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THIS WEEK: The 2012-13 regular season concludes this weekend when the University of Mary men's basketball team travels to face two Northern Sun North Division foes. The Marauders will play the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons on Friday, February 22, 8 PM at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. U-Mary concludes the weekend against the Northern State University Wolves on Saturday, February 23. Tip off is 7 PM at the Aberdeen Civic Arena.

LOCATION CHANGE FOR MARAUDERS AT NSU: Due to conflicts with Wachs Arena, the home of Northern State University basketball, the Wolves will host the Marauders at the Aberdeen Civic Arena on Saturday, February 23. Tickets can be purchased during normal business hours in NSU's Barnett Center through Feb. 21 in the main office area. Tickets for both the men's and women's games are $15 for general public, $12 for senior citizens and $7 for grades K-12. Only 2,500 tickets are available for purchase. NSU officials expect the Civic Arena to be at capacity both nights and encourage the public to purchase tickets early through the pre-sale. A small number of tickets will be available at the door. Once at capacity (working with the fire marshal), fans will not be admitted to the Civic Arena. If you have ticket questions, please contact Susan at the NSU Athletics Office: 605-626-3336.

THE RECORDS: The Marauders are 4-20 overall and 3-17 in the NSIC, 7th in the NSIC North Division and 15th overall in the conference standings... The Dragons are 16-10 overall and 10-10 in the NSIC (4th in the NSIC North and 9th overall)... The Wolves are 17-10 overall and 12-8 in the NSIC (2nd in the NSIC North, tied for 6th overall in the NSIC).

LAST WEEK: The Marauders split two home contests, defeating the University of Minnesota, Crookston 77-63 before dropping a 63-56 decision to Bemidji State University... The Dragons lost two NSIC North games on the road, 75-67 at St. Cloud State University and 74-66 at the University of Minnesota Duluth... Wolves lost twice on the road, 72-65 at the University of Minnesota Duluth and 78-62 at St. Cloud State.

RECENT HISTORY / LAST MEETING:
U-Mary vs. MSU Moorhead:  In the all-time series between U-Mary and MSU Moorhead, the Marauders hold an 11-9 edge. Since joining the NCAA and NSIC, U-Mary is 6-7 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.

Last Meeting vs. MSUM: Marc Musungayi was spectacular but the Marauders were unable to keep pace in an 82-70 home loss to MSU Moorhead on 12.8.12. Musungayi made all 11 field goal attempts and all four free throws on his way to a 25 point night. He also had 12 rebounds. Musungayi was the first U-Mary player to make all of his shots in a game (minimum eight attemps) since beginning NCAA play in 2006-07. The Dragons jumped out to a 10-2 lead and the Marauders were no closer than five points in the second half. Jalen Jaspers added 12 points for U-Mary and Alex Dorr had 11. Alex Novak led the Dragons with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Taylor Filipek and Jordan Riewer both scored 19 points.

U-Mary vs. Northern State University: The Marauders and Wolves have played 28 times with the Wolves holding a 18-10 advantage. NSU had a nine-game winning streak against the Marauders snapped during the 2010-11 season, leading to a U-Mary four-game win streak.

Last Meeting vs NSU: Leading by 12 points at intermission the Marauders were unable to hold the Wolves at bay in an 81-71 U-Mary home loss to Northern State on 12.7.12. The Wolves shot over 60 per cent after intermission to just 40 per cent for the Marauders to race past U-Mary. Josh Turner led the Marauders with 19 points, Alex Dorr had 14 points and eight rebounds and Jalen Jaspers chipped in 12. Collin Pryor paced the Wolves with 20 points and ten rebounds and Geoffrey Firmin scored 17. The loss snapped a four-game winning streak by the Marauders over the Wolves.

