Independent file photo SMSU’s Logan Benson tries to drive past an Augustana opponent during their game on Dec. 4, 2021. SMSU will face Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State this weekend.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (9-6, 5-5 NSIC) returns to the friendly confines of the R/A Facility this Friday and Saturday hosting a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division opponents.

•SMSU opens the weekend taking on the University of Minnesota Crookston (5-12, 2-9 NSIC) with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m., while on Saturday the Mustangs battle Bemidji State University (6-9, 3-8 NSIC) with game time set for 5:30 p.m.

•SMSU has played just three games since Dec. 18 due to a pair of games being canceled due to COVID protocols.

•SMSU is coming off a 69-68 road loss to Northern State last Friday. The Mustangs’ scheduled game at MSU Moorhead last Saturday was canceled.

•SMSU, which is 1-1 versus NSIC North teams this season, is a combined 41-25 versus North teams in conference play since divisions were introduced during the 2012-13 season.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler enters Friday’s game with 199 career victories.

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.

Series history

vs. Minnesota Crookston

•SMSU and UMC meet for the 38th time with SMSU leading 34-3 in a series that started in 1994-95.

•SMSU leads the series 31-1 since UMC joined the NSIC in 1999-2000.

•SMSU has won the last 23 games with UMC’s last win coming on Jan. 16, 2004, in Crookston. SMSU holds an 18-1 lead in games played in Marshall. UMC won the first-ever game played in the series, 87-78, in Marshall during the 1994-95 season.

•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 12-0 all-time versus UMC.

Series history

vs. Bemidji State

•SMSU and BSU meet for the 98th time with SMSU leading 55-42 in a series that started during the 1968-69 season.

•SMSU leads 34-15 in games played in Marshall, including winning the last three played inside the R/A Facility.

•SMSU has won five of the last seven meetings, since Feb. 6, 2015, but BSU won the last game on Feb. 1, 2020, in Bemidji.

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

Scouting

Minnesota

Crookston

•UMC is 5-12 overall, 2-9 NSIC, after snapping a nine-game losing streak last Friday with a 77-72 victory at Concordia-St. Paul. Saturday’s game at Minnesota State was canceled.

•UMC has four players averaging double figures in scoring with junior guard Ethan Channel averaging a team-high 12.6 ppg with 23 3-pointers.

•Junior forward Leonard Dixon is averaging 12.4 ppg with a team-high 38 3-pointers and is also leading the team with 6.8 rebounds per game.

•Senior guard Brian Sitzman (10.5) and sophomore guard Uzo Dibiamaka (10.3) both average double figures in scoring.

•UMC is shooting 42 percent from the field, 33 percent from 3-point range, 67 percent from the free throw line and is minus-1.1 in rebound margin.

•UMC is averaging 66 points per game, while opponents are averaging 72 points per game.

•Head coach Dan Weisse is in his eighth season at UMC with a record of 61-130.

Scouting

Bemidji State

•BSU begins the weekend 6-9 overall, 3-8 NSIC, having lost three straight games heading into Friday’s game at Sioux Falls. BSU has lost its last four games by five or less points or in overtime.

•BSU has four players averaging double figures in scoring with senior guard Travis Bianco averaging a team-high 16.1 ppg with a team-best 33 3-pointers. He also leads the Beavers in rebounding at 6.4 rpg.

•Senior guard Mohamed Kone is averaging 11.7 ppg and has dished out a team-high 70 assists

•Sophomore forward John Sutherland is shooting a team-high 59 percent and is averaging 10.1 ppg.

•BSU is shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from 3-point range, 71 percent from the free throw line and is plus-5.0 in rebound margin.

•BSU is averaging 75 points per game, while opponents are averaging 72 points per game.

•Head coach Mike Boschee is in his 10th season at BSU with a record of 113-140. He was also head coach at Central College (Iowa) from 2003-12.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications