Men's Basketball | 11/14/2014 5:08:00 PM

UPCOMING
The University of Mary opens the 2014-15 season against a pair of former DAC-10 foes. The Marauders tip off the new season at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Hardrockers on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8:30 PM CST / 7:30 PM Mountain in Rapid City, S.D. U-Mary then comes home to host the Dickinson State University Blue Hawks on Monday, Nov. 17, at 7 PM in the McDowell Activity Center.

TIME CHANGE
There is a slight time change for the Marauders season opener at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The game is now set for 8:30 PM
CST / 7:30 PM Mountain, 30 minutes later than originally planned.

RECORDS
The Marauders finished last season 7-21 overall and 5-17 in the Northern Sun... Playing an independent schedule in their first season as a full NCAA Division II member, the Hardrockers finished 6-20 overall. SDSMT opens the season with Minot State University on Friday... The Blue Hawks finished 2013-14 with a record of 8-19 overall and 3-12 in the Frontier League. DSU is 1-5 this season prior to the weekend.

LIVE COVERAGE
No home radio coverage is available for the Marauders opener at South Dakota Mines but live stats and online audio and video coverage is expected. Go to the Home of the Marauders, www.GoUMary.com, for links... STATION CHANGE: The Marauders - Blue Hawks will be heard on KFYR 550 AM (not usual home Fox Sports 710 AM) with Rick Anthony, Voice of the Marauders, providing the commentary. Live video and stats will also be available with links at www.GoUMary.com.

RECENT HISTORY - MARAUDERS v. HARDROCKERS
One-time annual foes from the Dakota Athletic Conference from the early to mid 2000s prior to the Marauders move to NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun, U-Mary and South Dakota School of Mines & Technology renewed their rivalry last season in the home opener. The Marauders opened the 2013-14 season with an 81-71 home win over the Hardrockers. The two teams had previously not met since U-Mary defeated SDSMT 85-65 in Rapid City, S.D., on Jan. 28, 2006. That is also the last time the Marauders have played in the Hardrockers gym.  

Last Meeting: A 19-8 run early in the second half led the Marauders to an 81-71 home win over the Hardrockers in the 2013-14 season opener on Nov. 9, 2013. Jalen Jaspers scored a game-high 18 points, one of five Marauders to reach double figures. Marquealis Edwards added 13 points, Devan Douglas and Brandon Tyler 12 apiece and Chris Mason had 10. Marc Musungayi had eight points, six rebounds and five blocks. Michael Dietz, Lance Kilburn and Andrew Rebol all had 14 points for the Hardrockers and Caleb Shockman added 13.  

RECENT HISTORY - MARAUDERS v. BLUE HAWKS
Once annual foes since U-Mary started its basketball program in 1970, the Marauders and Blue Hawks competed against each other in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference and in the Dakota Athletic Conference. However, the Marauders and the Blue Hawks have not played one another in the regular season since U-Mary moved to NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun in 2006.

Last Meeting: The Marauders and the Blue Hawks last played Feb. 18, 2006, a 78-73 road win for U-Mary. The two teams last played at the McDowell Activity Center on Dec. 2, 2005, an 80-59 win for the Marauders.


THE OPPONENT: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Hardrockers
Entering its second season as a full member of NCAA Division II, the Hardrockers will join the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference next season. This year the Hardrockers continue to play an independent schedule. Jason Henry enters his 10th season as head of the SDSMT program and has a record of 125-139. Senior center Andrew Rebol is the leading returning scorer, averaging 8.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last year while shooting 60.6 per cent from the field. Seniors Calvin Thomas and Jordan Dick, both who averaged over five points/game, provide experience in the back court.

THE OPPONENT: Dickinson State University Blue Hawks
A member of the NAIA, the Blue Hawks are transitioning to the North Star conference after completing in the Frontier Conference the last few years. Before the Blue Hawks visits the MAC, DSU will have played seven games. Head coach Justin Wetzel is in his first season at Dickinson State, coming over from Montana State University. Six new players join nine returners, including senior guard Tevin Russell, who averaged 16.1 points/game last year.    

MARAUDERS PICKED 13th IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
After finishing tied for 12th last season, the University of Mary is was picked to finish 13th overall in the 2014-15 Northern Sun Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Marauders are picked 6th in the NSIC North Division. Minnesota State University is the unanimous choice in the coaches' poll to win the NSIC in 2014-15, followed by Augustana, MSU Moorhead, Winona State, St. Cloud State, Northern State, Minnesota Duluth, Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State, Upper Iowa, Bemidji State, Concordia – St. Paul, U-Mary, Minot State, Wayne State and Minnesota Crookston. The NSIC North Division is projected as: MSUM, SCSU, NSU, UMD, BSU, U-Mary, Minot State and UMC. Minnesota State is picked to win the south division, followed by Augie, WSU, USF, SMSU, UIU, CSP and WSC.

MASON IS MARAUDERS NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH
A senior from Phoenix, Ariz.,Chris Mason is a 6-5 wing player who tipped off his collegiate career at Western New Mexico before transferring a year ago to U-Mary from Phoenix College. The team's leading returning scorer, Mason averaged 10.3 points per game while shooting 39.5 per cent from the floor, 38.9 per cent beyond the arc and 72.2 per cent at the free throw line. He also hauled down 4.8 rebounds per game and posted a team-high 21 steals. Mason led the Marauders charge down the stretch, posting double digit point totals in each of the final six games in 2013-14, averaging 19 points per game during that span. He posted a season-high 29 points in the regular season finale at MSU Moorhead. Playing primarily guard at the end of the season, Mason started 18 of 28 games and led the Marauders in scoring seven times and rebounds five.

CLOSERS
U-Mary got off to a slow start last season as the squad worked to integrate nine newcomers into the mix. By the end of the year the team found an identity and finished 5-7 in the final 12 regular season games. Among the seven losses were two overtime contests and another by three points.

EXPERIENCE
The Marauders returns eight players that saw significant action last season and a ninth that who started before an injury ended his season.

SENIORS
Chris Mason is one of three returning players - all seniors - who started at least 13 games last season. Forward Germain Decoste earned 18 starts and averaged 5.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He led the team in field goal percentage (56.6 per cent) and was second in rebounds and blocks (20). Guard Devan Douglas, one of the most athletic players in the league, averaged 8.0 points per game while shooting 52.8 per cent from the floor and 80.6 per cent at the line. A fourth senior, Alex Anderson, provided a deep threat off the bench in limited minutes.
 
JUNIORS
Brandon Tyler is the lone junior who saw significant time last season. A deep threat at guard, Tyler averaged 3.8 points per game. Marquealis Edwards repeats as a junior this season. The starter at point guard to begin the season, Edwards was injured four games into the season and missed the rest of the year.