Independent file photo SMSU’s Ryan Bruggeman drives down the lane during their Nov. 2016 game against the University of Sioux Falls.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (8-3, 4-1 NSIC), riding a four-game win streak and winners of seven of its last eight games overall, returns home this Saturday night to face the University of Sioux Falls (8-2, 4-1 NSIC) with tip-off set for 7 p.m. at the R/A Facility.

•This will be second meeting between the two teams within three weeks as USF earned a 91-85 overtime win in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Nov. 25.

•A win on Saturday would be the 100th career conference victory for SMSU head coach Brad Bigler.

•Following this weekend, SMSU will have two weeks off for Christmas break, before returning to action hosting Augustana on Dec. 30 and Wayne State on Dec. 31.

BROADCAST INFO

•All SMSU games will be broadcast all season on 105.1 FM KARL.

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

BRUGGEMAN REACHES 1,000 POINTS; KIRK NEXT ON LIST

•Junior Ryan Bruggeman reached 1,000 career points during SMSU’s win at Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 8.

•He currently ranks 20th in team history with 1,018 points in 73 games.

•Senior Carter Kirk currently ranks 25th on the career scoring list with 967 points in 101 games. He is looking to become the 23rd player in team history to reach 1,000 career points.

TOUGHEST

SCHEDULE IN

THE NSIC

•SMSU has played a strong schedule through 11 games this season and the latest NCAA statistical numbers back it up.

•SMSU has the 26th toughest schedule in Division II and the toughest among all NSIC schools as of Tuesday.

•SMSU’s eight Division II opponents have a combined record of 51-28 (not including games with SMSU).

SERIES HISTORY VS. SIOUX FALLS

•Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls meet for the 31st time on Saturday with SMSU leading 19-11.

•USF won earlier this season in overtime, snapping a four-game winning streak in the series for SMSU.

•SMSU leads 14-0 in games played in Marshall.

•The last three games in Marshall have been decided by a total of eight points.

•SMSU leads the series 6-5 in conference games (7-5 overall) since USF joined the NSIC prior to the 2012-13 season.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 7-5 all-time versus USF.

SCOUTING

SIOUX FALLS

•USF is 8-2 overall, 4-1 NSIC, following a split last weekend on the road.

•USF lost, 88-82 to St. Cloud State on Friday, before earning a 91-66 victory at Minnesota Duluth on Saturday.

•Drew Guebert leads the team averaging 24 ppg with 26 3-pointers.

•Trevon Evans is averaging 21.2 ppg with 23 3-pointers, while leading the squad with 6.6 rpg.

•Both Guebert and Evans scored 26 points at UMD last Saturday.

•Evans has scored 31, 32 and 26 points the last three games.

•Guebert has scored 20 or more points in eight of 10 games.

•USF is shooting 50 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.

•USF is scoring 88 points per game, while opponents are averaging 75 per game.

•Head coach Chris Johnson, the school’s all-time leader in victories, is in his 10th season with a record of 180-139.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications