Fort Hays State at Southwest Minnesota State Saturday, November 9, 2013 Marshall, Minn. - R/A Facility - 5 pm Fort Hays State vs. Upper Iowa Sunday, November 10, 2013 Marshall, Minn. - R/A Facility - 2 pm Game Notes I Watch Live I Listen Live I Live Stats

The Fort Hays State men's basketball team opens its 2013-14 season this weekend in Marshall, Minn. with games on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 9-10). FHSU takes on host school Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday at 5 pm, then collides with Upper Iowa on Sunday at 2 pm. Both opponents are from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Fort Hays State is coming off its first MIAA Regular Season Championship in 2012-13, the 22nd conference championship overall for FHSU in men's basketball and third under head coach Mark Johnson, who enters his 13th season at the helm. Johnson now has 246 wins in his coaching career at FHSU, just 11 shy of the school record of 257 held by Cade Suran.

The Tigers return two All-MIAA players from a year ago in first-team selection Dwayne Brunson and second-team selection/Freshman of the Year Craig Nicholson.

Southwest Minnesota State is coming off a 16-14 record in 2012-13, going 7-5 on its home floor. Upper Iowa made the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid and finished last year at 20-12 overall.

The Tigers finished 1-1 in exhibition play, defeating Bethel College 94-68 and then falling at the University of Kansas 92-75. FHSU was picked No. 1 in the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls