GAME NOTES

THIS WEEK: After a 20 day break with no games as the old calendar year rolls into the new, the University of Mary returns to action with two Northern Sun road games. The Marauders open against 19th ranked and NSIC-leading St. Cloud State University on Friday, January 4. Tip off is set for 8 PM at Halenbeck Hall on the SCSU campus. U-Mary concludes the weekend at the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, January 5. Game time is 6 PM at Romano Gymnasium.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 3-6 overall and 2-3 in the NSIC, tied for 5th in the NSIC North Division and 10th overall in the conference standings... The Huskies are 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC, tied for first in the North Division and overall... The Bulldogs are 3-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play (6th in the North, 11th overall).

LAST WEEK: The Marauders gained a split in the squad's first conference road trip of the year, dropping a 61-40 decision at Bemidji State before closing out 2012 with a 52-51 win at Minnesota, Crookston... In their last conference weekend, the Huskies split on the road, defeating Northern State 73-54 before losing to MSU Moorhead 78-74. SCSU played once over the break, defeating Ashford University 90-59 at home on Dec. 29... Currently on a three-game losing streak, the Bulldogs dropped two road games prior to the semester break, 79-76 at MSU Moorhead and 95-75 at Northern State.

RECENT HISTORY / LAST MEETING:
U-Mary vs. St. Cloud State: The Marauders are 6-5 all-time against St.
Cloud State. The Marauders are 4-0 at home, 2-3 at SCSU and 0-2 on neutral
ground. U-Mary's first NCAA win came at SCSU 86-77 on 11.18.06. U-Mary's
signature NCAA win was a 77-48 home victory over #8 SCSU on 12.16.07.Last Meeting vs. SCSU: The Marauders shot 75 per cent from the field in the second half and overcame a 15 point deficit to upset the Northern Sun-leading Huskies 79-72. Damon Smith led the Marauders with 23 points, adding five rebounds, three blocks and six assists. Mike Johnson hit four treys and scored 14 points. Brett Putz led SCSU with 19 points.

U-Mary vs. Minnesota Duluth: The Bulldogs leads the all-time series with the Marauders 4-3 after sweeping both games last season... The Marauders first victory over the Bulldogs was an 80-77 overtime win on 1.16.09. Last Meeting: Darius Robinson drained five treys and scored 23 points off the bench but his efforts weren't enough in an 87-81 U-Mary home loss to UMD on January 28, 2012. Jalen Jaspers chipped in 17 points, Damon Smith had 16 points and nine rebounds and Alex Dorr scored 10 points. Ryan Rasmussen led UMD with a game-high 29 points and the Bulldogs were 23-of-29 at the free throw line to a 10-of-17 effort for the Marauders.

SCOUTING REPORT: Consistently one of the top team not only in the Northern Sun but also the nation, St. Cloud State head coach Kevin Schlagel has directed the Huskies to eight NCAA tournament appearances in 15 years. Now in his 16th season, Schlagel has compiled a mark of 309-142. F Theo Rothstein is the Huskies leading scorer, averaging 17.8 PPG while shooting 58.7 per cent from the floor. All-NSIC performer Shaun Jensen is scoring 14.1 PPG and dishes 6.0 assists/game. NSIC 2nd teamer Tim Bergstraser just returnded to the lineup and scored nine points against Ashford in his first game of the season... After directing Bemidji State to the 2012 NSIC championship and a school reecord for wins, Matt Bowen jumped to the University of Minnesota Duluth when longtime head coach Gary Holmquist stepped aside last spring after 14 years. Coming off a 13-14 season and an 11-11 mark in conference play, the Bulldogs return four starters. Despite the experience UMD has lost 5-of-6 games. SR G Jake Hottenstine leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 17.5 PPG and is shooting 41.5% on treys. Brett Ervin is adding 14.0 PPG.

LAST TIME OUT: Scoring its fewest points in five years, U-Mary opened a road trip to northern Minnesota with a 61-40 loss at Bemidji State University. The Beavers dominated the paint, outscoring the Marauders 42-14 inside and enjoying a 41-28 rebounding advantage. U-Mary shot just 27.7 per cent for the game. Alex Dorr was the lone UM player in double figures with 12 points and freshman Tyler Brandon scored a career-best nine points off the bench. Dermaine Crockrell led BSU with 22 points and Mason Walters added 11 points and 10 rebounds... The Marauders rebounded for a 52-51 win at the University of Minnesota Crookston on Dec. 15, 2012. Alex Dorr paired 18 points and 10 rebounds and Jalen Jaspers chipped in 10 points. The Marauders survived three UMC shot attempts in the final eight seconds to win the game. UMC grabbed two offensive rebounds and Jaspers swatted away the last shot attempt at the buzzer. Tim Luebke led UMC with 15 points off the bench, hitting five treys. The two teams combined to shoot six free throws in the game making four (U-Mary was 2-for-4).

