SMSU MEN’S BASKETBALL: SMSU opens NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament at Minot State
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MARSHALL -- The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team (14-11) opens first round play in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Wednesday night playing at Minot State University (15-9) with tip-off set for 6 p.m. at the MSU Dome in Minot, N.D.
•SMSU is the No. 5 seed from the South Division, while MSU is the No. 4 seed from the North Division.
•The winner of Wednesday's game will advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday to face No. 1S Augustana at 1:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
•The semifinals will be on Monday, Feb. 28, with the championship game on Tuesday, March 1, at 4 p.m.
•The complete 2022 NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament bracket can be found on page 18.
•SMSU and MSU did not play this season due to COVID protocols within the MSU program.
Broadcast info
•Wednesday's game 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.
SMSU NSIC
Tournament history
•Since the NSIC Tournament started in 2000, SMSU is 26-18 all-time with two championships (2012 & 2017).
•SMSU has advanced to the semifinals 12 times and have played in eight championship games (2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019).
•The Mustangs are 10-2 at home, 2-8 on the road and 14-8 in neutral site tournament games.
Series history
vs. Minot State
•SMSU and MSU meet for the 14th time with SMSU holding an 11-2 advantage.
•This will be their first meeting at the NSIC Tournament.
•The teams split four games last season to open the 2020-21 season.
•SMSU leads 5-1 in games played in Minot, including splitting two games last season with MSU winning 66-61 on Jan. 2 before SMSU won 67-65 on Jan. 3.
•SMSU earned an 83-64 win the next weekend on Jan. 8 in Marshall, but MSU answered with an 82-65 victory on Jan. 9.
•SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 11-2 all-time versus MSU.
Scouting Minot State
•Minot State finished fourth in the NSIC North Division with a record of 9-9 and is 15-9 overall.
•The Beavers last twice last week to close the regular season, losing in overtime on Thursday at Northern State, 84-78, before suffering a home loss to MSU Moorhead on Saturday, 87-76.
•Senior Melvin Newbern is averaging a team-high 15.7 ppg and a team-high 9.0 rpg. He is also shooting 57 percent from the field and 82 percent from the free throw line.
•Senior Cam'ron Dunfee is scoring 13 ppg with 44 3-pointers.
•Senior Kody Dwyer is averaging 12.2 ppg while shooting 71 percent from the field.
•Senior Max Cody has dished out 152 assists and is averaging 12 ppg.
•MSU is shooting 52 percent from the field, 38 percent from 3-point range, 76 percent from the free throw line and is plus-4.1 in rebound margin.
•MSU is averaging 82 points per game, while opponents are averaging 74 points per game.
•Head coach Matt Murken is in his 10th season with a record of 129-143.
-- Content courtesy
of SMSU Athletic
Communications