The Southwest Minnesota State University baseball program and SMSU baseball alumni will be hosting the SMSU Baseball Alumni & Friends Golf Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Marshall Golf Club in Marshall.
The four-person scramble tournament costs just $75 per person and includes 18 holes of golf and use of a golf cart. The cost is just $45 for members of Marshall Golf Club. The tournament will begin at 12 p.m. with a shotgun start.
Proceeds from the tournament will go towards supporting the Mustang baseball program. SMSU head coach Paul Blanchard and current members of the Mustang baseball team look forward to reminiscing about great Mustang baseball tales and creating new friendships.
To sign-up for the tournament or for more information, contact SMSU baseball alum Andrew Kinney (2007-10) at Andrew.kinney25@gmail.com, or SMSU current assistant coaches, Derek Dahlke at derek.dahlke@my.smsu.edu or Zac Cain at Zackary.cain@my.smsu.edu.
Annual Drown SMSU Golf Classic Still Scheduled for June 19
MARSHALL, Minn. – The Mustang Booster Club and the Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Department has announced the 35th annual “David & Carol Drown SMSU Golf Classic”, sponsored by the Mustang Booster Club, is still scheduled to be held on Friday, June 19, at the Marshall Golf Club.
Due to COVID-19 and social distance regulations, the Marshall Golf Club and the Mustang Booster Club have made adjustments for the five-person scramble tournament to be held on June 19. All proceeds from the event go to the SMSU Athletic Scholarship fund.
2020 Drown SMSU Golf Classic Modifications:
• There will be tee times every 10 minutes instead of a shotgun start. The tee times will begin at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Teams are required to go online and request a tee time at SMSUmustangs.com/GolfClassic. The Drown Golf Classic committee will do its best to get each team scheduled in their preferred time slot.
• Each five-person team will be allowed three golf cars with one person driving and two team members walking the course.
• There will be no pre-golf luncheon or post-golf award ceremony, but a meal WILL BE provided to each individual.
• Team are encouraged to arrive no earlier than 30 minutes prior to their tee time.
• Individuals and teams should purchase the putting contest, buy-up hole and raffle board, PRIOR to the event on-line at SMSUmustangs.com/GolfClassic.
In addition to 18 holes of golf, registrants receive a Mustang gift, meal, beverages, tee gifts, use of a golf cart and complimentary range balls.
There are various levels to help support the event either as an individual or for your business to sponsor a team. This is a great social event to share with your friends, employees or clients and help support Mustang student-athletes!
For more information, or to sign-up a five-person team or as an individual go to SMSUmustangs.com/GolfClassic.
Businesses that would like to sponsor a team, please contact Kelly Loft at 507-537-7177 or kelly.loft@smsu.edu.
SMSU Athletics Announces Awards During Celebration of Excellence Program
MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Department is proud to release the 15th annual “Celebration of Excellence” virtual awards program on Thursday.
Due to COVID-19, the annual awards program set for April 27 at the SMSU Conference Center, was canceled. Even though the epidemic canceled the NCAA winter championships and nearly the entire spring season, the SMSU Athletics Department was determined to honor our deserving student-athletes.
The “Celebration of Excellence” virtual program, hosted by SMSU Director of Athletics Chris Hmielewski and SMSU Athletic Communications Director Kelly Loft, honored student-athletes that earned awards throughout the past year, including All-NSIC, scholar athletes, national qualifiers, All-American, All-Region, Myles Brand Award honorees, and team MVPs, along with special SMSU faculty and SAAC awards. Nearly 60 SMSU senior student-athletes were recognized as well for their dedication to Mustang Athletics.
The 2019-20 Female and Male Athletes of the Year and the 2019-20 Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year were also announced. The Athlete of the Year voting includes spring sports of 2019 (baseball, women’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s outdoor track & field and women’s tennis) and the fall and winter sports of the 2019-20 athletic year.
Thank you Mustang fans for watching this year’s awards program and supporting and honoring our outstanding SMSU student-athletes. Please stay safe and we can’t wait to see you all in the fall. Let’s Ride!
SMSU Athletics Accepting Nominations for Hall of Honor Class of 2021
MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University Athletics Department is now accepting nominations for the 2021 class of the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor.
The induction luncheon and ceremony will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021.
The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor, presented by US Bank, celebrates the achievements of student-athletes, coaches, teams and community members who have contributed in various ways to strengthening the athletic tradition at SMSU.
To be eligible for the Hall of Honor, former athletes must be out of school for at least ten years. To nominate an individual, please go online at SMSUMustangs.com/HallofHonor.
There are five categories for individuals/teams to be inducted into the Hall of Honor with the following guidelines:
A. Student-Athlete
1. Eligible ten years after completion of competition eligibility
2. Leave the University in “good standing” following years in school and competition
B. Coaches
1. Must be a current SMSU coach or must have been an SMSU coach
2. Eligible ten years after initial employment date at SMSU
C. Faculty/Staff/Administrator
1. Designed to recognize demonstrated contributions to SMSU athletics by employees
2. Eligible ten years after initial employment date at SMSU
D. External Contributions
1. Designed to recognize contributions to SMSU athletics by those not employed at the university
E. Team
1. Eligible ten years after team competed
The SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor display is located in the lobby of the R/A Facility.
NSIC Announces 2019-20 Winter All-Academic Team
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference has announced the 2019-20 Winter All-Academic team with 27 Southwest Minnesota State University student-athletes being recognized during the winter season.
To be eligible for the NSIC All-Academic Team, members must have a 3.20 cumulative GPA or higher, while to be named to the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence, a student-athlete must have a 3.60 cumulative GPA or higher.
Additionally, the student-athlete must be a member of the varsity traveling team, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at her/his institution (true freshmen, redshirt freshmen and ineligible athletic transfers are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.
Student-athletes in the sports of men’s basketball, women’s basketball, indoor track & field, swimming & diving and wrestling were named to this year’s team.
SMSU 2019-20 Winter Academic All-NSIC Honorees
*All-Academic Team of Excellence members
Men’s Basketball
*Nick Dufault, Jr., Waseca, Minn.
*Grant Kramer, So., Johnston, Iowa
Women’s Basketball
*Taylor Bonestroo, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.
*Sara Teske, Jr., Lakeville, Minn.
*Meleah Reinhart, Jr., New Ulm, Minn.
*Emily Buysse, Sr., Marshall, Minn.
*Jenna Borchers, So., Grimes, Iowa
Morgan Frank, Jr., Wanda, Minn.
Erin Baxter, Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.
Caleigh Rodning, Sr., Shakopee, Minn.
Sadie Stelter, Jr., Wood Lake, Minn.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
*Meghan Sullivan, Jr., Mason City, Iowa
*Emily Gillingham, Jr. Minneota, Minn.
*Avery Lester, Jr., Sioux City, Iowa
*Rebecca Manteuffel, Jr., Cologne, Minn.
Ashlyn Jones, So., Richfield, Minn.
Amber Wells, So., Fond du Lac, Wis.
Hailey Nierling, So., Decorah, Iowa
Sarah Strandemo, So., Delano, Minn.
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
*Kyle Felling, So., Belgrade, Minn.
*Connor Wigand, Jr., Manitowoc, Wis.
*Clayton Hartle, Sr., Chandler, Minn.
Issac Fischer, So., Marshall, Minn.
Wrestling
Robert Shields, So., Wilmington, Ill.
Riley Altenburg, Sr., Blaine, Minn.
Brock Buysse, Sr., Minneota, Minn.
Andrew Petersen, Sr., Moville, Iowa
Mustang Tennis Opens 2020 Season in Fargo
MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s tennis team opens the 2020 spring season with two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches in Fargo, N.D., this Saturday and Sunday.
SMSU, under first-year head coach Jon Parker, who was named to the position on Jan. 10, 2020, will take on the University of Mary on Saturday at 3 p.m. On Sunday, SMSU will take on MSU Moorhead with match time at 9 a.m. Both matches will be held at Courts Plus.
Parker has six players on the roster, including senior Paige Janka, who is a two-time Academic All-NSIC honoree and won five matches in singles play last season and nine in doubles play.
SMSU is 4-9 all-time versus UMary, including losing the past eight meetings. SMSU has lost the last six matches versus MSU Moorhead, but leads the all-time series 20-18.
Mustang Wheelchair Basketball Takes Two from Sioux Falls
MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University wheelchair basketball team returned home to the PE Gym last Saturday evening and picked up a pair of victories over Sioux Falls by scores of 73-39 and 67-51.
SMSU improves to 10-9 overall with the two victories and has now won six of its last eight games.
In Saturday’s first game, Walter Johnson poured in 32 points on 15 of 17 shooting, while teammate Jesus Villa added 26 points on 11 of 16 from the field. The Mustangs shot 62 percent from the field, which included four 3-pointers.
In the second game of the night, Darius Jackson was a perfect 7 of 7 from the field and led the squad with 16 points. Will Glendenning shot 6 of 10 from the field and scored 12 points. Villa chipped in with 15 points, while Johnson added 10 points. The Mustangs finished the game shooting 77 percent from the field.
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Feb. 14-15 with three games at the University of Illinois Tournament.
SMSU Baseball Announces Nine Signings
MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University head baseball coach Paul Blanchard has announced that nine student-athletes recently signed letters of intent to continue their academic and baseball careers at SMSU.
Joining the SMSU program for the 2020 season include Ansen Dulas (Mayer, Minn.), Max Kalenberg (Waconia, Minn.), Carson Karnes (Waconia, Minn.), Colton Kerkow (Belle Plaine, Minn.), Kolby Kiser (Sebeka, Minn.), Chase McDaniel (Pahrump, Nev.), Hayden Molva (Norwood Young America, Minn.), Mason Rummel (Springfield, Minn.) and Jake Tauer (Tracy, Minn.).
Ansen Dulas, 6-1, 185, RHP/1B, Mayer, Minn. (Watertown-Mayer HS) – Current senior at Watertown-Mayer HS … plays for coach Ryan Trucke … four-year letter winner … named honorable mention all-conference as a junior … holds Watertown Legion program single-game record with 17 strikeouts … holds Legion program record for single-season and career strikeouts … four-year letter winner in football … holds school single-season and career records for passing yards … two-time all-district honoree in football … also plays basketball.
Max Kalenberg, 6-0, 215, 3B/1B, Waconia, Minn. (Waconia HS) – Current senior at Waconia HS … plays for coach Mark Grundhoffer … three-year letter winner and starter … all-conference honorable mention honoree … batted .333 with 22 RBIs as a junior … three-year starter in football … team captain in football … all-conference honorable mention honoree in football … four-year honor roll student.
Carson Karnes, 6-0, 195, LHP, Waconia, Minn. (Waconia HS) – Current senior at Waconia HS … plays for coach Mark Grundhoffer … three-year letter winner … honor roll student.
Colton Kerkow, 6-2, 180, RHP, Belle Plaine, Minn. (Belle Plaine HS) – Current senior at Belle Plaine HS … plays for coach Pat Schultz … three-year letter winner … recorded a 2.33 ERA as junior before missing much of season with an injury … member of 2018 section runner-up squad … three-year letter winner in football … all-district … letter winner in wrestling … earned all-conference honorable mention.
Kolby Kiser, 6-5, 210, RHP, Sebeka, Minn. (Sebeka HS) – Current senior at Sebeka HS … plays for coach Jeff Lake … recorded 96 strikeouts and a 0.82 ERA in 53 innings as a junior … helped lead Sebeka to Class A state tournament in 2019 … recorded 10 strikeouts in state quarterfinal game … two-time all-conference … all-conference in both football and basketball … team captain in football, basketball and baseball.
Chase McDaniel, 5-11, 175, INF, Pahrump, Nev. (Pahrump Valley HS) – Current senior at Pahrump Valley HS … plays for coach Brian Hayes … led team in hits (55) and batting average (.487) as a junior and was named team offensive player of the year … also added 13 doubles and scored 46 runs … named Class 3A second team all-state … All-Southeast Region first team … named first-team all-league … helped lead team to 26 victories and a third place finish at Class 3A state tournament … career .402 average entering senior season in 97 games … four-year letter winner.
Hayden Molva, 6-5, 235, RHP, Norwood Young America, Minn. (Norwood Young America HS) – Current senior at Norwood Young America Central HS … plays for coach Jon Wroge … two-time all-conference honoree … has a career record of 10-3 entering senior season … has recorded 99 strikeouts in 73 innings and a 3.06 ERA … also all-conference in baseball.
Mason Rummel, 5-11, 195, C, Springfield, Minn. (Sprinfield HS) – Current senior at Springfield HS … plays for coach Brandon Wilhelmi … batted .473 with 35 hits and 29 RBIs as a junior to help team to section championship game … named team’s most valuable defensive player … named all-conference and all-area … three-year starter … academic all-conference … also standout in both football and wrestling … two-time first team all-district in football … helped team to state tournament appearance as a senior … three-year letter winner in wrestling … placed fourth in section as a junior in wrestling.
Jake Tauer, 5-11, 150, OF/P, Tracy, Minn. (Tracy-Milroy HS) – Current senior at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton HS … plays for coach Bill Tauer … four-year letter winner … named all-conference as a junior … voted Mr. Team award by teammates … team captain as a senior … batted .333 with 13 stolen bases as a junior … also pitched 20 innings and recorded 25 strikeouts with a 2.10 ERA … all-district honoree in fo
otball and also team captain … all-conference selection in basketball … academic all-district honoree.
Southwest Minnesota State, a member of NCAA Division II, competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. SMSU opens the 2020 season with a three-game series at Missouri Southern State on Feb. 22-23.
SMSU’s Onte Burns Names to Don Hansen All-American Third Team
BROOKFIELD, Ill. – Southwest Minnesota State University sophomore linebacker Onte Burns was named on Monday to the 2019 Don Hansen Division II All-American third team announced by the Don Hansen Football Committee.
The Don Hansen team carries out the legacy of long-time small college football advocate Don Hansen, who passed away at age 75 on Aug. 29, 2010. Hansen, from Brookfield, Ill., started and published Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette for three decades, selecting NCAA Division II All-America teams for the first time in 1988. Don Hansen’s Football Gazette began selecting Division II All-Region squads in 2003.
Burns, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound, native of Plymouth, Minn., led the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in tackles with 108, while ranking fifth with 54 solo stops. A 2019 first team All-NSIC honoree, Burns also amassed 5.5 tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, one interception returned for a touchdown and one fumble recovery. He racked up seven or more tackles in nine games, including reaching double-figures five times. Burns closed the season ranking 24th in Division II in tackles per game and 47th in solo tackles
Southwest Minnesota State finished the 2019 season with a record of 3-8.
SMSU Returns Home to Face Two of the Top Teams in the NSIC South
THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (6-12, 3-9 NSIC) returns home to the R/A Facility for a pair of critical NSIC South Division games this Friday and Saturday versus two of the hottest teams in the conference.
•SMSU will open the weekend on Friday, Jan., 24, face Winona State University (10-8, 7-5 NSIC) with game time set for 7:30 p.m. WSU has won three straight and seven of its last nine games. WSU is currently in fourth place in the NSIC South standings.
•On Saturday, Jan. 25, SMSU wraps-up the weekend battling Upper Iowa University (11-7, 8-4 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 6 p.m. UIU enters the weekend in second place in the NSIC South and is on a four-game winning streak and has won seven of its last nine games. UIU has scored 100 more points in three of its last four games and have reached 100 points four times this season.
•UIU ranks first in the NSIC in scoring offense (88.7), WSU ranks fifth (79.8), while SMSU is 16th (64.3). SMSU ranks third in the NSIC in scoring defense (70.5), while WSU is 10th (76.7) and UIU is 16th (88.4).
•SMSU, which split a pair of road games last weekend in the state of North Dakota, is 3-4 at home this season and has lost its last three home games. The last time SMSU lost four straight home games occurred from Jan. 3 to Jan. 30, 2015.
BROADCAST INFO
•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.
•Live stats, radio broadcast and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.
MUSTANG TIP-OFF TIDBITS
•SMSU ranks 36th in Division II (Jan. 20) in field goal percentage defense (41.8) and 60th in scoring defense (69.4).
•SMSU split two road games last weekend in North Dakota, winning 61-57 at Minot State last Friday, before losing 75-60 to UMary.
•SMSU limited Minot State to 22 percent shooting in the first half on Friday night. It was the second time in four games (at Wayne State on Jan. 4, 29.6) SMSU has limited an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting in a half.
•UMary connected on 15 3-pointers–the highest total by an SMSU opponent this season–in the victory on Saturday.
•Jake Phipps scored a career-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting in the victory at Minot State.
•Kenny Byers added 17 points on 7 of 10 from the field and also recorded five rebounds, five assists and four steals in the victory over Minot State.
•In the loss to UMary, Nick Dufault made five 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 16 points.
•Junior Kenny Byers leads the team in scoring (17.6), rebounding (7.8), assists (52), steals (29) and has recorded a team-high seven double-doubles. Byers ranks tied for sixth among all NSIC players with seven 10 or more rebound games this season, while his seven double-doubles ranks fourth among all NSIC players and 25th nationally.
•Junior Nick Dufault, who missed two games in early January with an injury, has connected on a team-high 38 3-pointers and is second on the squad in scoring (12.7). He ranks fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.9) and 13th in program history with 131 3-point field goals made. He needs three more 3-pointers to move into a tie for 12th.
•Freshman Cliff McCray ranks third on the team in scoring (8.9) and second with 33 assists.
•Junior Weston Baker Magrath has a team-high 35 blocked shots, which ranks eighth in team single-season history.
•Sophomore Grant Kramer, who ranks third on the team with 24 assists, has missed the last seven games due to injury.
•SMSU has outrebounded its opponents just five times through 18 games this season and is minus-0.8 in rebound margin. Last season, SMSU outrebounded its opponent just twice in its last 21 games and finished last in the NSIC in rebound margin (minus-8.5).
•For the season, SMSU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 64 percent from the free throw line and is minus-0.8 in rebound margin. SMSU is averaging 66 points per game, while opponents are averaging 69 points per game.
SMSU VICTORIES OVER THE LAST THREE-PLUS SEASONS
•Southwest Minnesota State has posted a combined record of 77-41 the past three-plus seasons (start of 2016-17 to current) which includes two NSIC South Division titles and three appearances in the NSIC Tournament championship game.
•The 71 victories entering this season was the best three-year run in program history.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS WINONA STATE
•SMSU and Winona State meet for the 110th time with WSU leading 70-39 in a series that started in 1968-69.
•WSU holds a 27-8 advantage since 2004-05, but SMSU is 6-5 in the last 11 meetings.
•SMSU has won four of the last six games since the start of the 2016-17 season. The teams split last season with each team winning on their home court.
•WSU hold a 27-24 advantage in games played in Marshall, but SMSU has won the last three inside the R/A Facility, including 69-67 last season.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-13 all-time versus WSU.
•Game-by-game results of the series on page 17.
SERIES HISTORY VERSUS UPPER IOWA
•SMSU and Upper Iowa meet for the 30th time with SMSU leading 21-8 in a match-up that started in 1979-80.
•SMSU leads 10-4 in games played in Marshall, including winning last season, 90-65.
•UIU won four straight in Marshall from Jan. 18, 2014, to Jan. 7, 2017.
•SMSU has won five straight in the series which started with a victory in the championship game of the NSIC Tournament in 2017. Prior to SMSU’s current streak, UIU had won six of the previous seven games.
•SMSU won both games last season, 91-87 at Upper Iowa and 90-65 in Marshall.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 13-7 all-time versus UIU.
•Game-by-game results of the series are on page 18.
SMSU HEAD COACH BRAD BIGLER
•Brad Bigler, the all-time wins leader in program history, is in his 11th season as head coach with an overall record of 185-136, including 125-105 in NSIC play.
•The 2012-13 and 2016-17 NSIC Coach of the Year, Bigler has led SMSU to seven 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 also won NSIC South Division championships in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.
•SMSU has played in five NSIC Tournament championship games during his tenure (2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019).
•SMSU’s 11th head coach, 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.
SCOUTING WINONA STATE
•Winona State is 10-8 overall, 7-5 NSIC, and is currently on a three-game winning streak. The Warriors defeated Minnesota Crookston (80-66) and Bemidji State (82-74) at home last weekend.
•Junior guard Kevion Taylor leads the team in both scoring (19.6) and rebounding (7.4), while connecting on a team-high 63 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Caleb Wagner is averaging 18.9 ppg with 41 3-pointers.
•Junior forward Andrea Lo Biondo is scoring 9.1 ppg and averaging 6.3 rpg.
•WSU is shooting 43 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range, 78 percent from the free throw line and is minus-3.7 in rebound margin.
•WSU is averaging 76 points per game, while opponents average 74 points per game.
•Head coach Todd Eisner is in his fifth season with a record of 70-64. He recorded 417 career victories as a head coach at Midland (Neb.), Benedictine (Kan.), Bellevue (Neb.) and Viterbo (Wis.).
SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
•Upper Iowa is 11-7 overall, 8-4 NSIC, heading into Friday’s game at Sioux Falls. The Peacocks have won four straight at home, including last weekend over Bemidji State (105-93 2OT) and Minnesota Crookston (102-94).
•Junior forward Jareese Williams is averaging 13.9 ppg and leads the team with 57 3-pointers.
•Senior guard Joe Smoldt is scoring 13.3 ppg with 41 3-pointers.
•Jake Hilmer had dished out 87 assists and is averaging 12.1 ppg.
•UIU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 72 percent from the free throw line and is minus-4.4 in rebound margin. UIU ranks last in the NSIC in rebounding margin in 12 league games.
•UIU is averaging 84 points per game, while opponents average 83 points per game.
•Head coach Brooks McKowen is in his seventh season at UIU with a record of 106-89. He led the Peacocks to the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
•McKowen was an assistant coach at SMSU from 2011-13.
SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NCAA STATISTICS
•The latest 2019-20 NCAA statistics (Jan. 21) are located on page 16.
•SMSU ranks 28th in total blocked shots, 36th in field goal pct. defense, 38th in blocked shots per game and 60th in scoring defense.
•Weston Baker Magrath is ranked 15th in blocked shots and 22nd in blocked shots per game.
•Kenny Byers ranks 25th with seven double-doubles, 25th in field goals attempted, 42nd in field goals made and 62nd in total rebounds.
SMSU IN THE 2019-20 NSIC STATISTICS
•The current 2019-20 NSIC team statistics (NSIC games only) are located on pages 14.
•Kenny Byers ranks fifth in steals, seventh in scoring, 10th in rebounding, 12th in assists and 17th in field goal pct.
•Nick Dufault ranks sixth in 3-point field goal pct., sixth in 3-point field goals per game, 19th in field goal pct. and 20th in scoring.
•Weston Baker Magrath ranks fourth in blocked shots.
•SMSU ranks third in field goal pct. defense, third in scoring defense, seventh in 3-point field goal pct. defense and seventh in 3-point field goal pct.
MUSTANG 20-POINT GAMES
•Two current SMSU players, juniors Nick Dufault and Kenny Byers have scored 20 or more points in a game during their careers.
•Byers has reached 20 points eight times this season and 10 times in his career, while Dufault has two 20-point games this season and four in his career.
20 or More Point Games in Career
28 Nick Dufault Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
27 Kenny Byers St. Cloud State, 12/13/19
24 Kenny Byers Wayne State, 1/4/20
24 Kenny Byers Minnesota Duluth, 12/14/19
23 Kenny Byers Minnesota State, 1/11/20
23 Kenny Byers Sioux Falls, 12/21/19
23 Nick Dufault Crown, 11/21/17
22 Nick Dufault Crown, 11/24/18
21 Kenny Byers Concordia-St. Paul, 1/10/20
21 Kenny Byers Augustana, 1/3/20
20 Nick Dufault Concordia-St. Paul, 12/7/19
20 Kenny Byers Central Missouri, 11/9/19
20 Kenny Byers Concordia-St. Paul, 12/8/18
20 Kenny Byers Crown, 11/24/18
Bold indicates 2019-20 season
WESTON BAKER MAGRATH NOTES
•Has started 18 games and is averaging 6.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg.
•Leads the team with 35 blocked shots ranking eighth in team single-season history.
•Season-high 18 points vs. Minnesota Morris (11/22/19) and season-high seven rebounds at Minnesota State (12/6/19).
•Played previous two seasons at Nebraska-Kearney and averaged 6.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg in 2018-19.
•Led UNK in blocked shots last season with 33.
•Scored a 2018-19 season-high 18 points versus Northeastern State.
KENNY BYERS NOTES
•Has started all 18 games and leads team in scoring (17.6), rebounding (7.8), assists (52) and steals (29).
•Has scored 20 or more points eight times and has recorded seven double-doubles this season.
•Has scored double figures in all but one game this season.
•Scored career-high 27 points vs. St. Cloud State (12/13/19).
•Grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•Played 32 games with 31 starts last season and averaged 10.2 ppg and 4.0 rpg.
•Named to the 2019 NSIC All-Tournament team.
•Played as a true freshman in 2017-18.
BRIAN DAYMAN NOTES
•Has played in all 18 games with 16 starts and is averaging 4.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg.
•Grabbed career-high 11 rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/11/20).
•Scored 10 points vs. Arkansas-Monticello with four field goals and also scored 10 points with four field goals at Augustana.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.
NICK DUFAULT NOTES
•Has played in 16 games with seven starts and ranks second in scoring (12.7).
•Missed first two games of January with an injury.
•Has made a team-high 38 3-pointers this season.
•Career-high 28 points with a career-high 11 field goals vs. Minnesota Duluth (12/14/19).
•Has scored 20 or more points twice this season.
•Has made career-high five 3-pointers five times, including twice this season.
•Ranks fifth in team history in 3-point field goal pct. (41.9).
•Ranked third on the team with 49 3-pointers last season.
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.
KADEN EVANS NOTES
•Has missed 12 games with an injury.
•Has played in six games and is averaging 3.8 ppg and 1.7 rpg.
•Scored 13 points with five field goals, including three 3-pointers vs. Mayville State.
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.
BRAEDAN HANSON NOTES
•Has played in all 18 games with two starts and is averaging 4.1 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
•Career-high nine rebounds vs. Stonehill (11/15/19) and vs. Minnesota Morris (11/22/19).
•Scored season-high 10 points vs. Minnesota Morris.
•Played in 32 games with 22 starts last season, averaging 6.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg.
•Scored a career-high 17 points vs. Northland (11/20/18).
•Poured in 16 points with four 3-pointers vs. UMary (1/19/19).
•Sat out 2016-17 season as a redshirt.
GRANT KRAMER NOTES
•Has missed last seven games with an injury.
•Has played in 11 games with seven starts and is averaging 5.5 ppg and 2.6 rpg with 24 assists.
•Career-high 14 points vs. Northern Michigan (11/16/19).
•Scored 13 points vs. Stonehill (11/15/19).
•Played in 32 games in 2018-19 and averaged 2.6 ppg and 2.4 rpg.
•Career-high 11 rebounds at Minnesota State (1/12/19).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.
CLIFF MCCRAY NOTES
•Has started all 18 games and is averaging 8.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points and tied career-high with four assists vs. Minnesota Duluth.
•Made career-high three 3-pointers vs. Sioux Falls (12/21/19).
•Scored 14 points with career-high six field goals at Sioux Falls (11/30/19).
•Grabbed season-high seven rebounds at Central Missouri.
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.
JAKE PHIPPS NOTES
•Has appeared in all 18 games and is averaging 4.8 ppg and 2.9 rpg.
•Scored career-high 18 points on 8 of 9 shooting at Minot State (1/17/20).
•Career-high seven rebounds vs. Minnesota State (1/11/20).
•Career-high five blocked shots vs. Concordia (1/10/20).
•Sat out the 2018-19 season as a redshirt.
ANDY STAFFORD NOTES
•Did not play in the first seven games with a planned redshirt season. Has played in 11 games with four starts and is averaging 6.1 ppg and 2.5 rpg.
•Career-high 15 points with three 3-pointers vs. Concordia (1/10/20).
•Has scored double figures in three games.
•Scored 13 points with three 3-pointers at Wayne State
•One of two true freshman to play in 2019-20.
KEVIN TOTUSEK NOTES
•Has played in three games this season.
•Scored one point vs. Minnesota Morris.
•Played in five games in 2018-19 and averaged 1.2 ppg.
•Scored four points vs. Crown (11/24/18).
•Sat out the 2017-18 season as a redshirt.
HOME AND AWAY
•SMSU is 3-4 at home this season after finishing the 2018-19 season 12-5 at home.
•SMSU is a combined 125-48 at home since the 2007-08 season.
•SMSU is 3-8 in road/neutral site games this season and are a combined 95-94 in 189 road/neutral site games since 2009-10.
•The following is a statistical comparison of the Mustang team averages for home and away/neutral games in 2018-19:
W-L FG% 3-FG% FT% REB PTS TO
Home 3-4 46.0 35.9 70.1 34.0 71.3 12.4
Away 3-8 42.4 37.2 60.5 34.5 62.3 13.1
SMSU PICKED 12TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was picked to finish 12th overall and sixth in the South Division in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
•Minnesota State was chosen as the South Division and overall favorite, while Minnesota Duluth was picked to win the North Division.
•SMSU junior guard Kenny Byers was named a “Player to Watch”.
NSIC SOUTH VS. NSIC NORTH
•SMSU is 2-2 versus NSIC North Division teams this season and is a combined 39-21 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced prior to the 2012-13 season.
•SMSU finished with a 5-3 record versus the NSIC North Division in 2018-19. SMSU was 7-1 in 2017-18; 6-2 in 2016-17; 3-5 in 2015-16; 5-3 in 2014-15; 5-3 in 2013-14; and 6-2 in 2012-13.
•The NSIC South holds a 277-203 advantage over NSIC North teams in conference play since divisions were formed in 2012-13. The South holds a 17-15 lead this season as of Jan. 19.
•In 2018-19, the North finished 38-26, which was the first time in seven seasons the North finished with a winning record.
•Prior to last season, the South Division held the advantage in every season. In 2017-18, (38-26); in 2016-17 (35-29); in 2015-16 (37-27); in 2014-15 (35-29); in 2013-14 (42-22), while in 2012-13 (47-17).
HOME SWEET HOME
•The 2019-20 season marks the 24th year the R/A Facility has served as the home arena for SMSU men’s basketball.
•SMSU has a record of 232-90 (.720) in 322 games with just two losing 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 3-4 1-4 2-0
Totals 232-90 152-65 80-25
CONSECUTIVE 3-POINT GAMES
•Southwest Minnesota State has connected on at least one 3-point field goal in 639 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.
A LOOK BACK AT SMSU IN 2018-19
•SMSU concluded the 2018-19 season with an 18-14 overall record, placed fifth in the NSIC South Division with a 10-12 mark and finished ninth in the overall standings.
•SMSU won three straight games in the NSIC Tournament to advance to the championship game for the third straight season before losing to Northern State, 72-68.
REPLACING ALL-AMERICAN RYAN BRUGGEMAN
•One of several key players SMSU had to replace from last season’s team was All-American guard Ryan Bruggeman, who closed his career as one of the most decorated players in program history.
•Bruggeman set the program’s all-time scoring record with 2,246 points in 128 games. He is also the program’s all-time leader in field goals made, free throws made, assists, free throw percentage and steals.
•Bruggeman in early January signed a professional contact to play for Delteco Gipuzkoa BC located in San Sebastian, Spain, which is a second tier league team in the Spain Basketball League. He most recently played for HKK Zrinjski HT Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I. In 11 games, Bruggeman averaged 10.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.6 apg and 1.3 spg.
MUSTANGS REACH 100 AND THEN SOME
•SMSU scored 100 or more points three times in 2018-19, defeating Bethany Lutheran, 101-81, Crown College, 100-81 and Minnesota Crookston, 100-78.
•It was the first time SMSU scored 100 or more three times in a season since 2000-01.
•SMSU is 40-8 all-time when scoring 100 points.
WORKING OVERTIME
•SMSU is 47-39 all-time in overtime games, including 1-0 this season following a triple overtime victory over Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 14.
•SMSU is 7-6 in double overtime games and now 1-2 in triple overtime games all-time.
SMSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
•SMSU has made five NCAA Tournament appearances (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018) in program history since moving to Division II in 1995-96.
•SMSU is 9-5 all-time in NCAA Tournament games appearing in three region championship games with region titles and Elite Eight appearances in both 2001 and 2009.
SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
•The 2019-20 campaign marks the 51st season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
•SMSU has an all-time record of 374-406 in 780 conference games, finishing in the top half of the final standings 25 times in 50 seasons.
•SMSU has finished in the top half of the NSIC standings in 17 of the last 23 seasons since 1997-98.
•SMSU has one regular season championship (2000-01) and two tournament championships (2012 and 2017).
•SMSU also won NSIC South Division titles in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.
MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is in its 53rd season of men’s basketball in 2019-20.
•SMSU has played 1,465 games compiling an all-time record of 677-788.
•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 five NCAA tournaments (2001, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2018).
•SMSU has recorded 24 winning seasons in program history with 17 coming in the last 21 years.
