SATURDAY
After four non-conference games, the University of Mary now opens Northern Sun play when in-state rival Minot State University visits the McDowell Activity Center on Saturday, Nov. 29. Tip off between the Marauders and Beavers is set for 6 p.m.

RECORDS
The Marauders are 2-2 in non-conference play... The Beavers are 4-1 and have won three straight games.

ORANGE OUT
All Marauders fans are encouraged to wear their orange to the U-Mary vs. Minot State Northern Sun opener on Saturday to Orange Out the McDowell Activity Center.

LIVE COVERAGE
Regular radio coverage of U-Mary men's and women's basketball begins this weekend with the Minot State game. "Voice of the Marauders" Rick Anthony calls the game on Fox Sports 710 (710 AM). If you are outside the signal area, listen online at www.foxsports710.com... Live video through Stretch Internet and live game stats can be viewed online at www.GoUMary.com/coverage.  

HISTORY: Marauders vs. Beavers
In a series dating back to the 1976-77 season, Minot State University holds a slight 33-30 edge over the University of Mary. The Beavers have won eight of the last nine games against the Marauders... MSU has won the last three times it has played in the McDowell Activity Center... The last time the Marauders defeated the Beavers in the MAC was a 79-69 victory on December 10, 2004, behind an 18 point effort by Delmar Clown.

LAST MEETING: Marauders vs. Beavers
U-Mary shot just 36 percent from the field and dropped a 71-49 decision at home to Minot State University. Devan Douglas led the Marauders with 11 points. The Beavers shot 52 percent from the field and led from start to finish and swept the two game season series. Chris East led MSU with 14 points.

ON THE LINE
This is the Northern Sun opener for both teams... U-Mary and Minot State are the lone NCAA Division II teams in the state of North Dakota... This is the only in-state conference rivalry between NCAA schools.

TRAVEL PARTNERS
U-Mary and Minot State are travel partners, facing the same teams each weekend... The two teams conclude their season series in a span of three weeks with the instate rivals facing off again on Dec. 19 in Minot, N.D.

COMMONALITY
The Marauders and the Beavers have played two of the same opponents. The Marauders defeated South Dakota School of Mines & Technology 61-49 and the Beavers captured an 82-76 win over the Hardrockers with both games played in Rapid City, S.D. On their home courts, the Marauders dropped an 81-75 non-conference decision to Dickinson State while the Beavers defeated the Blue Hawks 83-76.

THE OPPONENT: Minot State University Beavers
Returning three starters and six players from last season's team that finished 8-19 overall and 4-18 in the NSIC (15th), the Beavers have won three straight games and are 4-1. A combination of tough defense and balanced scoring has allowed Minot State to get off to a fast start. The Beavers are holding opponents to a 41.5 field goal percentage while connecting on 47.5 percent of their own shots. On the boards MSU is outrebounding its opponents by 17.0 a game. Five Beavers are averaging double digit points per game. Guard Dominique McDonald leads the way at 12.2 PPG. He also leads the Beavers with 20 assists. Thomas Korf is the primary deep threat, hitting 15-of-30 attempts behind the arc and averaging 12.2 PPG. Lamont Prosser is averaging 10.6 PPG, Everett Robinson 10.4 PPG and Winston Williams 10.0. Prosser, Robinson and Williams are all shooting at least 54 percent from the field with at least 6.6 rebounds/game.  

LAST WEEK
While visiting sunny San Diego last week, the Marauders split their last two non-conference games of the season. U-Mary opened its trip with an 81-43 win at Saint Katherine College. All 12 Marauders who played scored in the game. U-Mary led 35-15 at intermission. Damonta Henry led the team with 11 points. Bryan Jefferson and Jaycob Velasco both scored 10 points each and Brenden Mann hit three treys and scored nine points. The Marauders finished 12-of-14 at the line... The western swing ended for U-Mary with a 92-75 loss at Point Loma Nazarene University. The Sea Lions shot 62 per cent from the field, including a 68.2 percent efforts in the second half. After a slow start, the Marauders shot 60 percent in the second half and 52 percent for the game. Bryan Jefferson led the Marauders with 25 points and Damonta Henry scored 23. Jaycob Velasco chipped in 11. Six Sea Lions reached double figures.

WELCOME BACK
Two Marauders made their season debuts last weekend. Slowed by injuries earlier in the year, Bryan Jefferson and Brandon Tyler both took to the court at Saint Katherine and Point Loma.

JEFFERSON RECORDS HIS FIRST DOUBLE DOUBLE
Bryan Jefferson hit the court full tilt last weekend. After missing the first two games of the season with injury, he scored 10 points in his debut at Saint Katherine. The sophomore forward followed with the best game of his career, a double double at Point Loma. He set career-highs with 25 points and 10 rebounds, making 9-of-15 shots from the floor and 7-of-11 at the free throw line. Jefferson also had three assists. His previous highs were 15 points and eight rebounds.

OFF AND ON
The Marauders have either been tremendous at the free throw line or mediocre. U-Mary was 18-of-21 against Dickinson State and 12-of-14 at Saint Katherine, making a combined 30-of-35 in those two games. The Marauders were 14-of-25 at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and 10-of-18 at Point Loma, a combined 24-of-43.

OH HENRY
Damonta Henry is off to a strong start, posting double digit points in each of the first four games. The sophomore guard scored is the only U-Mary players to do so this season. After opening with 13 points against the Hardrockers and 14 against the Blue Hawks, he posted 11 points against the Firebirds and 23 at the Sea Wolves. The native of Chicago, Ill., just missed his career-high of 25 points when he made 10-of-15 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 attempts behind the arc. He also had a season-high three assists. For the year Henry is shooting 54.5 percent from the field.

OH HENRY II
Damonta Henry has yet to miss a free throw, making all 11 free throw attempts this season. He made 79.1 percent of his free throw attempts last season.

SHARING THE LOAD
Seven different Marauders are averaging at least 5.0 points per game.

MR. DO-IT-ALL
Marquealis Edwards does a little of everything for the Marauders. Averaging 10.3 PPG, which is third on the team, the junior guard is second in the NSIC in steals with 2.0 per game, third in assists with 5.7 per game, and is sixth in free throw percentage at .917 (11-of-13). Edwards is second on the team in rebounding (4.7/game).

THREAT FOR THREE
After sitting last season, redshirt freshman Brenden Mann is the Marauders top deep threat early in the season. Through four games he has a team-high eight three-pointers. He hit three treys against both South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Saint Katherine.