SCOUTING REPORT
MSU Moorhead: After placing fourth in the NSIC last season, taking second in the conference tournament and winning an opening round game at the NCAA regional tournament, MSU Moorhead jumped out to a fast start this season, winning 13 of their first 14 games. The Dragons have had limited success recently, losing three straight and seven of their last ten games. Winners in nine of 12 at home, 2-time NSIC player of the Week Anthony Tucker leads the Dragons with 19.5 points per game. One of the top defenders in the conference, center Alex Novak leads the NSIC in rebounds (9.1/game) and averages 13.0 points and 1.6 blocks while shooting 58.1 per cent from the floor. Jordan Riewer adds 11.0 PPG.  

Northern State University is maintaining a tenuous hold on second place in the NSIC North, despite losing four straight games and five of six overall. Should the Wolves win at least one game this weekend they will finish second in the North and be in position to host the opening and quarterfinal rounds of the conference tournament. Two-time NSIC Player of the Week Collin Pryor leads the Wolves with 16.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG. Dustin Tetzlaff averages 11.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG while shooting 55.3 per cent from the floor. NSU allows just 65.9 points per game, fifth in the NSIC. Teams shoot just 42.5 per cent against the Wolves defense, second in the conference. NSU is third in the league in free throw attempts but last in their conversion rate (67.6%).

PLAYOFF SCENARIO: The Marauders are locked into seventh place in the NSIC North Division. This means U-Mary will play at the second place team in the NSIC South in the first round of the 2012-13 NSIC / Sanford Health Basketball Tournament on February 27. Currently Winona State University and Minnesota State University, Mankato are tied for first in the South with Augustana two games behind, meaning U-Mary will probably face either WSU or MSU. The top team in the NSIC North hosts the 8th place team from the NSIC South as the complete first round is cross-bracketed. The top four teams in the North and the top four seeds in the South all host first round games. The quarterfinals are also held on home sites and the semifinals and championship game will be held March 8-9 at Rochester, MN.

LAST TIME OUT: In the last home weekend of the season, the University of Mary posted its best shooting night of the season one evening before following up with one of its worst efforts the next. The Marauders shot over 59 per cent in a 77-63 win over the University of Minnesota, Crookston, including a 12-of-19 effort behind the three point arc in the first half. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak for the Marauders. Josh Turner scored 15 straight points in the first half for U-Mary as the Marauders jumped out to a 17-10 lead. Turner led the Marauders with 20 points and was 6-for-10 on three point attempts. He also had nine rebounds. Jalen Jaspers scored 10 straight points for U-Mary down the stretch on his way to 16 points. Freshman Brandon Tyler added five treys and scored 17 points. Ashton Harrell led UMC with 16 points and Tim Lubke added 15... The next night U-Mary shot just 34.4 per cent in a 63-56 loss to Bemidji State University. The Beavers also hit just 34 per cent of their shots but went 22-of-27 on free throws while the Marauders were 4-for-4. Turner led the Marauders with 16 points. Marc Musungayi and Blake Maslonkowski each added 10 points. Maxie Rosenbloom led BSU with 12 points. Lance Rongstad and Dermaine Crockrell each had 11.

SENIOR SALUTE: U-Mary seniors Alex Dorr and Josh Turner played their last games at the McDowell Activity Center last weekend. Here are comments from Marauders head coach Jevin Budde on each of them:

Coach Budde comments on Dorr: “It has been a joy to watch Alex's game develop during his three years at U-Mary. His work ethic goes unmatched and he sets a great example for the rest of the team. As a sophomore Alex was very instrumental in our NCAA Tournament run and he has developed into one of the best all-around forwards in the league. Alex is an even better young man than he is a player and that is why it is going to be so hard to see him go.”

Coach Budde comments on Turner: “Josh has not only been one of the best shooters in the NSIC the last two years but will also finish his career near the top of the U-Mary record books when he comes to shooting the three. Josh always brings great energy and leadership to practice He is a stand up young man that is going to be greatly missed.”

#7: As Josh Turner's career winds down, the senior guard is currently seventh in career three pointers made with 134. Rusty Gillette owns the U-Mary record for three-pointers made in a career with 195, followed by Jordan Wilhelm (193), Brian Marso (175), Doug Wick (167), Anish Sharda (145) and Delmar Clown (140).

#8: With at least three games left to play (two regular season, at least one NSIC tournament game) Josh Turner is tied for eighth in three pointers made in a single season. The senior guard has 70 made treys this season. Dave Alverson knocked down 104 to set the team record in 1986-87. Brian Marso (93, 82) owns the next two marks, followed by Darrell Oswald (81), Delmar Clown (80), Anish Sharda (75), Chuck Archambault (72), Sharda and Turner (70).

TURN(ER) UP THE HEAT: During a recent five game stretch, Josh Turner connected on 30-of-46 three point attempts. That run has pushed Turner to 16th in the nation in three point shooting percentage (43.2). The senior guard is 70-for-162 on treys this season.

HOT SHOT: Over the last six games, Josh Turner is averaging 21.5 points and 5.7 three pointers per game while shooting 57 per cent (34-for-60) behind the arc. Four times in six contests he scored 20 or more points, including a career-high 30 at Southwest Minnesota State.

TURNER'S TOP HITS: One of the nation's top three-point shooters, Josh Turner leads the Northern Sun and is ranks 25th in the NCAA in three-pointers made per game with 2.92. He is 16th in the NCAA in three point shooting percentage (43.2).

ONE LAST HURRAH: Senior forward Alex Dorr made one last start on Senior Day against Bemidji State. A broken finger ended Dorr's season after the St. Cloud State game on 1.26.13. The Marauders sent Dorr out for the tip and pulled him after the first whistle, allowing Marauders fans the opportunity to salute the Norwalk, IA, native one last time as he left the court.

RECORD PERFORMANCE: Josh Turner set a school mark for 3-point shooting percentage when he drained 8-of-10 three pointers at Southwest Minnesota State on February 8, 2013. His 80 per cent mark exceeded the 75 per cent effort by 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).  

BROKEN DORR: A broken finger has cost U-Mary senior forward Alex Dorr the final eight games of his senior season. The Marauders leading scorer and rebounder most of the season, Dorr ranks among the leading players in the Northern Sun this season. Here is where he ranks in several categories: Rebounding: Averaging 7.9 rebounds per game, Dorr is second in the NSIC and 79th in the NCAA
Scoring: Dorr is 20th in the NSIC in scoring at 12.8 points per game.
Double Doubles: Dorr is 86th 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. 1.89 made treys per game, Dorr is 10th in the NSIC and 235th in the NCAA.
Three-point shooting percentage: Dorr is 9th 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.

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 646 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 548 points.  

DOWNTOWN: The Marauders are tops in the Northern Sun in three point shooting. U-Mary leads the NSIC in threes made / game with 8.5. As a team the Marauders are shooting 38.4 per cent from behind the arc, this in the NSIC.

MAKING HIS PRESENCE FELT: Jr. F Marc Musungayi is making his presence felt in the NSIC this year. The native of Toronto is fifth in the NSIC in field goal percentage (.567), 10th in blocked shots (1.0/game), and 15th in rebounds (5.5/game). He is also averaging 10.1 points/game and making 82.6 (38-of-46) per cent of his free throw attempts.

MAZ: Soph. F Blake Maslonkowski continues to provide punch off the bench. Last weekend he averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 21 minutes/game while making 8-of-9 shots. For the year Maslonkowski is converting 62.9 per cent of his shots.

FRESHMAN FIREPOWER: U-Mary freshmen Brandon Tyler and Kevin Jensen continue to show great promise for the future. Tyler scored five treys and scored 17 points in the home win over UMC. Against Bemidji State, one of the best defensive teams in the NSIC, Jensen scored 17 points and hit five treys.

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