The #8 ranked South Dakota Men's Basketball Team (8-0) will host Southwest State (4-4) and Jamestown (9-1) in nonconference action on Dec. 20-21 at the DakotaDome. The Coyotes and Southwest State play at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday (following the USD-Southwest State women's game). Then, South Dakota will host Jamestown at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

AT STAKE: The Coyotes have opened 8-0 for the first time since the 1999-00 season when the Coyotes won their first 17 games of that season. USD puts its 66-home game nonconference winning streak (regular season games) on the line.

QUICK TAKES: South Dakota recorded a pair of victories at the High Desert Classic on Dec. 14-15 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Coyotes defeated Cal State-San Bernardino, 84-73, and Western Washington, 95-86.

COYOTES ON THE RADIO: The University of South Dakota men's basketball games will be heard this weekend on ESPN Radio 1570 AM. Kevin Culhane is in his sixth year as voice of the Coyotes and will call the action. A pre-game show begins one half-hour prior to tip-off. The game is also available on the Internet at www.usdcoyotes.com and on Teamline at 1-800-846-4700 (team code - 6056) SOUTH DAKOTA PROBABLE STARTERS:

G - 23 - Zach Fortune, 6'1, Sr., Bellevue, Neb. (17.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 3.9 rpg) G - 05 - Josh Mueller, 5'11, So., Hartford, S.D. (12.8 ppg, 7.88 apg, 3.8 rpg 2.88 spg) C - 51 - J.D. Roberts, 6'6, So., Ponca, Neb. ( 3.0 ppg. 7.3 rpg) F - 42 - Derek Paben, 6'7, Jr., Pickrell, Neb. (15.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) F - Tommie King, 6'6, Sr., Seattle, Wash. (19.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg)

SOUTH DAKOTA TOP RESERVES

G - 10 - Luke Tibbetts, 6'3, Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D. (4.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg) F - 24 - Doug Hanson, 6'4, Jr., Meckling, S.D. (12.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg) G - 03 - Malcom Heard, 6'2, Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. (0.0 ppg, 1.8 apg) F - 30 - Turner Trofholz, 6'8, Fr., Schuyler, Neb. (5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg) C - 50 - Eddie Dickes, 6'9, Fr., Sioux Center, Iowa (0.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg)

SOUTHWEST STATE PROBABLE STARTERS:

G - 10 - Jacob Fahl, 6'1, Sr., Benson, MN (13.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg) G - 13 - Robert Steib, 6'2, Sr., Minneapolis, MN (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg) C - 32 - Jimmy Dekker, 6'5, Sr., Worthington, MN (6.6 ppg. 5.5 rpg) F - 25 - Jon Peterreins, 6'5, Sr., Tracy, MN (4.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) F - 34 - Joey Hulsebus, 6'7, Jr., Astoria, SD (6.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg)

JAMESTOWN PROBABLE STARTERS:

G - 10 - Imran Sufi, 5'10, Jr., Fountain Valley, CA (9.0 ppg, 4.8 apg, 3.1 rpg) G - 33 - Benny Fragela, 6'2, Jr., Miami, FL (8.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) C - 34 - Charles Jones, 6'5, Jr., Lutcher, LA ( 11.8 ppg. 5.9 rpg) F - 43 - Brandon Wilkens , 6'8, Jr., Center, ND (13.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg) F - 52 - Eric Holmstadt, 6'8, Jr., Monticello, MN (9.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

SERIES - South Dakota vs. Southwest State/Jamestown: The Coyotes own a 6-1 series advantage over Southwest State, including a 4-1 mark while Dave Boots has been head coach at South Dakota. USD's loss to Southwest State occurred during the 2000-01 season at Marshall, Minn. (75-66). USD is 22-5 vs. NSIC opponents during the Boots era. In the Boots' era, USD owns a 179-34 (.840) record at home. Southwest State has lost all three games played in Vermillion. This season, Southwest State is 1-2 vs. NCC opponents. USD owns a 2-0 series lead over Jamestown. USD defeated the Jimmies, 80-62, in the 1978-79 season and also took a 74-69 win in the 1979-80 season. Those two USD squads were coached by Jack Doyle.

LAST TIME VS SOUTHWEST STATE: Josh Mueller scored 27 points and dished out five assists to lead South Dakota to a 94-87 nonconference win over Southwest State at the Sioux Valley/Wells Fargo Basketball Classic on Nov. 30, 2001 at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls. Mueller hit 10 of 18 field goals, including three three-point field goals and four of six free throws while also grabbing three rebounds and recording a steal. Mueller and three other Coyotes hit double figures in points. Senior shooting guard Paul Marshall (Winnebago, Ill.) scored 18 points on eight of 11 shooting while senior forward Jimmie Foster (Milwaukee, Wisc.) had 15 points and nine rebounds and Scott Hansen (Coleridge, Neb.) came off the bench to provide 13 points, including four three-point field goals. Forward Steve Anderson (Rapid City, S.D.) also had a solid game with nine points and 12 rebounds. Overall, the Coyotes had a solid shooting game. They hit 36 of 68 field goals for 52.9 percent. South Dakota made nine of 26 three-point field goals for 34.6 percent and was 13 of 25 from the free throw line for 52 percent. Southwest State hit 29 of 66 field goals for 43.9 percent and was nine of 22 from the three-point arc for 40.9 percent. They hit 17 of 23 free throws for 74.1 percent. Chad Koenen led the Mustangs with 18 points while Jimmy Dekker added 16, and Brian Wiersma and Jacob Fahl had 12 points a piece. SOUTH DAKOTA MEN'S BB TEAM RANKED #8 IN NABC/DIVISION II BULLETIN POLL -- The University of South Dakota men's basketball team (8-0) has been ranked #8 in NCAA Division II basketball, according to a poll released Dec. 17 by the NABC/Division II Bulletin. USD, which was not ranked in the pre-season poll, have opened 8-0 for the first time since going 17-0 to open the 1999-00 season. The #8 ranking is the highest for South Dakota since being ranked #4 in the country during the 2000-01 (February) season when USD won the NCC title.

The rankings are as follows:

1. Humboldt State (5-0) 2. Kentucky Wesleyan (4-1) 3. South Dakota State (8-1) 4. Michigan Tech (8-0) 5. Massachusetts-Lowell (6-0) 6. Northern Kentucky (7-0) 7. Salem International (6-1) 8. South Dakota (8-0) 9. Tarleton State (6-1) 10. Shaw (6-1) 11. Carson-Newman (5-1) 12. Northwest Missouri State (8-1) 13. Cal State-Bakersfield (4-0) 14. Nebraska-Kearney (7-0) 15. Northeastern State (7-0) 16. Montana State-Billings (5-0) 17. Ashland (7-0) 18. Washburn (7-1) 19. Assumption (4-1) 20. Tampa (7-1) 21. Nebraska-Omaha (6-1) 22. Alaska-Fairbanks (7-0) 23. Columbus State (7-1) 24. Millersville (7-1) 25. Metropolitan State (5-2)

RECENT ACTION - South Dakota 85 Concordia- St. Paul 72: Sophomore guard Josh Mueller hit a three-pointer with 1:08 to play to play to help South Dakota turn back Concordia-St. Paul (0-6), 85-72, at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul, Minn., on Tuesday (Dec. 10). Mueller (Hartford, S.D.) had 25 points, including six three-point baskets, as the Coyotes earned a road win. The Coyotes hit 15 of 20 field goals after halftime, including seven of eight from three-point range. On the night, Mueller hit eight of 16 field goals and six of 10 from three-point range to lead the Coyotes. He also had seven assists and four steals. Senior forward Tommie King chipped in with his third double double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Junior forward Doug Hanson added 18 points. He hit six of nine field goals, including three of three from three-point range. Overall, the Coyotes made 28 of 54 field goals for 51.9 percent. They were 12 of 19 from three-point range for 63.2 percent and hit 17 of 23 free throws for 73.9 percent. Concordia-St. Paul hit 24 of 57 field goals for 42.1 percent. They were six of 21 from three-point range and 18 of 25 from the free throw line. Concordia St. Paul was led by Brian Jamros with 19 points and three, three-point baskets. Justin Vandenberg had 16 points and David Alpo added 10.

South Dakota 84 Cal State-San Bernardino 83: Led by senior forward Tommie King's 23 points and six rebounds, The University of South Dakota turned back Cal State-San Bernardino, 84-73, in nonconference basketball at the High Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 14. King (Seattle, Wash.) hit 11 of 19 field goals and added a blocked shot and steal as South Dakota remained unbeaten. Helping the South Dakota cause was junior forward Derek Paben (Pickrell, Neb.), who had 19 points, five rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal. He made seven of 13 from the field and two three-point baskets. Sophomore guard Zach Fortune (Bellevue, Neb.) had 17 points and junior forward Doug Hanson (Meckling, S.D.) had 16 points, four assists and six rebounds. Hanson made six of eight field goals, including a blistering four of six from behind the three-point arc. Overall, South Dakota hit 31 of 63 field goals for 49.2 percent. They converted nine of 23 three-point field goals for 39.1 percent and converted 13 of 15 free throws. Cal State San Bernardino hit 29 of 74 field goals for 39.2 percent. They were seven of 25 from the three-point line and eight of 16 from the free throw stripe. USD won the rebound battle, 43-40. Cal State, which also goes by the Coyotes, was led by Lance Ray with 22 points. Jonathon Levy had 17 points and eight rebounds. Dumas Martin led the Coyotes with 10 rebounds. Kaneem Pelt and Te'Ron Reed had 10 points.

South Dakota 95 Western Washington 86 - Led by 28 points from Zach Fortune and a career high 25 from Derek Paben, South Dakota men's basketball team (8-0) recorded a 95-86 win over Western Washington (5-4) in nonconference action at the High Desert Classic on Sunday in Las Vegas, Nev. With the win, USD was 2-0 in their first appearance at the High Desert Classic. USD defeated Cal State-San Bernardino, 84-73, on Saturday night. USD continued their offensive onslaught this season, recording 84 points or better in their eight consecutive game. Fortune (Bellevue, Neb.) hit nine of 12 field goals, including four of six three-pointers. He also had five assists to lead the Coyotes to their eighth straight win which is their best start since the 17-0 mark in the 1999-00 season. Paben (Pickrell, Neb.) made seven of 15 field goals and four three-pointers as he recorded his career best point total at USD. He also had five rebounds and two assists. Sophomore guard Josh Mueller (Hartford, S.D.) had 19 points, seven assists and five steals for the Coyotes. Senior forward Tommie King (Seattle, Wash.) had 10 points for the Coyotes. Overall, USD hit 31 of 57 field goals for 54.4 percent. They made 13 of 29 three-point shots for 44.8 percent. The Coyotes were 20 of 27 from the foul line. Western Washington was led by Mike Palm who had 24 points and 12 rebounds. In all, Western Washington had four players in double figures, including Nehemiah Campbell, Grant Dykstra and Ryan Diggs, who all recorded 16 points. Overall, Western Washington made 32 of 61 field goals for 52.5 percent. They were eight of 20 from three-point range and 14 of 22 from the foul line.

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA: The Coyotes are averaging 91.2 points and allowing 69.4 points per game. USD has outscored opponents, 347 to 251, during first half of games. In the second half, USD maintains a 361 to 290 advantage. USD holds a 22-14 edge in overtime for an overall margin of 730 to 555, or a 21.9 scoring margin. South Dakota has converted 251 of 510 field goals for 49.2 percent, including 83 of 200 from three point land (41.5 percent). The Coyotes average 10.4 three-point shots per game. South Dakota has made 145 of 181 free throws for 80.1 percent. In rebounding, South Dakota has the edge, 42.5 to 33.1 for opponents. USD is averaging 20.9 assists, 16.4 turnovers, 9.6 steals and 4.1 blocks per game. Defensively, the Coyotes have held opponents to 40.2 percent from the field (200-497). Opponents have hit just 47 of 163 three point field goals for 28.8 percent. Opponents have made 108 of 163 free throws for 66.3 percent. USD has forced opponents into 17.9 turnovers per game.

SOUTH DAKOTA ESTABISHES SCHOOL RECORD IN GAME - HIT 33 STRAIGHT FREE THROWS: The South Dakota men's basketball team made a school record 21 straight free throws against Bellevue University on Dec. 8, establishing a new single game school record. The Coyotes, who are hitting 80.6 percent from the foul line, made 33 straight free throws during the overtime vs. Northern State (95-87 OT win) and the Bellevue game (88-67 win). They missed their first free throw vs. Concordia St. Paul (85-72 win) to snap the string of made free throws.

USD HOME NONCONFERENCE STREAK AT 66: South Dakota has won 66 straight nonconference home basketball games (does not include postseason games) dating back to the 1991-92 season. In the third game of that season, the Coyotes fell in overtime to Gustavus-Adolphus, 91-85, at the DakotaDome. Dave Boots is 81-1 in home nonconference games since he came to South Dakota in 1988. South Dakota has won 46 of its past 47 nonconference games.

