What Lies Ahead:  The Minnesota State men's basketball team, ranked seventh in the latest NABC Division II poll wraps up a three-game roadtrip Saturday when it travels to Marshall, Minn., for an 8 p.m., tilt with Southwest Minnesota State.

What's in a Win:   A win Saturday would mark the 1,151st win in program history...It would also mark the 189th win for head coach Matt Margenthaler...A win Saturday would mark the eighth victory over Southwest Minnesota State for head coach Matt Margenthaler...It would also mark the 30th victory in 40 tries in school history against the Mustangs...A win Saturday would be Minnesota State’s 32nd win as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Mustang Minute:  Southwest Minnesota State enters the week owners of a 13-10 record, including an 8-9 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, which is good for eighth-place.  Last weekend, the Mustangs suffered a 64-51 loss at St. Cloud State before dropping a 109-104 triple-overtime loss at Concordia.
   
The Mustangs are averaging 70.6 points per game and are allowing 67.1.  SMSU is shooting 43.1 percent from the floor and own a +5.4 margin on the glass.  Junior forward Scott Roehl leads the squad in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.7 points per game and 8.2 rebounds.Redshirt freshman Jordan Miller is second on the squad in scoring at 11.1 points per game.  The Mustangs are coached Brad Bigler who is in his first season with the program.

MSU-SMSU Noteables:  Under head coach Matt Margenthaler Minnesota State is 7-4 against the Mustangs...The two teams split the regular season match-ups last year, with each squad winning on the road...In the R/A Facility last year, Minnesota State downed SMSU, 93-84 behind 61.7 percent shooting from the floor, including a scorching 69 percent in the second half...Southwest Minnesota State ended MSU's season in the semifinals of the NCAA Central Region tournament with a 77-69 victory...Among active players, senior center Travis Nelson is averaging 13.8 points per game in four games against Southwest Minnesota State to go with 6.8 rebounds...Junior guard Marcus Hill is averaging seven points per game while senior guard Jesse Clark is averaging 7.2 points in six career games against the Mustangs to go with 4.5 assists per contest.
 
Remember This:  Minnesota State connected  on a scorching 71.4 (20-of-28) percent of its shots in the second half in its win at Southwest Minnesota State last season.   It is the best shooting percentage in a half under head coach Matt Margenthaler.  The previous high for a half came on Dec. 1, 2001 when MSU connected on 16-of-23 (69.6 percent) of its shots in the second half against Winona State.  MSU has shot 60 percent or better in a half 31 times, but never 70 percent.

On the Air:   Fans can follow Minnesota State men's basketball all season long on the Radio Mankato family of stations.  Tune into Am 1230  KYSM the Fan Mankato at roughly 7:40 p.m. each night for the pregame show featuring MSU Athletic Hall of Distinction member Casey Lloyd.  
 
Former MSU standout Kory Kettner will add commentary to home and select road broadcasts.  Saturday's game will start at the same time and will be aired on AM 1230 KYSM the fan Mankato.  Fans can also listen to the games on the world wide web at www3.mnsu.edu/athletics

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