Independent file photo SMSU’s Taylor Schafer shoots a jumper over University of Sioux Falls defender Zach Wessels during their game last Saturday. The Mustangs will return to action next weekend to face Augustana and Wayne State.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (9-3, 5-1 NSIC), riding a five-game win streak and winners of eight of its nine eight games overall, returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 31, with a pair of games at the R/A Facility.

•SMSU will face Augustana University (8-4, 3-3 NSIC) on Dec. 30 beginning at 6 p.m., before closing the weekend with a 4 p.m. match-up versus Wayne State College (8-6, 3-3 NSIC) on Sunday, 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 18th in team history with 1,029 points in 74 games.

•Senior Carter Kirk currently ranks 25th on the career scoring list with 978 points in 102 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 12 games this season and the latest NCAA statistical numbers back it up.

•SMSU has the 18th toughest schedule in Division II and the toughest among all NSIC schools as of Wednesday, Dec. 20.

•SMSU’s eight Division II opponents have a combined record of 57-32 (not including games with SMSU).

SERIES HISTORY VS. AUGUSTANA

•Southwest Minnesota State and Augustana meet for the 33rd time on Dec. 30 with Augustana leading 19-13.

•The teams first met during the 1972-73 season.

•The series is tied 8-8 in games played in Marshall, but Augustana has won the last three games at the R/A Facility.

•SMSU won two of three games last season, including earning a double overtime win in the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament.

•Augustana has scored 89 or more points in six of the last seven games.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 6-10 all-time versus Augustana.

SERIES HISTORY VS. WAYNE STATE

•Southwest Minnesota State and Wayne State meet for the 68th time on Dec. 31 with WSC leading 37-30.

•The teams first met during the 1969-70 season.

•SMSU leads 21-13 in games played in Marshall.

•SMSU has won the last 18 played in Marshall.

•WSC’s last win in Marshall was during the 1999-2000 season.

•SMSU has won 12 of the last 13 games overall since Dec. 3, 2011, with WSC’s lone victory coming on Feb. 14, 2015, in Wayne.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 14-3 all-time versus WSC.

SMSU TENTH IN D2SIDA REGIONAL POLL

•SMSU is ranked 10th in this week’s D2SIDA Central Region poll released on Wednesday.

•Each of the eight regions has six representatives from D2SIDA that coordinate the regional committee, with a regional poll that will be released every Monday during the regular season.

SCOUTING

AUGUSTANA

•Augustana is 8-4 overall, 3-3 NSIC, following an 80-70 home win over Wayne State on Dec. 19.

•Jordan Spencer leads the team averaging 16.3 ppg with 25 3-pointers and a team-high 88 assists.

•John Warren is averaging 14.5 ppg with 27 3-pointers, while leading the squad with 20 steals.

•Steven Schaefer (13.7) and Adam Dykman (10.9) are also both scoring double figures per game.

•Marcus Asmus leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game.

•Augie is shooting 48 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3-point range, 74 percent from the free throw line and is plus-2.7 in rebound margin.

•Augie is scoring 85 points per game, while opponents are averaging 76 per game.

•Head coach Tom Billeter is in his 15th season with a record of 279-156. He has a career record of 376-206 in 20 seasons as a head coach (North Dakota State, 1992-97).

SCOUTING

WAYNE STATE

•WSC is 8-6 overall, 3-3 NSIC, following a road loss to Augustana on Dec. 19.

•WSC will play at Sioux Falls on Dec. 30 before facing SMSU.

•Kendall Jacks leads the team averaging 14.3 ppg while shooting 53 percent from the field.

•Trevin Joseph is averaging 10.6 ppg with a team-high 21 3-pointers.

•WSC is shooting 48 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range, 71 percent from the free throw line and is minus-1.2 in rebound margin.

•WSC is scoring 77 points per game, while opponents are averaging 68 per game.

•Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his second season with a record of 18-26. He has also been head coach at Valley City State and Wisconsin-Superior.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications