Independent file photo SMSU’s Anthony Costello dribbles the ball during their game against Minnesota Morris on Monday. SMSU will face Wayne State today before taking on Augustana this weekend.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (5-1, 1-0 NSIC), winners of five straight, return to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a pair of games today and Saturday.

•Today, SMSU travels to Wayne, Neb., to face Wayne State College (4-3, 1-0 NSIC) at Rice Auditorium with game time set for 5:30 p.m.

•SMSU returns home on Saturday afternoon with a match-up versus Augustana University (6-1, 0-1 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 3:30 p.m. inside the R/A Facility.

•SMSU enters today’s game having won five straight for the first time since winning five in a row during the 2018-19 season. SMSU is looking for its first six-game winning streak since winning 10 in a row during the 2017-18 season.

•SMSU has won two straight road games for the first time since Dec. 15, 2018, (Minnesota Duluth) and Dec. 30, 2018 (Sioux Falls).

Broadcast info

•Both games will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL with Ryan Rohlik providing play-by-play.

•Live stats, radio and video broadcasts of all games can be found at SMSUmustangs.com.

Mustang

tip-off tidbits

•As of Nov. 29, SMSU ranks 19th in Division II in scoring defense (62.2) and 22nd in rebound margin (+9.2) and 31st in free throw pct. (79.1). A complete listing of the latest NCAA stats can be found on page 15.

•SMSU’s 50 rebounds during Monday night’s victory over Minnesota Morris was the first time SMSU recorded 50 rebounds in a game since Feb. 26, 2011, versus Minnesota State.

•Redshirt freshman Sam Schwartz set career-highs in both rebounds (11) and assists (6) in the win over UMM.

•Sophomore Jake Phipps leads the team in scoring (16.2), rebounding (8.0), and field goal pct. (59.1).

•Redshirt freshman Dunwa Omot has connected on a team-high 13 3-pointers. He has made three or more 3-pointers three of six games.

•Sophomore Cliff McCray and senior Kenny Byers each have a team-high 24 assists, while McCray has recorded a team-high 12 steals.

•Byers is closing in on becoming the 25th player in team history to score 1,000 career points. He has poured in 985 points in 99 career games, making 382 field goals, including 56 3-pointers and has made 165 free throws.

•SMSU has held all six opponents to 69 or less points, including a season-low 58 in a victory over Newman (Kan.) on Nov. 13.

•SMSU has outrebounded its opponent in all six games this season.

•SMSU is shooting 46 percent from the field, 35 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-9.2 in rebound margin.

•SMSU is averaging 70 points per game, while opponents are averaging 63 points per game.

Series history

vs. Wayne State

•SMSU and Wayne State meet for the 77th time on Thursday with WSC leading 41-35 in a series that started in 1969-70.

•WSC leads the series 24-10 in games played in Wayne, but SMSU won the last match-up inside Rice Auditorium on Jan. 4, 2020. SMSU has won four of the last five games at WSC since the 2015-16 season.

•SMSU has won 17 of the last 22 games since Dec. 3, 2011, but WSC won both games last season in Marshall, 82-54 and 74-56.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 19-7 all-time versus WSC.

Series history

vs. Augustana

•SMSU and Augustana meet for the 41st time on Saturday with Augustana leading 25-15 with the first meeting in 1972-73.

•Augustana holds an 11-8 advantage in games played in Marshall, including winning the past six meetings inside the R/A Facility. SMSU’s last win at home came on Dec. 6, 2013.

•Augustana holds a 7-4 advantage since Dec. 20, 2016, and has won the past five games, including earning an 84-74 win last season in Sioux Falls, S.D. SMSU’s last win in the series was on Feb. 24, 2018, at the NSIC Tournament.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 8-16 all-time versus Augustana.

Scouting Wayne State

•Wayne State is 4-3 overall, 1-0 NSIC, entering play on Thursday.

•WSC earned a 67-64 victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Monday night with Alec Millender hitting a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining.

•Junior Jordan Janssen is averaging a team-high 16.4 ppg and 7.9 rpg, while shooting 56 percent.

•Redshirt freshman Justin Eagins is scoring 12 ppg with nine 3-pointers.

•WSC is shooting 44 percent from the field, 32 percent from 3-point range, 75 percent from the free throw line and is plus-0.9 in rebound margin.

•WSC is averaging 71 points per game, while opponents are averaging 66 points per game.

•Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his sixth season at WSC with a record of 70-78. He has also been head coach at Valley City State and Wisconsin-Superior.

Scouting Augustana

•Augustana is 6-1 overall, 0-1 NSIC, suffering its only loss of the season on Nov. 23 at Wayne State.

•Augustana, which beat Doane and Grand View last weekend, will host Sioux Falls on Thursday night.

•Senior Tyler Riemersma is averaging a team-high 17.1 ppg and 10.9 rpg.

•Junior Isaac Fink is scoring 17 ppg with 15 3-pointers and averaging 6.3 rpg.

•Senior Dylan LeBrun is averaging 10.9 ppg.

•Augustana is shooting 44 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 79 percent from the free throw line and is plus-10.9 in rebound margin.

•Augustana is averaging 74 points per game, while opponents are averaging 63 points per game.

•Head coach Tom Billeter is in his 19th season with a record of 339-194. He led the Vikings to the 2016 NCAA Championship. He has a career record of 436-246 in 23 seasons overall having spent four seasons as head coach at North Dakota State.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications