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THIS WEEKEND
The 2013-14 regular season comes to a close this weekend with a pair of border battles for the University of Mary men's basketball team (7-18 overall / 5-15 Northern Sun). The Marauders visit Northern State University (16-10 / 11-9) on Friday, February 21. Tip off at Wachs Arena with the Wolves is 8 PM. The Marauders final scheduled game is at Minnesota State University Moorhead (17-7 / 13-7) on Saturday, February 22. The Marauders and Dragons go to battle at 6 PM in the Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.

ON THE LINE
The last weekend of the regular season, virtually all NSIC games this weekend are about improving or maintaining playoff seeding... As long as U-Mary maintains their one game edge on Minot State the Marauders will be the 6th seed out of the NSIC North Division. Should the two North Dakota teams tie, the Marauders will slip to the seventh seed... Jalen Jaspers is 23 points from reaching 900 in his career. The senior guard would be the 24th player in U-Mary history to reach that level and the first since Anthony Moody in 2011... Marc Musungayi passed the 600 career point level last weekend.  

PLAYOFFS ON DECK
The opening round of the Northern Sun playoffs is set for Wednesday, February 26. The only thing the Marauders know for sure is that they will be on the road against one of the top three teams in the NSIC South Division. The top four finishers in both the North and South divisions will host teams from the other division (i.e. #1 North hosts #8 South, #4 South hosts #5 North). The Marauders will be seeded either sixth or seventh in the North. Should U-Mary (5-15 in NSIC with two games remaining) remain a game ahead of Minot State (4-16) the Marauders will be the sixth seed and face the #3 seed in the South. Should the Marauders and Beavers tie, MSU owns the tiebreaker due to two wins over U-Mary and would finish sixth. If the Marauders remain sixth, chances are they will play at Southwest Minnesota State. However, if SMSU drops both its games, Augustana, Upper Iowa and Sioux Falls are also in the mix to finish third in the south and be potential opening round foes. Should the Beavers pass the Marauders and U-Mary slips a slot to #7, the squad will head to Minnesota State or Winona State.

HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WOLVES
The Marauders and Wolves have played 30 times with the Wolves holding an 20-10 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. The Wolves have now won the last three meetings.

Last Meeting: Chris Mason scored 22 points but the University of Mary couldn't slow a Northern State attack that shot over 62 per cent in an 83-74 Wolves road win over the Marauders on Dec. 7, 2013. U-Mary held an edge in rebounding (36-25) and second chance points (21-9) and shot 49.2 per cent. Mason hit three treys and hauled down eight rebounds. Marc Musungayi, Damonta Henry and Devan Douglas all scored 12 points. Jalen Jaspers added eight points and nine rebounds. Trent Zomer made 6-of-8 shots and scored 16 points to lead the Wolves. Seth Bachand had 15 points and Tydan Storrusten 14.

HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. DRAGONS
In the all-time series between U-Mary and MSU Moorhead, the two teams are tied 11-11. Since joining the NCAA and NSIC, U-Mary is 6-9 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, the first of five straight wins that concluded with a 72-51 win over 19th ranked MSUM on Jan. 7, 2012, at the MAC. At present the Dragons have spun together four straight wins.

Last meeting: Five Marauders scored in double figures but the Dragons captured an 83-73 road win on Dec. 6, 2013, behind advantages at the free throw line and on turnovers. The Marauders held an edge in shooting (47.1% to 44.7%) and in field goals made (24 to 21) but the Dragons held the advantage in free throw (33-of-42 to 20-of-25) and had a 24-16 edge in points off turnovers. Chris Mason led the Marauders with 17 points and eight rebounds. Damonta Henry posted 16 points, Devan Douglas 12 and Jalen Jaspers and Marc Musungayi both had 11. Tyler Vaughn was 6-of-7 behind the arc and led MSUM with 21 points. Jordan Riewer made all ten free throw attempts and scored 19 points.

THE OPPONENT: Northern State University Wolves
Coming off a 20-11 season a year ago, the 2014 Northern State University squad isn't far behind with a 16-10 mark entering the final weekend of the season. After losing four straight home games, the Wolves rebounded with road wins last weekend at Wayne State College and Augustana. Northern State is guaranteed a first round home game and can finish anywhere from second through fourth in the NSIC North. In the middle of the pack in scoring (9th at 76.9 PPG) and 6th in points allowed (73.8 PPG), NSU is fifth in field goal percentage (48.6) and field goal defense (44.3). The Wolves are 15th in free throw shooting percentage (.682), just ahead of the Marauders. Five Wolves average at least 9.0 PPG. Seth Bachand leads NSU in scoring (11.5), rebounding (5.6) and field goal percentage (.619). Tydan Storrusten checks in at 11.1 PPG and Skye Warwick averages 11.0 PPG. Warwick also leads NSU with 75 treys.

