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SATURDAY: Conference play begins Saturday, December 1, for the University of Mary Marauders, and that may be just the third most interesting story line of the day. In the lone game of the week, the Marauders host in-state rival Minot State University in a Northern Sun conference game for the first time, will face them in a conference game of any sort for the first time since 2005 and U-Mary plays in the Bismarck Civic Center for the first time since 1998! Tip off from the Civic Center is 7 PM.

CHANGE YOUR DIAL: Due to several conflicts, the University of Mary basketball game will air on 1130 AM KBMR instead of the regular station ESPN 710. The game will be streamed online at www.kbmr.com. This is the only anticipated conflict of the year.

WE'RE GOIN' DOWNTOWN: This week the University of Mary is taking its show on the road. Leaving the comforts of the McDowell Activity Center, the Marauders will travel nine miles north to the Bismarck Civic Center to play a home game against Minot State. Arguably the premier basketball arena in the region, the Civic Center was the long-time home of the Dakota Wizards of the NBA D-League until the professional franchise moved to California last spring. This is the only home game the Marauders are scheduled to play this season outside the friendly confines of the MAC.   

NBC NORTH DAKOTA SPORTS NETWORK TO CARRY MARAUDERS-BEAVERS GAME LIVE: The NBC North Dakota Sports Network will bring the Marauders-Beavers men's and women's basketball games to fans throughout central and western North Dakota. Coverage will start at 5 PM. The broadcast will originate from KFYR-TV in Bismarck, ND, and can also be viewed on KMOT-TV in Minot, KUMV-TV in Williston, and KQCD-TV in Dickinson... KFYR-TV sports director Lee Timmerman, a multiple recipient of the North Dakota Sportscaster of the Year honor and other awards, will handle the play-by-play. Scott Westerberg, KFYR-TV weekend sports anchor and the host of “Marauders Weekly,” provides the color commentary... Joining the broadcast team is former U-Mary women's basketball coach Fred Fridley, who directed the Marauders to their first NCAA playoff berth last spring.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 1-3 at the conclusion of their non-conference schedule... The Beavers are 1-2.

LAST WEEK: The Marauders suffered two tough losses at the 2012 FSC Ledger Media Group / Terrace Hotel Classic over Thanksgiving Weekend. The Marauders opened with a 65-64 loss to Saint Joseph's (IN) College and finished with an 82-75 loss to #22 and host Florida Southern College... The Beavers last played November 18, an 86-27 home win over NCAA Division III Northland College.

LAST YEAR: The Marauders finished 8-18 overall and 7-15 in the NSIC... Playing as an independent in their final transition year to NCAA Division II, the Beavers were 4-24 overall.

LAST MEETING: In double overtime, Minot State defeated U-Mary 92-88 on November 22, 2011, at the McDowell Activity Center. Four Marauders scored in double digits, led by 23 from Darius Robinson. Alex Dorr posted his first career double double with 13 and 13. Damon Smith had 16 points and nine rebounds and Josh Turner added 14 points. Josh Johnson had 22 and 13 and James Pollard also scored 22 for the Beavers.  

OLD HISTORY: Longtime foes in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC) and the Dakota Athletic Conference, Minot State now owns a five-game winning streak against U-Mary. Prior to playing last season, the two schools hadn't met since February 16, 2006, an 81-80 MSU win in Minot. In the last meeting at the McDowell Activity Center, Minot State once again ground out a one point win, 70-69 on December 3, 2005. The last U-Mary win? A 79-69 victory on December 10, 2004, at the MAC.

IT'S BEEN AWHILE: The last time the Marauders and Beavers played a conference game was January 22, 2005, an 83-69 DAC-10 home win for the Beavers. The last conference win for the Marauders was a 79-69 home win on December 10, 2004. Delmar Clown led the Marauders with 18 points. This was also the Marauders last victory over the Beavers.

NEW HISTORY: This is the first meeting between the Marauders and the Beavers as members of the Northern Sun. U-Mary began playing in the NSIC during the 2006-07 season and MSU joined the conference this season. This is also the Beavers first NSIC game.

CIVIC CENTER: Prior to the opening of the McDowell Activity Center in 1973, the Marauders played home games at the Bismarck Civic Center the first three seasons the men's basketball program existed (1970-73). According to research by the Bismarck Tribune, we believe the last time the Marauders played at the Civic Center was in 1998 against the University of North Dakota.   

300: The first 300 fans into the game on Saturday will receive a Marauders t-shirt, courtesy of the American Bank Center, this weekend's game sponsor.

THE OPPONENT: The Minot State University Beavers are in their first year as a full-fledged member of NCAA Division II. Now eligible for post-season play, the Beavers make their maiden voyage in the Northern Sun with a new head coach. Matt Murken joined the Beavers program last summer after amassing a two-year record of 46-16 at Jamestown College. SR F Josh Johnson is MSU's top returning player. After averaging 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds last season he is sitting at 10.0 and 5.0 after three games. FR G Dominique McDonald averages 10.0 and 2.7 and JR G Isiah Gandy is at 9.0 PPG.

OPEN DORR POLICY: Marauders senior forward Alex Dorr is averaging a double double, leading U-Mary with 14.5 points and 12 rebounds per game through four contests. The Norwalk, IA, native is perfect at the free throw line, making all 13 of his attempts. Dorr currently leads the Northern Sun in rebounding and free throw percentage and is 11th in scoring.

DOUBLE DOWN: A big Thanksgiving weekend in Florida, SR F Alex Dorr posted two double doubles to extend his streak to three. Dorr scored 17 points and hauled down a career-best 15 rebounds against Saint Joseph's (IN). He concluded the weekend by pairing 13 and 13 against the host school, #22 Florida Southern. Dorr now has four career double doubles at U-Mary.

CLEANING THE GLASS: The Marauders have posted double digit rebounding advantages in each of their last three games: 34-17 over Mayville State, 41-24 over Saint Joseph's and 40-30 over #22 Florida Southern. At a +10.7, the Marauders are third in the NSIC in rebounding margin.

CLEANING THE GLASS II: Alex Dorr's 15 rebounds against Saint Joseph's is the most by a Marauders player since U-Mary began NCAA play in 2006-07. The previous high was 14 by Dorr one game earlier against Mayville State and by Zach Dosch against Northern State on Feb. 14, 2009.

FINE LINE: Through four games the Marauders are spectacular at the free throw line, knocking down 75.7 per cent of their attempts. Leading the effort is Alex Dorr (13-of-13), Josh Turner (12-of-13) and Mike Johnson (9-of-11). Additionally Marc Musungayi is 6-of-6.

ROLLING: The only U-Mary player to reach double digits points in all four games, Josh Turner is on a roll. After posting 10 points in the first game, the senior guard is averaging 17 PPG the last three games. Currently in the NSIC he is fifth in treys/game (2.75), sixth in free throw percentage (.923), ninth in scoring (15.9) and 11th in assists (3.5).

STARTING BLOCKS: Newcomer Marc Musungayi is quickly making himself known to Marauders fans in the blocks. The junior center in his first year at U-Mary is averaging 9.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.25 blocks per game. He is sixth in the NSIC in rebounds and eighth in blocks.

TURNOVER TROUBLES: The Marauders have a better shooting percentage than their foes (.460 to .438), make a higher percentage of free throws (.757 to .712) and are +10.7 in rebounds a game. Turnovers are a different story as U-Mary has given the ball away 86 times (21.5/game) times to just 41 (10.25) for the opposition.