FLORA BACK HOME: Marauders assistant coach Logan Flora was an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth under former Bulldogs head coach Gary Holmquist from 2010-12. Flora joined the U-Mary staff this season.


112: The Marauders allowed 112 points in their last two games. It is their best defensive weekend since allowing 107 points at home to MSU Moorhead (W 72-51) and Minnesota Crookston (L 56-51) on Jan. 7-8, 2012.

52: The 52 points scored by the Marauders in their one-point win over Minnesota Crookston was the fewest scored by U-Mary in a win since defeating Saginaw Valley State 51-36 on Nov. 26, 2010.

6: The Marauders and Golden Eagles shot a combined six free throws in the U-Mary 52-51 win. The Marauders were 2-of-4 and UMC was 2-of-2. This is the fewest combined free throws in a Marauders game since U-Mary began playing NCAA Division II competition in 2006-07. The previous low was seven in U-Mary's 76-53 loss at Wayne State on Feb. 20, 2010 (5-of-6 for UM, 1-for-1 for WSC).  

4: The Marauders shot just four free throws against the Golden Eagles, making two. This is the fewest free throw makes and attempts by U-Mary since the Marauders didn't go to the line once at MSU Moorhead on Feb. 4, 2012.

2: The Golden Eagles attempted two free throws in the Marauders 52-51 win. This was the fewest opponent free throws since Wayne State went to the line just once in a U-Mary 76-53 loss on Feb. 20, 2010.

DORR 7th NATIONALLY IN FREE THROW PERCENTAGE: SR F Alex Dorr (Norwalk, IA) is seventh nationally in free throw percentage, making 96.3 percent (26-of-27) of his attempts.

DORR 37th IN NCAA IN REBOUNDING: Averaging 9.1 rebounds per game, Alex Dorr is currently 37th in the nation. He has four double digit rebounding games this season with a career-high 15 against Saint Joseph's.

DORR 14th NATIONALLY IN DOUBLE DOUBLES: After posting 18 points and 10 rebounds in a win at Minnesota Crookston for his fourth double double of the season, Alex Dorr is 14th nationally in reaching double figures in two categories in the same game.  

DORR PACES NSIC IN FREE THROWS, REBOUNDING: Marauders senior forward Alex Dorr is pacing the Northern Sun in both rebounding (9.1/game) and free throw shooting (96.3 per cent). Dorr also ranks 11th in scoring (15.1/game) and three-pointer made/game (2.0)

OPEN DORR POLICY: Marauders senior forward Alex Dorr has made a big jump in his production this season. He is posting 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game after generating 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds as a junior. A good free throw shooter a year ago, he has improved from 78 per cent to 96.3 per cent this season. After recording one double double in his first two seasons Dorr already has four this year alone.

TURNER'S TOP HITS: One of the nation's top three-point shooters, Josh Turner ranks 94th in the NCAA in three-pointers made per game with 2.44. He is fifth in the NSIC. For the year Turner is averaging 12.7 points per game.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND: After averaging 21.5 turnovers a game during the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Marauders have taken significantly better care of the ball since Northern Sun play started. In their five games against NSIC opposition the Marauders are averaging just 12 turnovers per game.

LINE MATES: The Marauders have been stellar at the free throw line this season and are second in the Northern Sun in free throw percentage (.759). That figure is also 19th in NCAA Division II. The top individual free throw shooter in the NSIC, Alex Dorr leads the effort, making 26-of-27 of his attempts. Marc Musungayi is close behind (12-of-13) and Josh Turner is knocking down 81.8 per cent (18-of-22) of his free throw attempts. Mike Johnson checks in at 76.5 per cent (13-of-17).

ROLLING: Jalen Jaspers is rolling, reaching double digits in points in five of his last six games. Showing great touch and decision-making on the offensive end, the junior guard is shooting 54 per cent from the floor (10th in the NSIC) and 44 per cent on three pointers. He is averaging a career-high 9.9 points per game. Last season Jaspers averaged 8.5 points/game but shot just 42.1 per cent.

CLEANING THE GLASS: For the first time in NSIC play this season the Marauders outrebounded an opponent, 27-24 at Minnesota Crookston. U-Mary had posted positive rebounding margins in three of four non-conference games and still holds a +1.7 rebounding margin for the season.  

CLEANING THE GLASS II: The Marauders feature two of the top 11 rebounders in the Northern Sun. Alex Dorr leads the conference with 9.1 rebounds/game and Marc Musungayi is 11th at 6.3 rebounds/game.

BIG THREE: The Marauders have three players virtually scoring in double figures. Alex Dorr leads the way at 15.1 points per game, followed by Josh Turner at 12.7. Jalen Jaspers checks in at 9.9.

THOU SHALT NOT STEAL: The Marauders are last in the NSIC in steals and 285 out of 286 in the NCAA with 3.4 steals/game.

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 8.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. He is third in the NSIC in field goal shooting percentage (60.8 per cent), 11th in the NSIC in rebounds and 13th in blocks (1.0/game).

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.  

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.