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Southwest Minnesota State Takes on #6 Winona State in Semifinals of Red Baron Classic

The fourth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University mens basketball team (15-13) will take on top-seeded Winona State University (24-4) in the semifinals of the NSIC Red Baron Classic this Saturday, March 4 at McCown Gym in Winona, Minn., beginning at 4 p.m.

Winona State, which is ranked sixth in the latest national top 25 poll and second in the North Central Regional rankings, has defeated Southwest Minnesota State twice this season.

This will be the third time the two teams have played each other in the NSIC tournament. Winona State won 94-78 in the 2001 tournament championship game and also won 71-65 in the quarterfinals of the 2004 tournament in Winona.

The winner of Saturdays semifinal will play in the championship game on
Sunday, Mar. 5 at 2 p.m. against the winner of the Bemidji State/Northern State game. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

Fletcher Earns Second Team All-Conference Honors
Southwest Minnesota State sophomore guard Matt Fletcher was named second team All-NSIC on Thursday as voted by the conference head coaches. In conference play, Fletcher finished second in field goal percentage (56.5), second in three-point field goal percentage (50.0), second in three-point fields made (40) and ninth in scoring (14.0). Overall he is averaging 13.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg and shooting 50.2 percent from the field.

Southwest Minnesota State in the NSIC Postseason Tournament
Southwest Minnesota State is 6-5 all-time in the NSIC tournament since it started in 2000. After a semifinal appearance in 2000, SMSU advanced to two straight tournament finals in 2001 and 2002, but lost three straight quarterfinals games before winning on Wednesday night over Wayne State.
SMSU all-time results in the NSIC tournament:

2000: #4 SMSU 79, #5 NSU 67
#1 WSC 84, SMSU 72
2001: #1 SMSU 92, #8 UMM 60
SMSU 78, #4 UMD 71
#2 WSU 94, SMSU 78 (finals)


2002: #4 SMSU 84, #5 MSUM 56
SMSU 77, #1 NSU 70
#2 UMD 59, SMSU 57 (finals)
2003: #7 MSUM 70, #2 SMSU 62
2004: #3 WSU 71, #6 SMSU 65
2005: #3 NSU 94, #6 SMSU 83
2006: #4 SMSU 71, #5 WSC 57


Game Time Tidbits
SMSUs 15 victories this season is the most since the 2002-03 team finished with 17.
SMSUs Undre Ellis has now dished out 103 assists this season, becoming the 12th SMSU player to
reach the century mark in one season.
SMSU is 1-4 against nationally ranked teams this season, defeating #18 South Dakota, before losing to
#21/#20 Northern State twice and #13/#23 Winona State twice.
SMSU is 13-2 this season when outrebounding or having the same total as their opponents.
SMSU is 13-3 this season when holding their opponents to 69 or less points in a game.
SMSU has committed nine or less turnovers in seven games this season.
SMSU has shot the same or better from the free throw line than their opponents in 21 of 28 games.
SMSU head coach Greg Stemens victory on Mar. 1 gave him 76 in his career, which now ranks third all-
time in school history. Tim Miles (1997-01) is second all-time with 78, while Pierre duCharme (1981-
90) is the schools all-time wins leader with 94.
Now in its 39th season of collegiate basketball,
SMSU has compiled an all-time record of
428-626, but is 185-129 since the start of the
1995-96 season.
SMSU has connected on at least one three-point
field goal in 223 straight games ... the last
time Southwest failed to score a 3-point field
goal was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus Moorhead
State.

Southwest in the Final NSIC Statistics
SMSU had several individuals ranking high in the final NSIC statistics (conference games only) released on Monday ... Sophomore Matt Fletcher finished second in field goal percentage (56.5), second in three-point field goal percentage (50.0), second in three-point fields made (40) and ninth in scoring (14.0) ... Sophomore Travis Krenske finished third in free throw percentage (87.5), tenth in scoring (13.2) and 12th in three-point field goal percentage (39.3) ... Junior Chad Orum finished ranked sixth in rebounding (5.7) ... Junior Jeremy VanKlompenburg ranked third in blocked shots with 16 and ninth in field goal percentage (47.4), while senior Undre Ellis finished fifth in assists per game (3.79).
As a team, SMSU finished first in free throw shooting (75.1), third in three-point percentage (38.3), fourth in scoring (68.2), fourth in defense (68.6), fifth in field goal percentage (43.7), seventh in rebound margin (-2.5) and seventh in field goal percentage defense (46.9).

