Independent file photo SMSU’s Kenny Byers looks to score during their Dec. 1 game against the University of Sioux Falls. The Mustangs will face Nebraska and USF this weekend on the road.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (7-4, 2-3 NSIC) will be returning to action for an exhibition game at No. 25-ranked University of Nebraska (10-2, 1-1 Big Ten) on Saturday, with game time set for 1 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.

•The game will count as a regular season game for Nebraska.

•Nebraska, which beat Cal State Fullerton, 86-62, last Saturday, has won 18 straight home games dating back to last season.

•Following the Nebraska game, SMSU returns to regular season action on Sunday, with a road game versus the University of Sioux Falls (8-3, 3-2 NSIC) at the Stewart Center with tip-off set for 4 p.m.

Long-time friends meet again

•The Saturday game will be a reunion for Nebraska head coach Tim Miles and SMSU head coach Brad Bigler.

•Miles served as SMSU’s head coach for four seasons from 1997-2001.

•Bigler played three seasons and sat out one season as a redshirt during Miles’ tenure at SMSU.

•Bigler was a key member of SMSU’s 2001 NSIC and NCAA North Central Region championship team that advanced to the Elite Eight in Bakersfield, Calif.

•Saturday’s game will be the sixth time Miles has faced his former team in either exhibition or regular season play.

•Miles’ North Dakota State teams finished 3-0 versus SMSU in regular season play (2004, 2005, 2006).

•SMSU lost 83-70 at Colorado State in an exhibition game in 2011 and also lost in exhibition play at Nebraska in 2014.

Broadcast Info

•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL.

•Saturday’s game will air on BTN+.

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

Series History

vs. Nebraska

•SMSU and Nebraska will be meeting for the second time in exhibition play.

•Nebraska defeated SMSU, 83-61 on Nov. 6, 2014, in Lincoln.

SMSU vs.

Division I foes in

regular season

•Saturday’s game versus Nebraska is an exhibition for SMSU.

•SMSU is 3-13 all-time in regular season games versus NCAA Division I schools with the last game coming on Nov. 18, 2013, with an 83-62 loss at South Dakota State.

•The Mustangs finished 2-1 during the 2008-09 season against a pair of NCAA Division I transitional members, beating the University of North Dakota twice, while losing at the University of South Dakota.

•SMSU’s first Division I win came during the 2004-05 season at South Dakota State (93-55).

•Over the last 15 seasons, SMSU has also played exhibition games at Northern Iowa, Drake, Colorado State and Minnesota.

Series History

vs. Sioux Falls

•SMSU and Sioux Falls meet for the 33rd time on Sunday with SMSU leading 20-12.

•USF holds an 11-4 advantage at home in the series, including winning five the last six at the Stewart Center.

•SMSU’s lone victory at the Stewart Center in the last six seasons came on Dec. 17, 2016.

•SMSU has won five of the last seven games overall since Dec. 19, 2015, but USF won earlier this season, 94-72 in Marshall on Dec. 1.

•SMSU leads the series 7-6 in conference games (8-6 overall) since USF joined the NSIC prior to the 2012-13 season.

Mustang

Tip-off tidbits

•SMSU has made at least one 3-pointer in 600 straight games. The last time SMSU failed to score a 3-pointer was on Dec. 11, 1998, versus MSU Moorhead (0 for 10) at the North Dakota State Classic. SMSU’s head coach at the time was Tim Miles.

•SMSU ranks fourth in Division II in free throw pct.

•SMSU has scored 90 or more points in five games.

•SMSU won at Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 15, despite committing a season-high 16 turnovers.

•SMSU allowed UMD just 63 points, the second lowest output by an SMSU opponent this season.

•SMSU held UMD to 38.2 percent shooting, the lowest by a Mustang opponent this season.

•SMSU shot a season-low 37.9 percent in its loss to St. Cloud State on Dec. 14.

•SMSU has shot 49 percent or higher in six of its seven victories, but have shot 44 percent (ESU), 36 percent (USF), 41 percent (MSU) and 38 percent (SCSU) in its four losses.

•SMSU has scored 100 or more points twice this season. The last time SMSU reached 100 twice in a season came in 2015-16. The last time SMSU scored 100 or more three times in a season occurred during the 2000-01 season.

Scouting Nebraska

•Nebraska is 10-2 overall, 1-1 Big 10, following its 86-62 win over Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 22.

•The Huskers enter the game with a perfect 7-0 record at home this season. Nebraska finished 16-1 at home during the 2017-18 season.

•Senior guard James Palmer is averaging 19.9 ppg with 26 3-pointers, while recording 32 assists.

•Senior forward Isaac Copeland is averaging 14.8 ppg and 5.8 rpg, while shooting 55 percent from the field.

•Senior guard Glynn Watson is scoring 13.4 ppg and has connected on 26 3-pointers.

•NU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 73 percent from the free throw line and is plus-1.2 in rebound margin.

•NU is averaging 80 points per game, while opponents are averaging 60 points per game.

•Head coach Tim Miles is in his seventh season with a record of 107-99 and is now in sole possession of third place on Nebraska’s career wins list. He is in his 24th season overall as a head coach with five programs and has a record of 390-319.

Scouting

Sioux Falls

•Sioux Falls is 8-3 overall, 3-2 NSIC, and last played on Dec. 15, suffering an 83-73 road loss to St. Cloud State.

•USF was picked as the co-favorite to win the NSIC South Division and was selected third overall.

•Senior guard Trevon Evans, the NSIC South Division Co- Preseason Player of the Year, is averaging 21.9 ppg with a team-leading 31 3-pointers and team-high 33 assists.

•Senior guard Drew Guebert is scoring 21.4 ppg with 24 3-pointers and also leads the club with 6.6 rpg.

•USF is shooting 45 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-11.8 in rebound margin.

•USF is averaging 81 points per game, while opponents are averaging 71 points per game.

•Chris Johnson is in his 11th season as head coach and is the program’s all-time leader in victories with a 184-135 record.

2018-19 NCAA

statistics

•The Mustangs rank third in free throw pct., ninth in 3-point field goal pct., 47th in field goal pct., and 56th in 3-pointers made per game.

•Ryan Bruggeman ranks 13th in scoring, 16th in free throws made, 16th in field goals made, 19th in total steals, 19th in assists per game and 21st in total assists.

•Steven McNease ranks 57th in rebounds per game.

2018-19 NSIC

statistics

•Ryan Bruggeman leads conference in scoring and steals.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications