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THIS WEEK: For the first time this season the University of Mary hosts a weekend doubleheader as conference foes Northern State University and MSU Moorhead come to Bismarck, ND, for a pair of Northern Sun contests. The Marauders open their two-game set against the Wolves on Friday, December 7, at 8 PM. U-Mary then faces the Dragons at 6 PM on Saturday, December 8. Both games are at the McDowell Activity Center.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC... The Wolves are 5-2 and 1-0... The Dragons are 5-1 and 0-1.

LAST WEEK: The Marauders opened Northern Sun play with a 77-65 home win over Mont State University... Northern State defeated Carleton 66-59 in a non-conference game at home before defeating MSU Moorhead 69-66 in the NSIC opener for both squads... The Dragons defeated Valley City State 79-66 before losing 69-66 at Northern State.  

LAST MEETING: U-Mary closed out the 2011-12 season with a 70-67 home win over Northern State on Feb. 26, 2012, which eliminated the Wolves from post-season play. Damon Smith scored 18 points and added six rebounds and three blocks. Alex Dorr scored 16 points off the bench and Josh Turner and Mike Johnson both had 12 points. Geoffrey Firmin and Dustin Tetlaff both had 15 points for NSU... The Marauders lost a nine-point lead and fell 67-66 at MSU Moorhead on Feb. 4, 2012 as Darius Robinson's shot at the buzzer fell short. Smith scored 25 points and made 12-of-15 shots to lead U-Mary. Turner added 18 points and Dorr 11. Charlie Chapman led the Dragons with 17 points and Alex Novak had 15.

RECENT HISTORY:
U-Mary vs. Northern State: U-Mary is riding a four-game win streak over Northern State. The Marauders and Wolves have played 26 times with the Wolves holding a 17-10 advantage. NSU had a nine-game winning streak against the Marauders snapped during the 2010-11 season and U-Mary has now swept Northern State the past two years.
U-Mary vs. MSU Moorhead: In the all-time series between U-Mary and MSU Moorhead, the Marauders hold an 11-8 edge. Since joining the NCAA and NSIC, U-Mary is 6-6 against MSU Moorhead. The Marauders won the first conference matchup with a 75-72 win at MSUM on January 16, 2007. The Dragons followed with five straight wins, including an overtime victory, one win by one point and another by two points. The Marauders snapped the Dragons streak with a decisive 74-58 win at home on Jan. 30, 2010, and won the next five games, including a 72-51 win over 19th ranked MSUM on Jan. 7, 2012, at the MAC.

SCOUTING REPORT: After finishing with a 13-13 record overall and missing out on a spot in the conference tournament after losing to U-Mary in the season finale last spring, Northern State University is off to a strong start. After losing two games to open the season, the Wolves have won five straight to improve to 5-2. NSU opened NSIC play with an impressive 69-66 home win over MSU Moorhead. Collin Pryor scored 21 points and Dustin Tetzlaff had 18 to earn conference player of the week honors. Pryor leads the team in scoring (12.6 PPG) and rebounds (6.1 RPG). Tetzlaff averages 11.0 PPG and 6.0 rebounds... The preseason coaches favorite to win the NSIC North division, MSU Moorhead is a season removed from its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1965, finishing 2011-12 with a record of 21-10. The Dragons appear to be making another run at postseason play, winning their first five games before dropping a 69-66 decision at Northern State University to open NSIC play. SR G Anthony Tucker, formerly of the University of Iowa and Winona State, averages 22.5 points a game to lead the Dragons in scoring. He also averages 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 57.1 per cent from the floor. All-NSIC second team forward Alex Novak averages 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds.  

SNAPPED: The Marauders 77-65 win over the Beavers snapped a five-game losing streak to Minot State. U-Mary had last beat MSU 79-69 on Dec. 10, 2004, at the MAC.

EX'S: Northern State and U-Mary were travel partners in basketball the first six years the Marauders competed in the Northern Sun. With the addition of Minot State University and the University of Sioux Falls this season, U-Mary is now paired with the Beavers and Northern State is with MSU Moorhead.

DOWNTOWN: Not only did U-Mary play against Minot State in the heart of Bismarck at the Civic Center, the Marauders also literally bombed away from downtown. The Marauders went 12-of-24 behind the arc, the most three-pointers in a game for U-Mary since a 12-of-18 effort against MSU Moorhead on Jan. 7, 2012.

LAST GAME RECAP: Playing at the Bismarck Civic Center for the first time since 1998 against a longtime rival for the first time in a Northern Sun contest, U-Mary used a combination of the long ball and free throws to defeat Minot State University 77-65 on Dec. 1, 2012. Alex Dorr scored a career-high 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds in the win. The senior forward scored eight straight points to give the Marauders the lead for good early in the second half. U-Mary held a double digit advantage the last nine minutes of the game. U-Mary was 25-of-31 at the free throw line (17-of-19 in the 2nd half) and 12-of-24 on 3-point attempts. Josh Turner added 17 points (4-of-6 on treys), Jalen Jaspers had 12 points and five assists, Noah Stewart scored all 11 of his points on free throws and Mike Johnson chipped in 10. Chris East led Minot State with 15 points and eight rebounds.  

DORR LEADS NATION IN FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: SR F Alex Dorr leads the NCAA in free throw percentage, making all 18 of his attempts this season. Among the seven players who are perfect at the line this season Dorr has the most attempts.

DORR 5th IN NCAA IN REBOUNDING: Averaging 11.4 rebounds per game, Alex Dorr is currently fifth in the nation. He has three double digit rebounding games in five times out with a career-high 15 against Saint Joseph's.

DORR 8th NATIONALLY IN DOUBLE DOUBLES: With three double doubles in five games, Alex Dorr is eighth 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 69 in three different categories. The senior guard is 39th in three-pointers made/game (3.0), 58th in three-point shooting percentage (44.0) and 69th in free throw percentage (88.2).

LINE MATES: The Marauders were terrific at the free throw line against Minot State University, burying 25-of-31 free throws. It was the most free throws made in a game by the Marauders since making 28 against Minot State on Nov. 22, 2012. The outstanding effort is nothing new this season for U-Mary as the squad is knocking down 77.1 per cent of its charity stripe chances to lead the Northern Sun rank and 17th in the NCAA. Alex Dorr leads the effort, making all 18 of his attempts. Marc Musungayi is also perfect at the line in eight tries. Right behind is Josh Turner (15-of-17).     

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.

OPEN DORR POLICY: Marauders senior forward Alex Dorr is averaging a double double, leading U-Mary with 16.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game through five contests. The Norwalk, IA, native is perfect at the free throw line, making all 18 of his attempts. Dorr currently leads the Northern Sun in rebounding and free throw percentage and is 7th in scoring.

CLEANING THE GLASS: After posting double digit rebounding margins three straight games, the Marauders were out-rebounded 37-33 in a win over Minot State. For the year U-Mary holds a +7.8 rebounding margin, third in the NSIC and 40th in the NCAA.

CLEANING THE GLASS II: A big reason the Marauders are out-rebounding the opposition is the work in the front court of Alex Dorr and Marc Musungayi. Dorr leads the NSIC with 11.4 boards per game. His lowest total of the season is eight in the season opener. A newcomer to the program from Iowa Central CC, Musungayi averages 7.4 rebounds/game, ninth in the NSIC.

TRIPLE THREAT: The Marauders currently have three players averaging double digits. Alex Dorr leads the way at 16.2 points per game, followed by Josh Turner at 15.6 and Jalen Jaspers at 10.2.

RUNNING MATES: U-Mary is the only school with two players among the top nine scorers in the NSIC. Alex Dorr is 7th (16.2 PPG) in scoring and Josh Turner (15.6 PPG) is 9th.

ROLLING: The only U-Mary player to reach double digits points in all five games, Josh Turner is on a roll. After posting 10 points in the first game, the senior guard is averaging 17 PPG the last four games. Currently he leads the NSIC unb treys/game (3.0), is 10th in free throw percentage (.882) and ninth in scoring (15.6).

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 8.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.25 blocks per game. He is ninth in the NSIC in rebounds, 11th in blocks (1.0/game) and 15th in field goal percentage (.552).

BENCH BOOST: Noah Stewart gave the Marauders a great boost off the bench in the won over Minot State. The junior guard in his first season at U-Mary scored 11 points - all on free throws - and grabbed five rebounds. He also had four assists. The points and rebounds are seaso-highs for the Indianapolis, IN, native.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND: Entering the Minot State contest, turnovers were the Marauders biggest issue. U-Mary has a better field goal percentage than its opponenets (.453 to.430), is converting better at the free throw line (.771 to .713 ) and is a +7.8 in bounds. Through the first four games, the Marauders were committing twice as many turnovers as they were forcing. That number changed against the Beavers. After committing 21 or more turnovers in thre straigreht games, U-Mary lost the ball a season-low 10 times against MSU. At the same time the Marauders forced the Beavers into 13 turnovers, tying the season-high for the U-Mary defense.  

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.