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THIS WEEK: The 2012-13 University of Mary men's basketball home schedule comes to a close this weekend when the Marauders host the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, and the Beavers of Bemidji State University at the McDowell Activity Center. The Marauders open the weekend against the Golden Eagles on Friday, February 15, at 8 PM. The home schedule wraps up against the Beavers at 4 PM on Saturday, February 16.

WEEKEND EVENTS: There are several activities planned for the Marauders last home weekend. Friday is Cancer Awareness Night. Saturday is Senior Day as Alex Dorr and Josh Turner close out their careers at the MAC. Winners of the Bortke and the Olson Scholarships will be announced and the Northern Sun Myles Brand All-Academic Award recipients will be honored. It is also Faculty Appreciation Day. All U-Mary employees and a guest receive free admission. Dakota Community Bank and Trust is the weekend's game sponsor.

SENIOR DAY: Saturday is the final home appearance for U-Mary seniors Alex Dorr and Josh Turner... One of the top all-around performers in the Northern Sun this season, Alex Dorr is among league leaders in scoring, rebounding, free throw shooting and three-point shooting. The 6-6 forward from Norwalk, Iowa, Alex transferred to U-Mary from Iowa State as a sophomore and was a key reserve on the Marauders first NCAA tournament team in 2011. A starter the past two years, he is one of just 18 players in Marauders history to record at least 400 rebounds and is one of just nine players since the NCAA era began to score over 600 points. A business major, Alex will be a member of the 2013 NSIC All-Academic team... In just two seasons at the University of Mary, Josh Turner will be remembered as one of the top outside shooters in Marauders history. A native of Aurora, Colorado, Josh set a school record last weekend for three point shooting accuracy when he made 8-of-10 shots behind the arc at Southwest Minnesota State. He is among the Northern Sun and NCAA leaders in three point shooting. A two year starter after transferring from Lamar Community College, Josh is 11th all time at U-Mary in three pointers made and could finish in the top five. Majoring physical education teaching, he is also one of just nine Marauders since U-Mary's NCAA era began to score over 600 points.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 3-19 overall and 2-16 in the NSIC, 7th in the NSIC North Division and 15th overall in the conference standings... The Golden Eagles are 3-19 overall and 0-18 in the NSIC (8th in the NSIC North and 16th overall)... The Beavers are 12-10 overall and 10-8 in the NSIC (3rd in the NSIC North, tied for 8th overall in the NSIC).

LAST WEEK: The Marauders dropped two games on the road to NSIC South squads, 77-64 at Southwest Minnesota State and 75-70 at the University of Sioux Falls... The Golden Eagles lost 88-66 at Concordia-St. Paul and 93-55 at Minnesota State University... The Beavers upset NSIC-leading Minnesota State 82-74 before closing the weekend with an 85-84 loss at Concordia-St. Paul.

RECENT HISTORY / LAST MEETING:
U-Mary vs. University of Minnesota, Crookston:  Since joining the Northern Sun, the Marauders are 10-3 against the Golden Eagles. U-Mary is 5-1 at home and 5-2 at UMC.

Last Meeting vs. UMC: U-Mary withstood a flurry of shots at the buzzer to capture a 52-51 win at the University of Minnesota, Crookston on December 15, 2012. It is the last win the Marauders have posted this season. The Golden Eagles managed three shots in the final eight seconds but couldn't convert as Jalen Jaspers blocked the last attempt as time expired. Alex Dorr had a double double for the Marauders with 18 points and 10 rebounds. He hit four three pointers. Jaspers added ten points. Tin Lubke hit five treys and led UMC with 15 points and Almir Krdzalic added 11. The game featured 12 lead changes and four ties.

U-Mary vs. Bemidji State University: U-Mary leads the series with BSU 9-5. 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: Scoring their fewest points in five years, the Marauders dropped a 61-40 decision at Bemidji State on December 14, 2012. The Marauders shot just 28 per cent from the field and only 5-of-23 behind the arc. BSU made just 3-of-24 three point attempts but dominated inside the arc, where the Beavers converted 22-of-34 shot attempts. Alex Dorr led the Marauders with 12 points and Brandon Tyler scored nine off the bench. Dermaine Crockrell had a game-high 22 points for BSU and Mason Walters and Lance Rongstad each added 11.

