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SMSU MEN’S BASKETBALL: SMSU continues nonconference play hosting Mayville State tonight

Independent file photo SMSU’s Taylor Schafer shoots a jumper during their Dec. 30, 2017 game against Augustana University. The Mustangs return to the court today when they face Mayville State.

MARSHALL – The No. 20 ranked (NABC) Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (1-1) continues nonconference play tonight hosting NAIA member Mayville State University (N.D.) (4-2) at the R/A Facility in Marshall with tip-off slated for 6 p.m.

•SMSU is coming off a 1-1 weekend in the NSIC/MIAA Challenge held in Marshall.

•Today’s match-up will be counted as an exhibition game for Mayville State.

•Today’s game is the third of nine straight home games SMSU will play to open the season.

BROADCAST INFO

•Today’s game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.

•Live stats and video can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

SERIES HISTORY VS. MAYVILLE STATE

•SMSU and Mayville State meet for the 11th time today with MSU leading 6-4.

•This will be the first meeting between the two programs since the 1993-94 season when SMSU earned a 91-71 victory in the PE Gym.

•MSU leads the series 4-3 in games played in Marshall.

•The first game in the series came during the 1968-69 season.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler has never faced MSU.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE

•SMSU finished the 2017-18 season 25-9 overall and finished 17-5 in the NSIC.

•SMSU is 1-1 overall after splitting a pair of home games last weekend.

•Senior guard Ryan Bruggeman is averaging a team-high 18 ppg with a team-high 21 assists.

•Senior forward Michael Lee has made team-leading nine 3-pointers and is averaging 17.5 ppg.

•Sophomore guard Nick Dufault ranks third on the team with 14.5 ppg and has made eight 3-pointers.

•Sophomore forward Braedan Hanson is scoring 10.5 ppg.

•Senior forward Steven McNease leads the team with 5.5 rpg.

•SMSU is shooting 51 percent from the field, 59 percent from 3-point range, 81 percent from the free throw line and is minus-3.0 in rebound margin.

•SMSU is averaging 85 points per game, while opponents are averaging 84 points per game.

MUSTANG

TIP-OFF TIDBITS

•SMSU shot 66 percent from the field versus Fort Hays State on Saturday. It’s the first time SMSU has shot 60 percent or higher in a game since Nov. 21, 2017, versus Crown College.

•SMSU shot a blistering 77 percent (20 of 26) from the field in the first half on Saturday night. SMSU shot 72.2 percent from the field in the first half vs. Crown College last season.

•Senior Michael Lee poured in a career-high 25 points with seven 3-pointers in the victory over Fort Hays State on Nov. 10.

•Senior Ryan Bruggeman dished out a career-high 14 assists in the win over Fort Hays State on Nov. 10. He also recorded his sixth career double-double.

•Bruggeman became the program’s all-time leader in steals during SMSU’s season opening game versus Emporia State on Nov. 9. He now has 159 in his career, surpassing Andre Beasley’s record of 157 from 1990-93.

•Senior Taylor Schafer has scored 947 career points and is on pace to become the 24th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points.

•Senior Michael Lee made 80 3-pointers last season ranking seventh in team single-season history.

•SMSU shot 48.9 percent from the field last season which ranks tied for fifth in team history.

•Seven of the top nine shooting teams in program history have come under the direction of head coach Brad Bigler.

•SMSU finished last season with 12 home victories. It’s the first time since 2013-14 SMSU reached double figures in home wins.

•SMSU shot 50 percent or higher in 12 games last season.

SCOUTING MAYVILLE STATE

•Mayville State is 4-2 overall and is coming off a 93-68 road victory over Division III Gustavus on Saturday night.

•MSU is a member of NAIA Division II and competes in the North Star Athletic Association. The Comets were picked to finish second in the eight-team NSAA this season.

•MSU won the NSAA tournament championship last season and competed in the NAIA II national tournament before losing to College of Idaho in the opening round.

•Senior guard Daniel Lindgren scored 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting with four 3-pointers for the Comets.

•Senior guard Gorg Alhag chipped in with 16 points with three 3-pointers.

•The Comets shot 60 percent from the field and made 11 3-pointers in the win over Gustavus.

•Alhag is averaging 14.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg, while junior forward Max Cooper is scoring 12.2 ppg

•MSU is shooting 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range, 68 percent from the free throw line and is plus-6.0 in rebound margin.

•MSU is averaging 101 points per game, while opponents are averaging 66 points per game.

•Darren Tighe is in his second season as head coach at MSU with a record of 22-13.

•During his first season, MSU went from nine wins to 18 and won the NSAA tournament championship to advance to the NAIA II national tournament.

•He was the head coach at Ridgewater College for three seasons from 2014-17.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications

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