Southwest in the NCAA National Statistics
According to the latest NCAA stats released on Feb. 28, SMSU sophomore guard Matt Fletcher continues to rank high in the country in three-point field goal percentage as he begins the week ranked fifth at 47.5 percent ... Fletcher also ranks 41st in three-point field goals made per game (2.8), while sophomore Travis Krenske ranks 33rd in free throw percentage (85.4).
As a team, SMSU ranks eighth in free throw percentage (76.9), 39th in three-point field goal percentage (38.2), 42nd in three-point field goals made per game (8.1), and 63rd in scoring defense (67.1).

Getting to Know This Weeks Foes
Winona State, winners of 14 straight games, are 24-4 overall and ranked 6th in the country ... WSU is led by conference player of the year David Zellmann who is averaging 18.1 ppg and 5.0 rpg while shooting 48.8 percent ... John Smith is pouring in 16.6 ppg and grabbing 9.4 rpg while also recording 95 blocked shots ... WSU is averaging 83.9 ppg and shooting 50.5 percent from the field.

The Coaches
Southwest Minnesota State head coach Greg Stemen is in his fifth season with an overall record of 76-67.
Named head coach on Apr. 10, 2001, Stemen led SMSU to 21 wins in his first season and a second place finish in the NSIC during his second season. Prior to being named head coach, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at SMSU, helping lead the Mustangs to a two-year record of 46-17, which included a conference and NCAA regional championship and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2001.
Mike Leaf is in his eighth season at Winona State with a record of 145-87.

Series History (for complete game-by-game history and stats, turn to page 5)
Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State meet for the 82nd time on Saturday with WSU leading 50-31, including 28-10 in Winona ... the Warriors have won the last seven games in the series and eight of the last nine ... the last SMSU victory in the series came in Winona, 77-72 in overtime during the 2002-03 season ... SMSU head coach Greg Stemen is 3-8 all-time versus Winona State.

This Season Versus Winona State
WSU is 2-0 against SMSU this season, winning 77-67 in Marshall on Jan. 14 and 77-69 in Winona, Minn., on Feb. 17.
In the first match-up, 23rd ranked Winona State stormed to a 45-22 halftime lead and went on to defeat Southwest Minnesota State 77-67.
SMSU fought back into the contest, cutting the WSU lead to 55-49 with just over 12 minutes left in the game, but WSU answered back with a 12-4 run in the next five minutes to put the game away.
David Zellmann led WSU with a game-high 24 points, while Zach Malvik added 23 points. John Smith poured in 15 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots.
Matt Fletcher paced SMSU with 19 points on 7 of 10 shooting including 5 of 7 from three-point range.
In the second game, WSU broke up a tight 29-27 game at halftime with a 14-2 run in the first two and a half minutes of the second half and went on to earn the eight-point victory. Winona State shot just 39.7 percent but was 22 of 34 from the free throw line, while SMSU was 10 of 13. Zach Malvik led WSU with 22 points including hitting on four three-pointers.
Jeremy VanKlompenburg and Matt Fletcher each led the Mustangs with 17 points.

Hanging Onto the Ball
Southwest Minnesota State has done a solid job of limiting turnovers all season long. Through 28 games, SMSU has had 11 or less turnovers in 15 games and has had 14 or less turnovers in 20 of 28 contests.

Rebounding Edge for SMSU
Rebounding the ball has been a big factor for SMSU this season. Southwest is 13-2 when outrebounding their opponents or having the same total, while going 2-11 when being outrebounded by their opponents.
Their two victories over Minnesota-Crookston are the only time SMSU has won when being outrebounded.

