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THIS WEEKEND
The longest homestand of the season continues for the University of Mary men's basketball team when the Marauders (4-13 overall / 2-10 Northern Sun)host the Bemidji State University Beavers (12-4 / 9-3) and the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (4-12 / 1-11) on Alumni Weekend at the McDowell Activity Center. The Marauders first face the NSIC North-leading Beavers on Friday, Jan. 24, at 8 PM. The four-game U-Mary homestand concludes against the Golden Eagles on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 6 PM.  
 
ON THE LINE
For the third straight weekend the Marauders open against an NSIC divisional leader. Two weeks ago it was Winona State. Last week was St. Cloud State University. This week it is Bemidji State... After sweeping last week, the Marauders have four wins this season, matching the squad's total from last season... The Marauders snapped two 13 game losing streaks - overall and in the NSIC - with the win over SCSU... U-Mary welcomes back its basketball alumni this weekend... The Marauders current four-game home stand is the team's longest of the season.

WAY UP NORTH
There are eight teams in the NSIC North Division. The Marauders have already played three teams twice - Minot State, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State - before facing Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston once. The Marauders now play the Beavers and the Golden Eagles twice each over the next 15 days.

HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. BEAVERS
U-Mary leads the series with BSU 9-6. 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. The Beavers have won four straight.

Last Meeting: On a night when both teams shot under 35 per cent from the floor, visiting Bemidji State nudged U-Mary 63-56 on February 16, 2013. The Beavers won the game at the free throw line, making 22-of-27 foul shots while the Marauders were perfect in its measly four attempts. The Marauders pulled within 46-42 in the second half but the Beavers went 13-of-16 at the line in the final seven minutes of the game to hold on for the win. Josh Turner led U-Mary with 16 points. He also had seven rebounds. Marc Musungayi had 10 points and nine rebounds and Blake Maslonkowski added 10 points. Maxie Rosenbloom led BSU with 12 points and Mason Walter had nine points and 10 rebounds.

HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. GOLDEN EAGLES
Since joining the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season, the Marauders are 11-3 against the Golden Eagles. U-Mary is 6-1 at home and 5-2 at UMC.

Last meeting: U-Mary jumped out to an early lead and rolled past visiting Minnesota Crookston 77-63 on February 15, 2013, snapping a 13-game losing streak. Josh Turner scored 15 straight points on treys for U-Mary and the Marauders hurried to a 20-10 lead. The Marauders shot a season-high 59.1 per cent from the floor and was 14-of-27 on three-point attempts. Turner led all players with 20 points and nine rebounds. Brandon Tyler added 17 points and Jalen Jaspers dropped 16 points and dished five assists. Ashton Harrell led UMC with 16 points and Tim Lubke had 14.

THE OPPONENT: Bemidji State University Beavers
One of the most surprising teams in the Northern Sun, Bemidji State University leads the NSIC North Division and is third overall in head coach Jeff Boschee's second season. The preseason coaches poll predicted 12th overall and 6th in the North. One of the top offensive teams in the league, the Beavers have won five straight games and three different players - Brock Lutes, Jake Schalow and Maxie Rosenbloom - have earned NSIC Player of the Week honors. BSU is third in the NSIC in scoring - 83.6 points per game - and is fifth in scoring defense, allowing just 70.4 points per game. BSU leads the NSIC in free throw percentage (.761), field goal percentage (.512), three point shooting percentage (.424) and steals (8.94). A 6-4 guard, Lutes leads BSU and is second in the NSIC in scoring (19.2 PPG). Forward Zach Noreen averages 17.1 PPG and Rosenbloom averages 11.8 PPG and 9.3 rebounds/game. Schalow is the fourth player in double digits for scoring, averaging 13.6 PPG.    

THE OPPONENT: University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
In the midst of a 10-game losing streak, the Golden Eagles are struggling offensively and defensively. Last in the Northern Sun overall and in the North division, Minnesota Crookston is last in the league in scoring (64.8 PPG) and is allowing the second most points (80.9 PPG). UMC is last in scoring margin at a -16.2 points per game, 9.4 points worse than the next squad. Ashton Harrell, who leads UMC in scoring with 15.3 PPG, hasn't played in the last six games. Brandon Burns is the only other UMC player in double figures at 10.8 PPG. Tyler West is the leading rebounder at 5.8.  

LAST TIME OUT
Marc Musungayi scored 33 points and made all 15 free throw attempts in an 88-83 double overtime win over NSIC North-leading St. Cloud State for the Marauders first NSIC win of the season. The Marauders overcame a six point deficit with 34 seconds left in regulation. Freshman Damonta Henry forced overtime when he hit a runner in the lane with 1.3 seconds left. Both teams had chances to win in overtime but Musungayi would seal the Marauders win by making 11 free throws in the two overtimes. Overall U-Mary hit 29-of-33 free throws. Musungayi was 9-of-16 from the field and had nine rebounds and three assists. Germain Decoste and Chris Mason both scored 12 points and Henry had 10. Chris Levondoski had 20 for SCSU... U-Mary posted a weekend sweep with an 83-67 win over Minnesota Duluth. Seniors Marc Musungayi, Jalen Jaspers and Mike Johnson combined to score 43 points while making over 70 per cent of their shots. The lead changed hands 28 times with nine ties before the Marauders finished the game on a 21-4 run. Jaspers led UM with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Musungayi was 6-of-10 from the field and made all five free throws for 17 points. Johnson hit both trey attempts and all three shots for eight points. Damonta Henry added 14 points and Chris Mason had nine points and nine rebounds. Jordan Reetz posted 22 points for the Bulldogs.  

MIDCO SPORTS NET REPLAY
Midco Sports Net will replay the University of Mary men's basketball 83-67 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth as the HD Tape Delayed Game of the Week on Wednesday, January 29, at 9 PM.

Alumni Weekend / 3-ON-3 Tourney
This is U-Mary men's and women's basketball Alumni Weekend (Jan. 24-25). Instead of holding an alumni game, the Marauders will host a 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday, Jan. 25, to benefit former players Nate and Karie Welstad, whose newborn son, Karson, is facing medical complications. For more information or to register a team go to www.goumary.com/3on3... Returning alumni will be recognized during Saturday's games against Minnesota Crookston.

PLAYING WITH THE LEAD
After playing with second half leads but unable to come away with a win three times in a span of four games, the Marauders learned some lessons and captured two in a row last weekend. Playing relentlessly on offense and defense, the Marauders overcame a six-point deficit in the final 34 seconds to defeat St. Cloud State in double overtime and outscored Minnesota Duluth 21-4 to close out the win over the Bulldogs.
MUSUNGAYI NAMED NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
A career scoring outburst combined with clutch play propelled University of Mary senior Marc Musungayi to Northern Sun Men's Basketball Player of the Week honors. Musungayi averaged 25 points per game and made all 20 free throws he attempted in the two games to lead the Marauders to a weekend series sweep for the first time in nearly three years... The Hamilton, Ontario, native scored a career-high 33 points in an 88-83 double overtime win over conference-leading St. Cloud State University. He connected on all 15 free throw attempts in the game – including 11 straight in the overtime sessions – and was 9-of-16 from the field. Musungayi also had nine rebounds and three steals. His 15 free throws is the most by a U-Mary player during the school's NCAA era (2006-07 and on) and the 33 points is tops since All-American Anthony Moody scored 42 at SCSU on Feb. 19, 2011... The senior forward concluded the weekend with 17 points in the Marauders 83-67 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth. Musungayi made all five free throws and made 6-of-10 field goal attempts. He also had six rebounds and three assists... For the weekend Musungayi averaged 25 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 57.7 per cent from the field while hitting all 20 free throw attempts... He is the first U-Mary player to earn NSIC men's basketball weekly honors since Moody on Feb. 21, 2011.

26 AND COUNTING
Dating back to the second half of the Wayne State College game, Marc Musungayi has hit 26 straight free throws. After missing his first attempt at the line in the second half, the senior forward made his next four against the Wildcats. He then made two against Winona State, 15 against St. Cloud State and all five in the Bulldogs game.   

BRING OUT THE BROOMS
With weekend wins over St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, the Marauders won both weekend Northern Sun contests for the first time since defeating Concordia University – St. Paul and SCSU on the road on Feb. 18-19, 2011. The last home weekend sweep at the McDowell Activity Center was over Wayne State College and Augustana on Feb. 11-12, 2011.
 
MAC ATTACK
The U-Mary women's basketball team also swept their weekend series over SCSU and UMD, providing Marauders fans four weekend wins at the McDowell Activity Center for the first time since the men and the women both defeated Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State University on Dec. 17-18, 2010.

