Independent file photo. Southwest Minnesota State University's Steven Kramer drives toward the basket against Concordia-St. Paul on Dec. 10, 2024, at the R/A Facility in Marshall.

SIOUX FALLS — After earning a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season title, the second-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University mens basketball team will begin its quest to return back to the conference championship game as it takes on No. 7 Winona State today in the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

SMSU finished its regular season 21-7 overall, and 16-6 in conference. Its 21 victories marked the sixth time the program has achieved that many in its 58 seasons, and was last done in the 2017-18 campaign when the Mustangs earned 25 wins.

The Mustangs have two NSIC tournament championships to their name from 2012 and 2017, and last played in the title game in 2019.

In last year’s tournament run, SMSU was close to competing for the championship again, but fell in the semifinals to Minnesota State, who went on to become NSIC and National champions.

Today will be a competitive matchup between the two, as SMSU and Winona State have met twice in the regular season, each team winning a game.

They first met on Dec. 14 in Winona with SMSU pulling away with the 75-62 win behind Mason Lund’s 18 points, going 4 of 8 from the perimeter.

Both teams had similar defensive efforts, with the Mustangs holding a slight 33-27 halftime edge, but SMSU was able to solidify the win with the help of its efficient 3-point shooting. It shot 38% with 13 makes, to the Warriors’ 28% and nine makes.

From the field, SMSU shot 42% and limited WSU to 33%.

Along with Lund, Aeron Stevens finished with 17 points, while Dunwa Omot and Steven Kramer tallied 14 apiece that night.

The two met again on Feb. 8 in Marshall, and it was the Warriors who got the revenge 66-59 win, overcoming a 5-point halftime deficit.

In the second meeting, SMSU was outrebounded 37-29, and shot just 6 of 26 from the 3-point line.

Luke Haertle and Connor Drew combined for 44 points, which the Mustangs will need to limit today.

WSU shot 44% from the field and 32% from the arc, while SMSU shot at 42-23% clips.

Jakob Braaten was the leading scorer that night with 14 points and four assists, while Lund grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Currently in the NSIC, SMSU ranks ninth in scoring with an average of 74.5 a game, while WSU sits in seventh with 76.1.

But, the Mustangs rank first in scoring defense (66.0) and in limiting their opponents field goal percentage at an average of 41.3%.

Stevens is SMSU’s current leading scorer with 14.5 a night, while Braaten follows with 14.1 and Omot averages 12.7.

Omot is also the team’s 3-point shooter, averaging two makes a game.

Today’s game will rely heavily on defense, to which Lund grabs a team-high 6.1 boards a night, while Braaten and Mekhi Shaw share an average of 1.8 steals.

SMSU will need to look to slow down Haertle, who leads the Warriors with 17.3 points along with 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists, and beat Isaiah Thompson to the glass, who grabs 8.9 rebounds a game.

Announced on Thursday, Braaten was named to the NSIC first team, while Stevens and Omot earned second team honors.

For WSU’s accolades given, Haertle was named the NSIC Newcomer of the Year and made the first team. Drew and Thompson earned second team honors.

The winner of today will advance to the semifinals on Monday at 7 p.m., with the championship game slated for 7 p.m. on Tuesday. All games will be played at the Sanford Pentagon.

Games will also be broadcasted live with play-by-play provided on 105.1FM KARL. 

Today’s quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip-off.