ON THE SCHEDULE: After this weekend's action, South Dakota will host Midland Lutheran in the final regular season nonconference action of the season. That game begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29 at the Dome. The Coyotes open the NCC season at home vs. North Dakota on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8 p.m. They will also face St. Cloud State on Saturday, Jan. 4 in the Dome.

NCAA TOURNAMENT GOES TO 64-TEAM FIELD: The NCAA Tournament will go to a 64-team field this March. Eight teams from each of eight regions will qualify for the NCAA Division II tournament, which is up from six teams that qualified a year ago.

BALANCED SCORING EARLY TREND: After six games, the Coyotes are showing a propensity for balanced scoring, often a theme of teams coached by Dave Boots, the Coyotes' mentor. Five players are averaging double figures this season. Senior forward Tommie King leads South Dakota in scoring at 19.3 ppg per game while also pulling down 8.4 rebounds. Sophomore guard Zach Fortune is scoring 17.3 per game and is tied for a team-high in three-point field goals with 21 (Josh Mueller). Junior forward Doug Hanson is scoring at a 12.6 per game clip and pulling down 4.3 rebounds. Junior forward Derek Paben is averaging 15.5 points and 4.9 rebounds. He is hitting 94.4 percent (34-36) from the foul line. Josh Mueller, the sophomore point guard, is averaging 12.8 points, 7.88 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.88 steals per game.

HALFTIME NOTES: South Dakota has led at halftime in all eight games this season. The Coyotes usually win when leading at halftime. USD has won 24 of its past 25 games when maintaining a lead at the halftime break. A year ago, USD was 16-1 when leading at half and have a 8-0 mark this season.

THREE-POINT CRAZY: South Dakota has hit 83 of 200 three-point field goals (41.5 percent) in eight games this season. USD has hit at least eight three-pointers in all eight games. They have double figure made three-point field goals in five games, including a season high 13 vs. Western Washington (13-29) and 13 vs. Bellevue (13-24). Josh Mueller and Zach Fortune lead the Coyotes with 21 made three-pointers.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES: Josh Mueller and Tommie King have multiple double doubles this season. King has accumulated three in eight games while Mueller has two in eight games. While King has done it with points and rebounds, Mueller has been successful in points and assists. Twice this season Mueller, who has five double figure scoring games, has 10 assists (Wayne State and Northern State) and he had a season high of 25 points vs. Concordia St. Paul. King has scored in double figures in eight straight games with a high of 29 points and 11 rebounds vs. Northern State. He had a season high of 13 rebounds plus 18 points in the win over Concordia St. Paul. He also had an 18-point, 14-rebound performance vs. William Penn.

MEN'S 2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 23 Wayne State W, 88-63 Dec. 2 Minnesota-Morris W, 95-45 Dec. 4 William Penn W, 100-62 Dec. 7 Northern State WOT, 95-87 Dec. 8 Bellevue (Neb.) W, 88-67 Dec. 10 at Concordia-St. Paul W, 85-72 Dec. 14-15 at High Desert Classic, Las Vegas, Nev. Dec. 14 Cal St.-San Bernardino W, 84-72 Dec. 15 Western Washington W, 95-86 Dec. 20 Southwest State 8 p.m. Dec. 21 Jamestown College 3 p.m. Dec. 29 Midland Lutheran 5 p.m. Jan. 2 North Dakota * 8 p.m. Jan. 4 St. Cloud State * 8 p.m. Jan. 11 at Northern Colorado * 5 p.m. (CT) Jan. 16 at South Dakota State * 8 p.m. Jan. 18 Augustana College * 8 p.m. Jan. 23 at Nebraska-Omaha * 8 p.m. Jan. 31 at North Dakota State * 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at St. Cloud State * 8 p.m. Feb. 6 Nebraska-Omaha * 8 p.m. Feb. 8 Northern Colorado * 8 p.m. Feb. 13 Minn.State-Mankato * 8 p.m. Feb. 15 South Dakota State * 8 p.m. Feb. 20 at North Dakota * 8 p.m. Feb. 22 North Dakota State * 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Augustana College * 8 p.m. Mar. 1 at Minn. State-Mankato * 8 p.m. Mar. 4-8 NCC Post Season Tourney, TBA Mar. 14-17 NCAA Men's Regional, TBA Mar. 26-29 NCAA Elite Eight, TBA ON USD HEAD COACH DAVE BOOTS: Boots has recorded the most wins in the history of Coyote basketball as he has a 298-114 (.723) mark at South Dakota. South Dakota is 8-0 this season. Boots, who is in his 15th season at the Coyote helm in 2002-03, is one of the most respected coaches in the North Central Conference and NCAA Division II. Overall, he has been a collegiate head coach for 21 years, recording a 413-177 (.700) record. He is 168-84 for .666 percent in NCC games. Boots owns the 16th best winning percentage among active coaches in Division II. His 398-166 mark in Division II ranks him 16th among active coaches. Boots guided South Dakota to its 1,000th all-time win in men's basketball on Jan. 12, 2002 vs. North Dakota State (69-63) at the Dome. On January 19, 2002, Boots recorded his 400th career win in a 103-75 win against Morningside College at Allee Gym in Sioux City, Iowa. Boots, an assistant athletic director at USD, has led the Coyotes to five NCC titles, two North Central Region crowns and back-to-back trips to the NCAA Division II Elite 8 National Tournament (1992-94). Five times, including the 2001-02 season, he has been NCC Coach of the Year and three times, he was Kodak District Coach of the Year. South Dakota has averaged 21 wins over the past 14 seasons, which is remarkable in that South Dakota had not experienced a winning season since 1978-79 prior to his arrival at South Dakota in 1989. The 14 consecutive winning seasons is the longest streak of success in the proud history of South Dakota basketball. In addition, he has a 82-1 record at home in nonconference basketball. Overall, he owns a 179-34 record in home games. The Coyotes have won 66 straight home nonconference games. Before coming to South Dakota, Boots guided Augsburg (Minn.) College to a pair of Minnesota Intercollegiate Conference titles. A native of North Branch, Minn., he constructed a 100-56 record at Augsburg, winning conference titles in 1983-84 (19-7, 17-3) and 1984-85 (21-7, 18-2). A 1979 graduate of Augsburg, he earned a master's degree from the University of Minnesota in 1982. As a senior at Augsburg during the 1978-79 season, Boots was named team captain, MVP, MIAC all-conference and all-District 13. He still holds the MIAC single-season free throw percentage record (.971) and Augsburg's career free throw percentage (.881). His 1984-85 Augsburg team advanced to the NCAA Division III south regional.

BOOTS VS. SOUTHWEST STATE - 4-1 BOOTS VS. NSIC - 22-5 BOOTS VS. NSIC IN 2002-03 - 4-0 BOOTS AT THE DAKOTADOME - 179-34 (.840)

NCC NOTES AND STATS: South Dakota owns the team game high for 3-point field pct by hitting 12-19 for 63.2 percent. USD also owns the season's best for a game for free throws with 21-21 vs. Bellevue. Individually, Doug Hanson has the league's best single game shooting performance, making 8-9 for 88.9 percent vs. Minnesota-Morris. Tommie King's 12-12 from the free throw line vs. Bellevue is also a league-best. Josh Mueller has the NCC's top assist (10 vs. Wayne State) and steal (6 vs. Wayne State) performance this season.

HOW USD FARES IN NCC

SCORING: Tommie King, 19.2, 4th; Zach Fortune, 17.2, 5th

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: Doug Hanson, 1st, 36-57, 63.2; Tommie King, 5th, 63-105, 60 percent

REBOUNDING: Tommie King, 2nd, 8.4 rpg; J.D. Roberts, 4th, 7.2 rpg

ASSISTS: Josh Mueller, 1st, 7.88 apg; Zach Fortune, 5th, 4.50 apg

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: Derek Paben, 2nd, 94.4 percent (34-36); Tommie King, 5th, 90 percent (27-30); Zach Fortune, 8th, 83.8 percent (31-37)

3-PT FG PCT: Doug Hanson, 2nd, 57.7 (15-26); Josh Mueller, 5th, 46.7 (21-45).

BLOCKED SHOTS: Derek Paben, 3rd, 1.62 (13)

OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS: Tommie King, lst, 2.75 pg (22); J.D. Roberts, 5th, 2.12 pg (17)

STEALS: Josh Mueller, 2nd, 2.88 pg (23); Luke Tibbetts, 8th, 1.50 pg (12)

3-POINT FG MADE: Zach Fortune, 5th, 2.62 pg (21); Josh Mueller, 5th, 2.62 pg (21)

ASSIST TURNOVER RATIO: Josh Mueller, 8th, 1.91; Zach Fortune, 9th, 1.80

DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS: Tommie King, 3rd, 5.62 (45); J.D. Roberts, 5th, 5.12 (41); and Derek Paben, 8th, 4.38 (35).

