SMSU men's basketball vs. Minnesota State NOV. 16, 2024

SMSU versus MSU Game Rosters

Today

• The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s basketball team (2-0) continues non-conference play at home today taking on defending NCAA national champion and conference foe, Minnesota State (1-3), in a non-conference game.
• SMSU and MSU are scheduled to play each other just once during the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season, which prompted the two programs to schedule a non-conference affair. The teams play again in Mankato on Dec. 13.
• SMSU opened the season last weekend at home earning a pair of victories versus teams from the MIAA. On Friday, SMSU earned a 68-62 win over 2024 NCAA tournament team and preseason No. 16 ranked Fort Hays State, before closing the weekend on Saturday with a come-from-behind 77-73 victory over Nebraska Kearney.
• MSU, which won the 2024 NCAA championship, is ranked No. 1 in the NABC preseason Top 25 poll. The Mavericks are 1-3 on the season following two losses at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Florida on Nov. 2-3, before splitting two games last weekend at the Central Region Challenge in Kansas City, Mo. All three losses have come against teams ranked in the Top 20 nationally.
• Both SMSU and MSU are receiving votes in this week’s D2 College Sports Communicators (D2CSC) Top 25 poll. SMSU is also receiving votes in the NABC preseason Top 25.

SEries History versus minnesota state

• SMSU and MSU meet for the 73rd time with MSU leading 51-21 in a series that started in 1969-70.
• MSU defeated SMSU three times last season, including twice during the regular season and earning a 68-67 victory in the semifinals of the NSIC tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
• MSU leads 22-11 in games played in Marshall, which includes a 68-58 victory last season.
• SMSU won four straight games over two seasons from 2021-23.
• MSU has won 20 of the last 28 games overall since the 2012-13 season.
• SMSU head coach Brad Bigler is 11-23 all-time versus MSU.

mustangs by the numbers

• SMSU has three players averaging double figures in scoring with sophomore Aeron Stevens scoring a team-high 23 ppg and is also tied for the team lead in rebounding at 7.5 rpg.
• Junior Mason Lund ranks tied for second on the team with 10.5 ppg and is shooting 58 percent from the field with a team-high five 3-pointers.
• Sophomore Steven Kramer is averaging 10.5 ppg and 5.5 rpg.
• Senior Dunwa Omot is scoring 9.5 ppg while connecting on two 3-pointers.
• Junior Jakob Braaten is tied .
• SMSU is shooting 44 percent from the field, 34 percent from 3-point range, 78 percent from the free throw line and is plus-5.5 in rebound margin. The Mustangs are averaging 73 points per game, while opponents are averaging 68 ppg.

SCOUTING minnesota State

• The Mavericks, ranked No. 1 in the NABC preseason Top 25, and the preseason favorite in the NSIC this season, won the NCAA championship last season with a record of 35-2.
• Senior guard Harrison Braudis is averaging 13.5 ppg with six 3-pointers and 10 assists.
• Senior guard Justin Eagins is averaging 13.0 ppg.
• Senior guard Kyreese Willingham is scoring 11.5 ppg with a team-leading 6.5 rpg.
• MSU is shooting 40 percent from the field, 26 percent from 3-point range, 78 percent from the free throw line and is minus-2.5 in rebound margin.
• MSU is averaging 69 points per game, while opponents average 75 points per game.
• Head coach Matt Margenthaler is in his 24th season with a record of 489-214. He is the program’s all-time leader in victories and has led the Mavericks to 14 NCAA tournament appearance.