Jacob Fahl etched his name into the Southwest Minnesota State University record books as one of the greatest men’s basketball players in program history. A four-year letterwinner from Benson, Minnesota, Fahl was the centerpiece of a golden era for Mustang basketball and graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
Appearing in 120 career games, Fahl tallied a school-record 1,638 points—surpassing the previous mark on February 28, 2003. His record stood unchallenged for 17 years. He led SMSU in scoring during both his junior and senior seasons, earning First Team All-NSIC and Second Team Daktronics All-Region honors in 2002 and 2003.
A consistent and efficient scorer, Fahl finished his career holding school records for 3-point field goals made (173), free throws made (377), free throw percentage (84.5%), and games played (120). He also ranked fourth in field goals made (544) and fifth in assists (260). His 90.4% free throw percentage during the 2002–03 season remains one of the best single-season marks in SMSU history, ranking third all-time.
Fahl played a vital role on SMSU’s first-ever NSIC championship team in 2000–01, a season that also saw the Mustangs win the NCAA region championship and advance to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history. During his tenure, SMSU compiled a stellar 84-36 overall record and posted top-four finishes in the conference each season—including first, second, third, and fourth place standings.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions on and off the court, Fahl was named the SMSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year for 2002–03. He graduated that spring with a degree in business management.