Photo courtesy of Sean Arbaut/Minot State SMSU’s Jake Phipps goes up for a layup during a game against Minot State University last weekend. SMSU and Minot State will face each other again this weekend.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (1-1) will open its 2020-21 home season today and Saturday taking on Minot State University (1-1) in a pair of non-conference games inside the R/A Facility. Today’s game is set to start at 5 p.m., while Saturday’s game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

•The two games were added to the schedule on Wednesday with both teams looking for games following cancellations earlier in the week. SMSU’s two homes games versus Winona State and MSU’s two home games versus Minnesota Duluth were all canceled on Monday due to COVID-19 protocols.

•SMSU and MSU are familiar with each other after having played two close games last Saturday and Sunday in Minot, N.D. Minot State won the opener on Saturday, 66-61, while SMSU bounced back with a 67-65 victory on Sunday.

•This will be the first time SMSU has played an opponent four straight games in program history. SMSU played Northern State in three straight games from Feb. 28-March 14, 2009.

•Due to COVID-19 and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, no spectators will be allowed inside the arena.

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 broadcast can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

Series history

versus Minot State

•SMSU and Minot State meet for the 12th and 13th time this weekend with SMSU holding a 10-1 advantage.

•SMSU leads 4-0 in games played in Marshall, including the last match-up inside the R/A Facility on Jan. 18, 2019.

•The teams first met on Nov. 26, 2011, in Bemidji, Minn.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 10-1 all-time versus MISU.

Scouting Minot State

•Minot State, 1-1 overall, was picked to finish seventh in the NSIC North Division preseason poll. The Beavers finished last season 10-19 overall, including 4-18 in NSIC play. MISU ended its 2019-20 season with a 79-68 loss at Sioux Falls in the first round of the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament.

•Junior guard Cam’ron Dunfee averaged 13.5 ppg with five 3-pointers in last weekend’s games. He led the team in scoring in both games.

•Senior guard Max Cody is the team’s top returning scorer from last season at 15.1 ppg. He connected on 38 3-pointers and dished out a team-high 186 assists last season. He is averaging 8.0 ppg with 10 assists following last weekend’s games.

•Senior forward Kody Dwyer averaged 11 points last season, while shooting 71 percent and grabbing 5.1 rpg.

•Through two games, MSU is shooting 40 percent from the field, 24 percent from 3-point range, 66 percent from the free throw line and is plus-5.0 in rebound margin.

•MSU is averaging 66 points per game, while opponents averaging 64 ppg.

•Head coach Matt Murken is in his ninth season with a record of 106-128.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications