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THIS WEEK: With final exams scheduled for next week and Christmas fast approaching, the University of Mary heads to northern Minnesota for the Marauders final two games of 2012. U-Mary will face the Bemidji State University Beavers on Friday, December 14, at 8 PM in the BSU Gymnasium. U-Mary closes out its road trip against the University of Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles on Saturday, December 15. Tipoff is set for 6 PM at Lysaker Gymnasium.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC... The Beavers are 4-3 and 2-1... The Golden Eagles are Dragons are 3-4 and 0-3

LAST WEEK: The Marauders concluded their three game home stand with a pair of losses, 81-71 to Northern State and 82-70 to MSU Moorhead... Bemidji State split a pair of NSIC road games, losing 68-60 to #14 St. Cloud State University before defeating the University of Minnesota Duluth 66-55... Minnesota, Crookston was swept on the road in two NSIC games, 66-61 at Minnesota Duluth and 79-55 at St. Cloud State.

RECENT HISTORY / LAST MEETING:
U-Mary vs. Bemidji State: U-Mary leads the series with BSU 9-4. The series began in 1971 with a 92-87 home win for the Marauders. The two teams played twice in the 1987 season with each school winning at home. Since becoming a member of the NSIC, U-Mary captured the first five meetings before BSU broke through with a home win in the 2009-10 season... Last Meeting vs. BSU: Damon Smith scored a career high 29 points in a 72-65 Marauders loss at home to the Beavers on January 28, 2012. Smith connected on 12-of-19 shots and posted six rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Alex Door added 16 points, nine rebounds and three steals while hitting all four three-point attempts. Josh Turner had 11 points. James Ellisor led Bemidji State with 16 points. Off the bench, Jake Schalow had 15 points and David Berthene scored 10. Down by as many as 20 points in the second half the Marauders closed the contest on a 14-1 run.

U-Mary vs. Minnesota, Crookston: Since joining the Northern Sun, the Marauders are 9-3 against the Golden Eagles. U-Mary is 5-1 at home and 4-2 at UMC... Last Meeting: The Marauders rolled past the Golden Eagles 76-52 on the road on February 3, 2012 as Damon Smith scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shots, hauled down 11 rebounds and added two blocks. Darius Robinson chipped in 13 points, Josh Turner 12 and Jalen Jaspers 11. Akeem Cubie led UMC with 17 points and Jacolby Anderson added 11 and four assists.   

SCOUTING REPORT: Defending Northern Sun champions Bemidji State experienced turnover in the off season when head coach Matt Bowen left the Beavers to take the head coaching position at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Mike Boschee is BSU's new head coach after nine seasons directing the Central College (IA) program. Overall he is 118-117 in his career. The Beavers return three starters from last year's 22-9 squad, including last season's NSIC Newcomer of the Year Dermaine Crockrell, who leads BSU with 13.9 PPG. F Zach Noreen contributes 12.7 PPG and F Mason Walters adds 12.4 PPG... After winning their first three games of the season the Golden Eagles have lost four straight. After posting four wins in each of the last two seasons UMC is well ahead of that pace early this year. F Brandon Burns, a transfer from Northern Oklahoma CC, leads the team with 15.9 PPG. 6-10 F Abdou Niang averages a team-best 6.9 rebounds/game. The transfer from Western Illinois set a school record with 22 rebounds against Finlandia and added 12 against Crown. After missing last weekend due to injury UMC hopes SR PG Almir Krdzlic returns. He averages 9.2 points and 3.0 assists.

LAST WEEKEND RECAP: U-Mary held a 12 point halftime lead over Northern State University but a second half surge carried the Wolves by the Marauders 81-71. The Wolves went 23-of-29 on free throws in the second half while the Marauders went to the line just 13 times, making eight. Josh Turner led the Marauders with 19 points. Alex Dorr had 14 points and eight rebounds and Jalen Jaspers scored 12. Collin Pryor led NSU with 20 points and 10 rebounds and Geoffrey Firmin scored 17... Marc Musungayi made all 11 field goal attempts and was perfect on three free throws on his way to 25 points with 12 rebounds for the Marauders. His efforts weren't enough as MSU Moorhead stormed past U-Mary 82-70. Jalen Jaspers scored 12 points and Alex Dorr had 11 for the Marauders. Alex Novak led the Dragons with 22 points and 14 rebounds and Taylor Filipek and Jordan Riewer each scored 19. Trailing by as many as 15 points the Marauders closed within 53-48 in the second half but could get no closer.

DORR 5th NATIONALLY IN FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: After missing his first and only free throw of the season last weekend, SR F Alex Dorr dropped from first to fifth in the NCAA free throw percentage rankings. Dorr is now 24-of-25 this year.  

DORR 16th IN NCAA IN REBOUNDING: Averaging 10.3 rebounds per game, Alex Dorr is currently 16th in the nation. He has three double digit rebounding games in seven outings with a career-high 15 against Saint Joseph's.

DORR 17th NATIONALLY IN DOUBLE DOUBLES: With three double doubles in seven games, Alex Dorr is 17th nationally in double doubles, reaching double figures in points and rebounds in the same game.  

TURNER'S TOP HITS: Josh Turner ranks in the NCAA's top 74 in two different categories. The senior guard is 63rd in three-pointers made/game (2.71) and 74th in three-point shooting percentage (38.8).

PERFECTO: Marc Musungayi was perfect from the field and at the free throw line in the Marauders 82-70 loss to MSU Moorhead on Dec. 8, 2012. The junior forward hit all 11 shots from the floor and all three of his free throws on his way to a 25 point outing. He also snared 12 rebounds to set career marks in both points and boards. Musungayi is the first U-Mary player to make all his shots in a game (minimum eight attempts) since U-Mary began NCAA play in 2006-07. The previous best was a 9-for-10 effort by Damon Smith against Minnesota State on January 14, 2012.  

BREAKOUT: With career-highs in points and rebounds while squaring off against one of the top post defenders in the league, Marc Musungayi had a night to remember against MSU Moorhead. The transfer from Iowa Central Comunity College in his first year with the Marauders was 11-for-11 from the floor and 3-of-3 at the free throw line, scoring 25 points and hauling down 12 rebounds. His previous best marks at U-Mary was 10 points and 11 rebounds.

LINE MATES: The Marauders have been stellar at the free throw line this season, leading the Northern Sun in free throw percentage (.762). That figure is also 18th in NCAA Division II. During one two-game stretch against Florida Southern and Minot State the Marauders were 47-of-56. The top individual free throw shooter in the NSIC, Alex Dorr leads the effort, making 24-of-25 of his attempts. Marc Musungayi is close behind (12-of-13) and Josh Turner is knocking down 85 per cent (17-of-20) of his free throw attempts.

OPEN DORR POLICY: Marauders senior forward Alex Dorr is averaging a double double, leading U-Mary with 15.1 points and 10.3 rebounds per game through seven contests. The Norwalk, IA, resident currently leads the Northern Sun in rebounding and free throw percentage and is 9th in scoring.

CLEANING THE GLASS: After posting double digit rebounding margins three straight games, the Marauders have lost their edge in its three Northern Sun contests. U-Mary still holds a +3.8 rebounding margin for the season but is -6.0 in the NSIC.  

CLEANING THE GLASS II: The Marauders are the only school to feature two of the top seven rebounders in the Northern Sun. Alex Dorr leads the conference with 10.3 rebounds/game and Marc Musungayi is close behind in seventh with 7.1 rebounds/game.

FOUR SCORE: The Marauders currently have four players averaging double digits. Alex Dorr leads the way at 15.1 points per game, followed by Josh Turner at 14.6, Jalen Jaspers at 10.7 and Marc Musingayi at 10.3.

RUNNING MATES: U-Mary is one of two schools featuring two of the top 11 scorers in the NSIC. Alex Dorr is ninth (15.1 ppg) and Josh Turner is 11th (14.6). Concordia University - St. Paul is led by Terez Van Pelt (3rd in scoring at 20.0) and Isaiah Thomas (8th at 15.3).

HALTED: The only U-Mary player to reach double digits points in each of the first six games of the season, Josh Turner saw his streak end with five points against MSU Moorhead, one night after scoring 19 against Northern State to tie his season high. One of the top outside shooters in the NSIC, Turner averages 14.6 points/game. He is second in the NSIC in treys per game at 2.71, 11th in scoring and 14th in free throw percentage (85 per cent).

STARTING BLOCKS: Newcomer Marc Musungayi is quickly making himself known to Marauders fans in the low blocks. The junior center in his first year at U-Mary is averaging 10.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. He is second in the NSIC in field goal shooting percentage (65.2 per cent), seventh in the NSIC in rebounds and 12th in blocks (1.0/game).

ROLLING: Jalen Jaspers is rolling, reaching double digits in points his last four games. Showing great touch and decision-making on the offensive end, the junior guard is shooting 56.9 per cent from the floor (8th in the NSIC) and 50 per cent (7-of-14) on three pointers (8th in the NSIC). He is averaging 10.7 points per game.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND: After turning the ball over 71 times in a three game stretch (nearly 24 times/game) the Marauders have taken significantly better care of the ball since Northern Sun play has started. In their three games against NSIC opposition the Marauders have turned the ball over just 30 times (10.0 per game). Against MSU Moorhead U-Mary lost the ball a season-low seven times.

FIVE ALIVE: For the first time since the Marauders NCAA tournament run two years ago U-Mary had five players reach double digits in points. Alex Dorr led the way with 23 points in the Marauders 77-65 win over Minot State. Josh Turner added 17 points, Jalen Jaspers 12, Noah Stewart 11 and Mike Johnson 10. The last time U-Mary had five players hit double figures was Feb. 12, 2011, in a 90-81 home win over Augustana. Anthony Moody had 31 points, Cameron Lee 13, Eric Erdmann 12, Alex Dorr 11 and Jordan Wilhelm 10.

HELPING HAND: Mike Johnson distributed nine assists in the Marauders win over the Comets. The nine helpers are the best for U-Mary since the Marauders started NCAA play in 2006-07. The previous team best was seven multiple times. The junior guard just missed a double double as he scored 10 points.

U-MARY SIGNS THREE FOR 2013-14: The Marauders gained commitments from three high school seniors during the National Letter of Intent early signing period. Brenden Mann is a 6-2 guard from Littleton, CO / Chatfield HS. Damonta Henry is a 6-0 guard from Chicago, IL / Riverside Brookfield HS. Isaac Lindquist is a 6-9 center from Milbank, SD / Milbank HS. All will join the Marauders as freshman next fall for the 2013-14 season.

MARAUDERS PICKED 14th IN NSIC: U-Mary is projected to finish 14th out of 16 teams in the 2012-13 NSIC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, U-Mary is projected to finish 6th out of eight teams in the NSIC North Division... Winona State University is the coaches choice to claim the overall NSIC crown, followed by Southwest Minnesota State, St. Cloud State, MSU Moorhead, Augustana, Minnesota Duluth and Northern State. The next eight are Concordia-St. Paul, Wayne State, Sioux Falls, Bemidji State, Upper Iowa, U-Mary, Minot State and Minnesota Crookston... MSU Moorhead is the favorite in the NSIC North Division, edging St. Cloud State. Northern State is third, followed by Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State, the Marauders, Minnesota Crookston and Minot State. In the NSIC South predictions, Winona State tops the list, followed by Southwest Minnesota State, Minnesota State, Augustana, Concordia, Wayne State, Upper Iowa and Sioux Falls.

FOUR ON THE FLOOR: The Marauders return four starters from a year ago - G Mike Johnson, G Jalen Jaspers, G/F Josh Turner and F Alex Dorr.  

THREE ON THE BENCH: Two sophomores gained valuable experience last season. Guard/forward Justin Ledger earned several starts last year, including the two U-Mary wins to close the season. He scored a season-high seven points against SCSU and averaged 1.6 points on the season. Backing up All-NSIC post Damon Smith, who is now playing professionally in Denmark, 6-4 forward Blake Maslonkowski played in 17 games. Redshirt sophomore guard Danny Robinson also saw court time last year.

NEW GUYS: The Marauders look for a couple transfers to fit into the rotation. Toronto, Ontario, native Marc Musungayi is a 6-6 junior forward who played at Iowa Central Community College last year. Noah Stewart, from Indianapolis, IN, is a 5-11 guard from Olney Central Community College. Additionally, senior forward James Bagwell joins U-Mary from United Tribes Community College. Freshmen Brandon Tyler (G, Oshkosh, WI) and Kevin Jensen (F, Victoria, MN) will battle for playing time.
 
NEW GUYS TWO: The Marauders added two new coaches for 2012-13. Lead assistant coach Logan Flora has experienced every level of NCAA basketball, including the last two years at UM-Duluth. Graduate asst. Jared Marshall coached high school in Colorado for six years.

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