TEAM CATEGORIES -

SCORING OFFENSE: 1st, 91.2

SCORING MARGIN: 2nd, 21.9

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: 4th, 49.2 percent (251-510)

3-PT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: 3rd, 41.5 percent (83-200)

REBOUNDING OFFENSE: 2nd, 42.5 (340)

SCORING DEFENSE: 6th, 69.4 ppg

FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: 1st, 80.1 percent (145-181)

FIELD GOAL PCT. DEFENSE: 3rd, 40.2 percent (200-497)

3-PT FG PCT. DEFENSE: 2nd, 28.8 percent (47-163)

REBOUNDING DEFENSE: 5th, 33.1 (265)

REBOUNDING MARGIN: 4th, 9.4

ASSISTS: 1st, 20.88 per game (167)

TURNOVER MARGIN: 6th, 1.50

OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS: 3rd, 12.50

3-POINT FG MADE: 1st, 10.38 pg

BLOCKED SHOTS: 2nd, 4.12 pg

STEALS: 3rd, 9.62 pg

ASSIST/TURNOVER RATIO: 3rd, 1.27

DEFENSIVE REBOUNDS: 2nd, 30 pg

ABOUT OPPONENTS

ON SOUTHWEST STATE: The Mustangs have opened 4-4, including a 1-2 record vs. NCC opponents. They lost a 78-74 decision to North Dakota in Grand Forks and a 83-58 decision at home to St. Cloud. They have defeated Minnesota State-Mankato, 70-53. Southwest State is led in scoring by Jacob Fahl, who has scoring 13.5 points per game. Jared Keaveny is scoring 10.6 points per game. Overall, the Mustangs averaged 75.4 points while allowing 68.8 points per game. Southwest State is hitting 44.1 percent of their field goals and 42.1 percent from the three-point line. They are hitting 77.4 percent from the foul line. Rory Larson leads Southwest State with 20 three-point baskets (44 attempts). Southwest State has been one of the best squads in the NSIC, recording 56 conference wins in the last five years. Only Winona State, with 60 wins, has more conference victories during that span.

ON SOUTHWEST STATE COACH GREG STEMEN: Stemen is in his second season as head coach for the Mustangs. He has a 25-12 overall record, including 4-4 in 2002-03. A year ago, he led the Mustangs to a 21-8 mark, setting a school record for wins by a first-year coach. Southwest State University men's basketball head coach Greg Stemen had a record first season at the helm of the Mustangs. He has coached collegiately for 12 seasons. Prior to taking over the head duties in 2001, he was an assistant coach for two seasons at Southwest State. A native of LaMoure, N.D., Stemen came to Southwest State after spending four seasons as head coach at North Dakota State College of Science, a two-year school located in Wahpeton, ND, from 1993-97. As a head coach at NDSCS, he led the Wildcats to a 70-40 record including two NJCAA Division I Region 13 championships and twice was named Region 13 Coach of the Year. A 1988 graduate of Valley City State University (ND), Stemen began his coaching career in 1990 as head football coach at Wahpeton High School in Wahpeton, ND. ON JAMESTOWN: Jamestown has opened up with a 9-1 record, including a 6-1 nonconference mark. They are led by Brandon Wilkens, who is averaging 13.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Three other players average in double figures including sixth-man Eddrin Williams (11.5), Charles Jones (11.8) and Jonathan Castillo (11.7). Jamestown is averaging 90.1 points and allowing 64.9 points per game. The Jimmies have made 49 percent of their field goals, 35.9 percent of their three-pointers and 73.8 percent from the foul line. Williams is their leading three-point shooter, converting 19 of 4 for 47.5 percent.

ON BRAD HUSE: In his seventh season, Huse has an overall mark of 107-47 and has led the Jimmies to three consecutive 20-win seasons. Huse came to Jamestown from Montana State where he served as an assistant for two seasons. Prior to that, he was an assistant at Montana Tech for three years. For the past two years, Huse has also served as Jamestown College's Director of Athletics. Originally of Missoula, Mont., he earned a B.S. from Montana Tech (1989) and a master's degree from Montana State (1999). Prior to entering the coaching profession in 1991, Huse worked as an engineer for two separate companies in Spokane, WA and Butte, MT. Huse was a three-time captain and a three-time all-conference performer, and as a senior was named All-America. In 1998, Huse was inducted into the Montana Tech Athletic Hall-of-Fame.