SCOUTING REPORT
University of Minnesota, Crookston: With just four games remaining the Northern Sun regular season, the Golden Eagles are still looking for their first conference win. UMC opened the season with three straight non-conference wins but since have lost 19 straight games, including all 18 NSIC games (3-19 overall, 0-18 NSIC). The Golden Eagles last victory came at Mayville State on November 20, 2012. Dating back to last season UMC has lost 24 straight conference games, the last conference win an 88-73 win over Northern State on February 4, 2012. Brandon Burns leads UMC in scoring with 10.7 points per game. Almir Krdzalic is second at 8.6 PPG. He also leads the team in assists and steals. The Golden Eagles are last in the NSIC in scoring at 57.2 PPG.

Bemidji State University is the defending Northern Sun champions. The Beavers experienced turnover at the top 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. Currently the Beavers are tied for third in the NSIC with a mark of 10-8 in league play, two wins back of Northern State for second and three back of North-leading St. Cloud State. 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 14.1 PPG. F Mason Walters adds 13.5 PPG and G Lance Rongstad, who started at quarterback for the BSU football team, chips in 11.9 PPG.

NORTH SIDE: After four straight games against NSIC South division teams the Marauders will close out the regular season against teams from the North.  

SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE: Either UMC (19 straight games) or U-Mary (13) will break its losing streak when the two teams clash at the MAC on Friday.

LAST TIME OUT: Despite halftime leads and incredible performances by Josh Turner in back to back road games the Marauders were unable to bring home a win. Turner scored 30 points and set a school record for three-point shooting accuracy but the Marauders opened a two-game road trip with a 77-64 loss at Southwest Minnesota State. The Marauders led 36-32 at intermission and 47-46 with 15 minutes remaining but turnovers in six of seven possessions turned the tide towards the Mustangs. Turner hit 8-of-10 three point attempts and was the lone U-Mary player in double digits. Lavione West led SMSU with 19 points and Jordan Miller added 17... Turner continued his amazing play in a 75-70 loss at the University of Sioux Falls. The senior guard was 7-of-11 on three pointers and scored 28 points. U-Mary led 31-22 at intermission before building a 40-30 lead in the second half. The Cougars roared back with a 19-6 run to take the lead. USF eventually built a 12 point lead before a Soon down by 12, Turner willed the Marauders back into the game. In the final minute he scored 10 points (a trey, a four-point play, and three free throws after he was fouled behind the arc) to drag the Marauders within 72-70 and 30 seconds showing on the clock but USF hit 3-of-4 free throws to seal the game. Marc Musungayi scored 16 points for U-Mary. Derek Brown hit 6-of-9 treys for the Cougars and scored 21 points.     

HALFTIME LEADERS: The Marauders led both games last weekend at intermission. U-Mary led Southwest Minnesota State 36-32 at the break and Sioux Falls 31-22. Playing shorthanded with just eight players after the injury to Alex Dorr the Marauders were outscored a combined 98-67 in the second half of both contests.

RECORD PERFORMANCE: Josh Turner was dialed in from three point territory at Southwest Minnesota State on February 8, 2013. The senior guard was 8-of-10 on three point attempts against the Mustangs to set a school mark for three point shooting percentage in a game at 80 per cent. Geoff West (9-of-12 at Saint Martin's University on 11.19.2008) and Jordan Wilhelm (6-of-8 at MSU Billings 11.16.2010) held the previous mark at 75 per cent. Turner's eight treys was the most by a U-Mary player since West knocked down nine in 2008. Turner finished the game with a career-high 30 points.

HOT SHOT: SR G Josh Turner was scintillating from behind the arc over the weekend, knocking down an incredible 15-of-21 (71.4 per cent) three point attempts and averaging 29 points per game over two games. The senior guard exploded for a career-high 30 points in a loss at Southwest Minnesota State, setting a school record for three point shooting percentage when he made 8-of-10 (80 per cent) from behind the arc. He also had five rebounds. Turner came back to make 7-of-11 three pointers and score 28 points in a loss at the University of Sioux Falls. He made all five free throws and added two assists. In addition to averaging 29 points, Turner was 9-of-10 at the free throw line, shot 55 per cent overall and captured 3.0 rebounds/game.

BROKEN DORR: U-Mary senior forward Alex Dorr broke a finger in practice the week prior to the Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul games and may miss the rest of the season. Not only is he the Marauders leading scorer and rebounder, he is among the top players in the Northern Sun. Here is where he ranks in several categories: Rebounding: Averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, Dorr is second in the NSIC and 55th in the NCAA
Scoring: Dorr is 16th in the NSIC in scoring at 13.6 points per game.
Double Doubles: Dorr is 76th in the NCAA with five.
Free throw shooting: Dorr is second in the NSIC, making 91.3 per cent (41-of-46). He was ranked in the NCAA most of the year but no longer has enough attempts.
Three-pointers made per game: At. 2.0 made treys per game, Dorr is ninth in the NSIC and 195th in the NCAA.
Three-point shooting percentage: Dorr is 10th in the NSIC in three point shooting at 42.4 per cent.

OPEN DORR POLICY: Marauders senior forward Alex Dorr made a big jump in his production this season. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game after generating 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds as a junior. Always tremendous at the line, Dorr has improved from 78 per cent to 91.3 per cent this season. After recording one double double in his first two seasons Dorr has five this year alone.

600: Alex Dorr crossed the 500 point barrier at St. Cloud State on January 4, 2013 and surged past 600 at home against St. Cloud State on 1.26.13. Dorr now has 602 career points at U-Mary in 72 games. He is just the eighth Marauder to post 600 points since U-Mary began NCAA and NSIC competition in 2006-07.

CAREER REBOUNDS: With 402 rebounds in three seasons, Alex Dorr is 18th on the U-Mary all-time chart.

BACK ON TRACK: After struggling to find his scoring touch, Josh Turner came back strong his last four outings. After scoring in single digits for five straight games, the senior guard was tremendous weekend behind the arc, making 24-of-36 three point attempts in four games. Turner pumped in 20 points against Minnesota State, nailing 4-of-6 trey attempts and 8-of-13 shots overall. He concluded with 15 points against the Golden Bears. He was 5-of-9 on three balls and also distributed five assists. At Southwest Minnesota State he poured in a career-high 30 points while making 8-of-10 treys. Turner finished the Sioux Falls game with 28 points on a 7-of-11 effort behind the arc. Over the four games he is averaging 23.3 points and shooting 67 per cent behind the arc.

600: Josh Turner is just the ninth U-Mary player to crack 600 career points since the Marauders started NCAA and NSIC play in the 2006-07 season, reaching that level against Augustana. The Marauders senior guard in his second season at U-Mary now has 610 points.

500: Jalen Jaspers scored his 500th career point against Minnesota State on February 1. The junior forward becomes just the 11th U-Mary player to cross that barrier since beginning NCAA play in 2006-07. He is currently sitting at 529 points.  

TURNER'S TOP HITS: One of the nation's top three-point shooters, Josh Turner ranks 33rd in the NCAA in three-pointers made per game with 2.73 and 17th in the NCAA in three point shooting percentage at 43.5 per cent. He is 2nd in the NSIC in treys/game and 8th in 3-point shooting percentage. For the year Turner is averaging 13 points per game.

DOWNTOWN: The Marauders are one of the top teams behind the arc in the Northern Sun. U-Mary averages 8.18 three pointers made per game, second in the league. The Marauders also shoot it well, connecting at a pace of 38.7 per cent, third best in the NSIC. Alex Dorr and Josh Turner are leading the Marauders efforts behind the arc. Dorr is connecting 42.4 per cent of the time and makes 2.00/game. Turner is connecting 43.5 per cent of the time and makes 2.73/game. FR Brendan Tyler is close behind the two seniors with 33 treys.

HEART BREAK: The Marauders have had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the final minute in four of their last ten games, all losses. In a 71-69 loss at Minnesota Duluth, the Marauders lost a 14 point lead in the second half, then missed a three-pointer and had a turnover in the final seconds. Trailing by three in a 67-63 loss to Upper Iowa, the Marauders had the ball with a chance to tie but turned the ball over with less than 10 seconds in the game... In a 49-48 loss at Minot State, the Marauders had two shots in the final minute to take the lead but couldn't connect... Down by three, the Marauders had the ball with a chance to tie but a turnover with 15 seconds left sealed U-Mary's fate in a 60-54 loss at Wayne State.

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 18 games against NSIC opposition the Marauders are averaging just 15.1 turnovers per game.