 4-3 overall, 0-1 NSIC, and will host Sioux Falls on Thursday night before facing SMSU.
•Sophomore forward Matt Noll is scoring 14.1 ppg and is averaging 6.1 rpg.
•Senior forward Andrew Stokes is shooting 65 percent from the field and is averaging 11.9 ppg. 
•WSC is shooting 49 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.
•WSC is averaging 82 points per game, while opponents average 73 points per game.
•Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his 10th season with a record of 134-128. Now in his 39th season overall as a head coach, his teams have a record of 586-495. 

    SCOUTING NORTH CENTRAL
•The Rams are 2-5 overall and have two games this week before taking on SMSU. Monday's game will be an exhibition game for NCU. 
•NCU won a share of the 2024-25 UMAC regular season championship and won the 2025 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) D2 national championship. 
•Sophomore forward Carrington McNeal is scoring 15.3 ppg with 37 field goals.
•Senior forward Carmello McNeal has made a team-high 40 field goals is averaging 14.9 ppg. 
•NCU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 27 percent from 3-point range, 74 percent from the free throw line and is minus-2.6 in rebound margin.
•NCU is averaging 78 points per game, while opponents average 85 points per game.
•Head coach Jeremy Becker is in his fourth season with a record of 55-42.