FREE THROW TURNAROUND
For the first time since the opening game of the season, the Marauders made more free throws than the opposing team in wins over both St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. U-Mary attempted more free throws in the win over UMD, also the first time since the opener. The Marauders were 29-of-33 against SCSU while the Huskies were 24-of-37. U-Mary was 21-of-25 against UMD while the Bulldogs were 12-of-17.

FREE THROW TURNAROUND PART 2
The Marauders have struggled at the free throw line all season until last week when U-Mary was a combined 50-of-58 in wins over SCSU and UMD. Only five times in the first 15 games did the Marauders make 70 per cent or better of their free throw attempts in a game before hitting a combined 86.2 per cent last weekend.

PLAY OF THE DAY
The only points of the weekend for freshman center Isaac Lindquist were timely. In a close game with Minnesota Duluth, Lindquist was fouled on a made shot and converted the free throw for a three point play with 8:19 left in the contest. That started a 21-4 run for the Marauders in the 83-67 win.  

THE FRESHMEN
Three different freshmen have started games this season for the Marauders. Guard Damonta Henry, third on the team in scoring at 9.4 points per game, has started seven times. Isaac Lindquist has four straight starts in the post and Luke Scott has one at guard.

HEROIC HENRY
Freshman Damonta Henry made the biggest shot of the season for the Marauders. With time running out and U-Mary down by two, Henry hit a runner in the lane with 1.3 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in what became an 87-83 double overtime win over St. Cloud State. After a recent scoring slump, the Chicago native posted 10 points against SCSU and 14 against UMD last weekend. He has now reached double figures in nine of his last 15 games. He posted his biggest night of the season with a 25 point outburst in an overtime loss to Augustana. Henry knocked down five treys in seven attempts and tied his career-high with three assists. The team leader with 27 three pointers, Henry averages 9.4 points per game, third best total on the Marauders. At the free throw line Henry is 28-of-34.

MUSUNGAYI MAKES THE MARK
Senior center Marc Musungayi ranks among Northern Sun leaders in several categories. He is 13th in blocked shots (1.12 blocks/game), 15th in field goal percentage (.526), 16th in total rebounds (5.9 rebounds/game), and 22nd in scoring (12.4 PPG).

MAKING SHOTS
Three Marauders are among the Northern Sun leaders in field goal percentage. After making 28 of his last 38 shot attempts, senior guard Jalen Jaspers is connecting on 57.5 per cent of his field goal attempts, sixth in the NSIC. Junior guard Devan Douglas is shooting 52.8 per cent from the floor, 12th in the conference. Senior forward Marc Musungayi is 15th with a 52.6 shooting percentage.

JASPERS APPROACHING MILESTONE MARKS
Senior guard Jalen Jaspers is closing in on a couple milestones. The next game he plays will be the 100th of his Marauders career. That will be the fourth most by a U-Mary player during the school's NCAA era (2006-07 season forward). The only others are Eric Erdmann (116), Jordan Wilhelm (112) and Danny Sandvig (110). The Minneapolis, Minn., native also is sitting at 790 points. Just four players have hit 800 career points in the NCAA era: Erdman (1,642), Wilhelm (1,129), Anthony Moody (1,126) and Geoff West (801).

FIVE BY EIGHT
Five Marauders are averaging at least 8.8 points per game. Marc Musingayi leads the team at 12.4 points per game, followed by Jalen Jaspers at 10.5, Devan Douglas at 9.2, Damonta Henry at 9.4 and Chris Mason at 8.8.

DOUBLE DIGIT THREAT
Eight different Marauders have reached double figures in a game this season: Marc Musungayi (11 times), Devan Douglas (9), Chris Mason (7), Damonta Henry (9), Jalen Jaspers (7), Brandon Tyler (3), Germain Decoste (3) and Marquealis Edwards (2).

TURN UP THE HEAT
The Marauders are averaging 4.9 steals per game. U-Mary was next to last in the NCAA a year ago with 3.3 steals/game. Devan Douglas leads the Marauders with 17 steals.

GET OUTTA HERE!
U-Mary averaged just 2.0 blocks a game last season, 14th out of 16 teams in the NSIC. This year the Marauders are rejecting 3.0 blocks per game, eighth in the league. Marc Musungayi leads the team with 19 blocks, which is 13th in the NSIC.