Mar 15, 2025
Independent file photo. Southwest Minnesota State University’s Mason Lund drives toward the basket past a defender against UMary on Jan. 18 at the R/A Facility in Marshall.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Competing in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season, the No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State University mens basketball team will take on third-seed Winona State University today in the Central Region quarterfinals at Lee Arena at Washburn University.
“I’m excited for the guys. I’m also excited, believe it or not, to play Winona a fourth time because it gives us an opportunity to have some redemption from the NSIC [Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference] tournament,” SMSU head coach Brad Bigler said. “I don’t think they saw us in our best game, and it’s just an opportunity for us to redeem ourselves a little bit and prove that we have a little bit more than what we showed them last time.”
This is the Mustangs’ seventh appearance in the tournament since moving into Division II in the 1995-96 season, and fifth under head coach Brad Bigler, currently in his 16th season leading the helm. SMSU had made it to the region championship three times, winning it twice to play in the Elite Eight in 2001 and 2009.
Taking on WSU
In last year’s run, SMSU fell to Northwest Missouri State 73-43 in the first round.
SMSU enters the tournament 21-8 overall, and WSU stands at 21-10. The Mustangs finished with a share of the NSIC regular-season conference title this year with Concordia-St. Paul with a 16-6 conference record, while WSU finished in seventh. The difference between first and eighth place in this year’s standings was two games.
Today marks the fourth time the Mustangs and Warriors will meet this season in what’s projected to be a highly competitive matchup. SMSU defeated WSU first 75-62 on the road on Dec. 14, yet the Warriors took the next two meetings with a 66-59 win at the R/A Facility on Feb. 8, followed up with a 71-60 victory in the NSIC tournament quarterfinals in Sioux Falls on March 1.
“I think last time during the game, we didn’t do a great job of attacking their [WSU] gap defense,” Bigler said. “We had some turnovers that allowed them to get easy points early in the game that really put our backs against the wall. It gave them confidence, and with that confidence, they were able to knock down some 3s and just add such a good flow to their game.”
In SMSU’s victory in December, four Mustangs finished in double figures. Mason Lund led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds. They had seven steals, 15 points off turnovers and 12 fast-break points to the Warriors’ four steals, 9 turnover points and 6 off the fast break, serving as the game’s biggest difference makers.
SMSU shot efficiently at 42% from the field, 13 of 34 from the perimeter and 14 of 17 from the free-throw line, while holding the Warriors to 33% field goal shooting, 9 of 32 from the arc and 13 of 17 from the stripe.
SMSU had a 5-point advantage at halftime in the second meeting with WSU, yet Luke Haertle and Connor Drew combined for 44 points to lead the game.
The Warriors took advantage of the glass, outrebounding SMSU 37-29, and hit three more 3’s to complete their revenge. Both teams had 22 made field goals, WSU going 22 of 50 and SMSU 22 of 53.
Bigler said the team will hone in on its defensive efforts.
“Just really working on passing out of those gap defensive situations, trying to get behind the defense and then make plays from behind the defense,” Bigler said. “We got to put them in action and just make them play a complete game … More times than not, it’s usually a defensive game … I think it’s going to be just a great game for both teams.”
In the most recent meeting, SMSU was hurt with turnovers as WSU forced 16 for 27 extra points, while the Mustangs had 11 off of 13 Warriors’ turnovers. Jakob Braaten led with 21 points, while WSU’s Isaiah Thompson finished with 26.
Bigler also acknowledged the mental game today could bring, and the importance of his team staying poised.
“What’s interesting about this situation is that in the NSIC, we have officials that are from the Northern Sun … In this situation, you’re going to have some Great American Conference officials or some Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association officials,” Bigler said. “How they [players] defend those certain actions really can have an impact on the game. The officiating in the regional will probably be different than what it is in the NSIC tournament, so for both teams to adapt to that and make those adjustments will be key.”
Big day for the Biglers
While Bigler will be coaching his team through the NCAA tournament, his daughter Taleigha Bigler will also be competing on a big stage as the Marshall girls basketball team will play for the Class AAA state title today in Minneapolis’ Williams Arena at 2 p.m.
“The emotions are all over the place. I’m just so thankful that she has so much family support around her. She has aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, and great grandparents and grandparents all at the tournament, and all her cousins,” Bigler said. “Even though I’m not there, she has a lot of family to pick up the slack for me not being there.”
Taleigha, a junior guard and 2026 SMSU commit for the women’s basketball team under Tom Webb, led the Tigers through the semifinals on Thursday with a 30-point, 11-rebound double-double, and also scored her 1,000th career point during the process in the second half.
“I’m just excited for the Tigers. It is a little bit of a David versus Goliath matchup and trying to knock off the two-time state champions. I think the Marshall Tiger girls, they just work so hard that they’re going to give themselves a chance,” Bigler said. “I’m very proud of how Taleigha and the team have carried themselves … at this time of year, whether it’s at college or high school, you truly can see the teams that will fight for each other and the teams that don’t.”
This is Marshall’s first time playing for the state championship since 2021, with its last state titles coming in 2001 and 2002 back-to-back.
“It’s been a fun ride, and hopefully they can finish it out with one more win,” Bigler said.
Watch the Mustangs
Tip-off today is slated for 12 p.m., and a radio broadcast of the game can be found on 105.1 FM KARL with a livestream found on the official NCAA website.
The winner of today will advance to the region semifinals on Sunday to face either No. 2 MSU Moorhead or No. 7 Fort Hays State, Kan., at 5 p.m. The championship game will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“What a special day for Marshall. Playing for a state championship, and both men and women [SMSU basketball teams] are playing in the NCAA Tournament all on the same day,” Bigler said. “That is a really cool experience for the town of Marshall. Just really proud and thankful, but also really appreciate Marshall and the support it’s given us in our program.”
MINNEAPOLIS — It’s been a long time coming for the Southwest Minnesota State womens basketball team since its …
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