Defense is the Key for an SMSU W
Southwest Minnesota State has recorded 15 wins this season and most of that has to do with solid defense.
In the 14 SMSU victories, opponents are averaging just 61.7 points per game and shooting 41.8 percent from the field.
SMSU is outrebounding their opponents by a margin of +4.0 in the wins, while scoring an average of 74.5
In seven of the 15 victories this season, SMSU has held their opponents to 59 or less points and in 13 of their wins they have held the opponent to 69 or less points.

Fletcher Hits 100, Ranks as Schools Best
Sophomore Matt Fletcher has now connected on 127 career three-point field goals and now ranks sixth in school history. Adam Tesch (1998-02) holds the school record with 268 3-pointers.
Fletcher is also the programs all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage shooting 46.2 percent (122 of 264).

Career Three-Point Field Goals Made
Two current members of this years squad ranks among the top ten in career three-point field goals made. Sophomore Matt Fletcher needs two more three-pointers to tie current SMSU assistant coach Rory Larson for sixth all-time.
Career Three-Point Field Goals Made
268 Adam Tesch (112 games) 1998-02
173 Jacob Fahl (120 games) 1999-03
162 Brian Wiersma (109 games) 1999-03
162 Chad Ostermann (101 games) 1993-97
162 Andre Beasley (72 games) 1990-93
127 Matt Fletcher (58 games) 2004-
124 Rory Larson (96 games) 2000-04
119 Jared Keaveny (55 games) 2002-04
113 Nic Hogan (54 games) 2003-
108 Brad Wendland (97 games) 1984-88

Klomp Moves Up in Career Blocked Shots
Junior Jeremy VanKlompenburg has now moved into fourth all-time in career blocked shots and is just one shy of moving into third place.
Career Blocked Shots
105 Chad Koenen 1998-02
101 Mark Ornatek 1977-81
81 Andre Beasley 1990-93
80 Jeremy VanKlompenburg 2003-
79 Dru Larson 1989-92
70 Scott Koenen 1998-01

Two Mustangs Honored by NSIC
Two SMSU juniors have been honored as player of the week by the NSIC this season. Junior Chad Orum was named NSIC Player of the Week on Jan. 3, while junior Jeremy VanKlompenburg earned the award on Jan. 30.

Krenske Ties Two Single-Game Records
SMSU sophomore guard Travis Krenske tied two SMSU single-game free throw records on Jan. 13 in the win over Concordia.
Krenskes 13 for 13 performance from the free throw line tied the record for best free throw percentage with Marques Pena, who also finished 13 for 13 on Jan. 13, 2001. Krenske also tied the school record for most free throws made in one game.
Four other SMSU players have also made 13 free throws in one game, with last being Pena in 2001.

The Magic Number
As most would guess, when a team scores 80 or more points in a single game, their odds of winning are very high and SMSU has made that fact hold true in recent years.
After scoring 80 or more points five times this season, Southwest is now 86-8 when scoring 80 or more points in a game since the 1997-98 season.

Hogan Out for the Season
Southwest Minnesota State junior guard Nic Hogan will miss the season after suffering an injury in the offseason. Hogan led SMSU with 91 three-pointers last season and averaged 12.3 points per game, finishing third on the team.

Southwest Looks for Home Magic
The R/A Facility, the home of SMSU basketball since the 1996-97 season, has been a tough place to play for opponents since opening its doors.
After ten seasons as the Mustang home arena, SMSU has compiled a record of 95-41 (69.8) all-time at the R/A Facility.
SMSU Record Year-by-Year
at the R/A Facility
Year Overall NSIC Non-Conf.
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
Totals 95-41 53-22 41-19

SMSU Among NSICs Best
Southwest Minnesota State ranks among the best in the NSIC in overall victories among conference schools in the last nine seasons.
Since the start of the 1997-98 season, SMSU has recorded 153 overall victories, third most in the league. Northern State leads the list with 182 victories.
Team Wins
Northern State 183
Winona State 161
Southwest Minnesota State 154
Bemidji State 127
MSU Moorhead 107
Wayne State * 95
Concordia * 73
Minnesota-Crookston * 40
*victories since joining the NSIC in 1999-2000
(through Mar. 2, 2006)

Team Captains
Three Mustang players were serve as team captains for the 2005-06 season. Senior guard Andy Wiersma along with junior center Jeremy VanKlompenburg and junior forward Chad Orum earned the honor this season. The captains were chosen by a vote of the SMSU players.

Two to Redshirt
SMSU has redshirted two freshmen players this season. Guard Andrew Peschong and center Nick Dale both will sit out this season and will have four years of eligibility remaining.

Southwest Signs One Early
SMSU head coach Greg Stemen announced on Nov. 10, that Pelican Rapids H.S. standout Taylor Huseby has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at SMSU in 2006-07. Huseby is a two-time all-conference pick and honorable mention all-state selection.

Southwest in the 2004-05 NCAA Statistics
Southwest Minnesota State junior Nic Hogan finished last season ranked 20th in the country in three-point field goal pct. at 43.1 percent, while also ranking 34th in three-point field goals made per game (3.0).
As a team, SMSU finished 11th in the nation in three-point field goal pct. (40.5) and 61st in three-point field goals per game (7.6).

Andy Beilke Notes...
Sat out the 2004-2005 season as a redshirt ... has played in 27 games ... scored career-high 18 points on 7 of 7 shooting in win over Presentation.
Beilke Career Highs
Points 18 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
Rebs 4 vs. Minn.-Crookston, 1-21-06
Assists 6 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
FG 7 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
3-Pt. 4 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
Steals 2, 2x, last vs. Minn.-Crookston, 1-21-06

Ross DeMasi Notes...
Has appeared in 27 games with 11 starts ... scored career-high 12 points and career-high 12 rebounds in win over Concordia ... second on the team in rebounding ... plays wide receiver on the SMSU football team.
DeMasi Career Highs
Points 12 vs. Concordia, 1-13-06
Rebs 12 vs. Concordia, 1-13-06
Assists 2, 3x, last vs. South Dakota Tech, 12-17-05
FG 5 vs. Concordia, 1-13-06
3-Pt. 0
Steals 3 vs. Minnesota-Crookston, 2-10-06

Undre Ellis Notes...
Sat out the 2004-2005 season as a redshirt ... transfer from Waldorf College where he played for three seasons ... only player to start all 28 games this season ... averaging 10.0 ppg ... team-high 108 assists ... scored career-high 24 points in win over Upper Iowa ... fourth on the team in scoring ... had career-high six steals in loss to Winona State.
Ellis Career Highs
Points 24 vs. Upper Iowa, 11-26-05
Rebs 8 vs. St. Cloud State, 12-14-05
Assists 8 vs. St. Cloud State, 12-14-05
FG 9 vs. Upper Iowa, 11-26-05
3-Pt. 4 vs. North Dakota, 11-19-05
Steals 6 vs. Winona State, 1-14-06

Matt Fletcher Notes...
Scored season-high 20 points in win over Upper Iowa ... ranks nationally in 3-point shooting ...
lead team in scoring with 13.1 ppg ... leads team lead with 80 three-pointers ... only true freshman to play last season ... made 23 starts ... second on the team with 47 three-pointers ... scored career-high 23 points vs. Bemidji State ...
Fletcher Career Highs
Points 23 vs. Bemidji State, 2-12-05
Rebs 10 vs. Wayne State, 1-29-05
Assists 8 vs. MSU Moorhead, 2-26-05
FG 7, 2x, last vs. Winona State, 1-14-06
3-Pt. 5, 2x, last vs. Northern State, 2-25-05
Steals 4 vs. Minnesota-Crookston, 2-10-06

Nic Hogan Notes...
Has not played this year due to injury ... only SMSU player to start all 30 games last season ... career-high 24 points on eight 3-pointers in win over Minn.-Morris ... led team with 91 3-pointers ... was 5 of 5 from the field including 4 of 4 from 3-point range in win over Bethany
Hogan Career Highs
Points 24 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 12-7-04
Rebs 6 vs. South Dakota, 12-3-04
Assists 3 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 12-7-04
FG 8 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 12-7-04
3-Pt. 8 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 12-7-04
Steals 6 vs. Winona State, 2-18-05

Travis Krenske Notes...
Season-high 24 points against Presentation ... teams second leading scorer ... has 64 three-pointers this season ... leads team with 35 steals ... named to the 2005 SMSU Classic all-tournament team ... tied school record with 13 free throws made in win over Concordia ... sat out the 2004-2005 season as a redshirt ... transfer to SMSU after playing the 2003-2004 season at Central Lakes College.
Krenske Career Highs
Points 24 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
Rebs 9 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
Assists 5 vs. Northern State, 1-7-06
FG 8 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
3-Pt. 5, 2x, last vs. MSU Moorhead, 1-6-06
Steals 3, 4x, last vs. Northern State, 2-24-06

Ryan Krome Notes...
Only true freshman to play for SMSU this season playing in all 28 games ... scored career-high six points vs. Northern State and MSU Moorhead ... career-high three assists versus Mary ... one of eight Mr. Basketball finalists in the state of South Dakota last season ... led team to state title as a senior.
Krome Career Highs
Points 6, 2x, last vs. MSU Moorhead, 2-25-06
Rebs 4 vs. Presentation, 11-30-05
Assists 3 vs. Mary, 2-21-06
FG 2 vs. Northern State, 1-7-06
3-Pt. 1, 5x, last vs. Mary, 2-21-06
Steals 1, 6x, last vs. Northern State, 2-24-06

Chad Orum Notes...
Scored career-high 19 points in win over Concordia ... career-high 13 rebounds in win over Mary ... leads team in rebounding ... earned NSIC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 3 ... averaging 9.9 ppg this season ... third on team in rebounding a season ago ... played in 26 games with three starts as a true freshman in 03-04.
Orum Career Highs
Points 19 vs. Concordia, 1-13-06
Rebs 13 vs. Mary, 2-21-06
Assists 4 vs. South Dakota Tech, 12-17-05
FG 8 vs. South Dakota, 12-31-05
3-Pt. 2, 2x, last vs. Mary, 2-21-06
Steals 2, several times

Darren Solbrack Notes...
Has made two starts, playing in 19 games ... career-high 13 points in win over Wayne State ... missed nine games this season with injury ... tied career-high with five rebounds versus Winona State ... played two seasons at Ridgewater College ... earned first team all-division, first team all-conference and first team all-region.
Solbrack Career Highs
Points 13 vs. Wayne State, 3-1-06
Rebs 5, 2x, last vs. Winona State, 2-17-06
Assists 2, 2x, last vs. MSU, Mankato, 12-8-05
FG 4 vs. Wayne State, 3-1-06
3-Pt. 0
Steals 2 vs. South Dakota Tech, 12-17-05

Jeremy VanKlompenburg Notes...
Scored season-high 23 points vs. S.D. Tech ... named NSIC Player of the Week on Jan. 30 ... named to the SMSU all-classic team ... has recorded 80 career blocked shots, ranking fourth all-time ... tied R/A Facility record with 9 for 9 shooting performance vs. Crossroads (11/15/03).
VanKlompenburg Career Highs
Points 24 vs. Minnesota State, Mankato, 11-26-04
Rebs 8, 2x, last vs. Augustana, 12-3-05
Assists 4 vs. Wayne State, 1-24-04
FG 11 vs. Minnesota State, Mankato, 11-26-04
3-Pt. 1, 3x, last vs. Winona State, 2-17-06
Steals 3 vs. Wayne State, 3-1-06

Andy Wiersma Notes...
Ranks fourth on the team in three-pointers ... has played in 111 career games ... made two starts last season at point guard ... finished last season third on the team in three-pointers with 29 ... played in all 28 games as a sophomore with 18 starts ... brother Brian played at SMSU from 1998-2002.
Wiersma Career Highs
Points 21 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 2-8-03
Rebs 5 vs. MSU Mankato, 11-21-03
Assists 5, 2x, last vs. North Dakota, 11-19-05
FG 7 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 2-8-03
3-Pt. 7 vs. Minnesota-Morris, 2-8-03
Steals 3, 2x, last vs. St. Cloud State, 12-14-05