THE OPPONENT: MSU Moorhead Dragons
One of the top teams in the league, MSU Moorhead is tied for fourth overall and second in the NSIC North with a 17-7 record overall and 13-7 in conference action. Two games back of North division-leading Bemidji State, tied with St. Cloud State and two games ahead of Northern State, the Dragons look like they will be seeded second but could finish anywhere from first to fourth. The Dragons feature a high powered offense, averaging 86.0 PPG, which is second in the NSIC. MSUM outscores its opponents by 11.1 PPG and has a 7.2 rebound per game advantage. Able to score from a distance, MSUM averages 8.25 treys per game, 5th in the league. Especially strong at home, the Dragons are 11-2 this season at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse. Four different players average double digits in points, led by Tarell Clark's 12.3 PPG. Shooting a team-high 54.1 per cent, Clark also leads the squad in rebounding (8.5 RPG) and blocks (30) and is second in assist (2.0/game). Urbane Bingham chips in 11.4 PPG, followed closely by Jordan Riewer (11.1) and Tyler Vaughn (10.8).

LAST TIME OUT
The University of Mary said goodbye to its three seniors - Marc Musungayi, Jalen Jaspers and Mike Johnson - with one big win and an overtime loss during the final home weekend of the season. Behind a dominant defensive effort and a relentless attack the Marauders opened with a 74-65 win over Southwest Minnesota State. It was just the second time U-Mary has beaten SMSU in 11 games. The Marauders made 10-of-12 free throws in the final 72 seconds to hold onto the win while the Mustangs made just one of their final six shots. U-Mary shot 48.8 per cent for the game and went 23-of-38 at the free throw line. One of the top shooting teams in the NSIC, the Mustangs made just 39.3 per cent of their field goal attempts and was 9-of-12 at the line. Chris Mason led U-Mary with 18 points and Damonta Henry had 14. Germain Decoste added nine points and eight rebounds. Former Marauders player Shaun Condon hit five treys and led SMSU with 23 points... The Marauders used two three-pointers in the final 38 seconds of regulation to force overtime but offensive struggles in the extra session allowed the University of Sioux Falls to escape with a 79-71 win. USF scored all 12 of its overtime points at the free throw line while U-Mary was 1-of-9 from the floor and 2-for-6 at the free throw line. Henry hit a long three-pointer with six seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. Marc Musungayi led the Marauders with 16 points and fellow senior Jalen Jaspers added 13. Mason added 11 points and Bryan Jefferson scored a career-high 11 points. Mahlon Jones led USF with 16 points. The Cougars won the game at the line, making 31-of-36 free throws. The Marauders finished 16-of-30 at the line.

DEEEE-FENSE
The University of Mary posted two of its best defensive games last weekend. Four times this season U-Mary had held a team to a shooting percentage under 40 per cent, including both games last weekend. The Marauders limited Southwest Minnesota State to a .393 shooting percentage, one of the five lowest marks of the year for a Mustangs team that usually shoots over 49 percent, third best in the league. The following night U-Mary held Sioux Falls to a shooting mark of 35.6 per cent, the best defensive mark this season for the Marauders.

FREE THROW THOUGHTS
The Marauders went to the line 68 times last weekend against SMSU (23-of-38) and Sioux Falls (16-of-30), making 39. The total effort in consecutive games is a season high, the previous best was 58... The biggest free throw disparity of the year came against the Mustangs. The Marauders were +26 in the game as the Mustangs went to the line just 12 times... U-Mary has attempted more free throws than its opponents just four times this season and the Marauders have won three times (vs. South Dakota Mines, vs. Minnesota Duluth, vs., Southwest Minnesota State). The lone loss was at Bemidji State. In the one game where both teams attempted the same amount U-Mary also came away with the win (at Minnesota Crookston).

WORKING OVERTIME
The Marauders have played four overtime games this season, more than any other team in the Northern Sun. U-Mary is 1-3 in those contests, defeating St. Cloud State and losing to Minot State, Augustana and Sioux Falls. Only the MSU game was on the road. SCSU and MSU both have played three overtime contests, the second most in the league.

MUSUNGAYI ON THE MARCH
Marauders senior center Marc Musungayi has been impressive over the last ten games, which has included five U-Mary wins. The native of Hamilton, Ontario, is averaging 17.0 points per game and 5.6 rebounds while making 53.4 per cent of his field goal attempts (62-of-116) and 82.1 per cent of his free throws (46-of-56). Included in his recent run is a career-high 33 points against St. Cloud State and a 27 point outburst against Bemidji State.

27
During a stretch from the second half of the Wayne State College game until the first half of the Bemidji State game, senior forward  Marc Musungayi made 27 straight free throws.

613
Marc Musungayi scored his 600th career point against the University of Sioux Falls and now sits at 613.

JASPERS HITS MILESTONES OF 877 POINTS, 107 GAMES
Senior guard Jalen Jaspers hit two personal milestones in the Marauders home game against Bemidji State. Jaspers played in his 100th game that night and also scored his 800th career point. Jaspers, with 107 games played, is the fourth U-Mary player to play 100 games during the school's NCAA era (2006-07 season onward). The only others are Eric Erdmann (116), Jordan Wilhelm (112) and Danny Sandvig (110). Now with 877 points, the Minneapolis, Minn., native is one of five Marauders to reach 800 career points in the NCAA era: Erdmann (1,642), Wilhelm (1,129), Anthony Moody (1,126) and Geoff West (801).


HEROIC HENRY TIMES TWO
Freshman Damonta Henry owns probably the two most iconic shots for the Marauders this season, last second connections at home to force overtime against St. Cloud State and Sioux Falls. 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. Trailing by three against Sioux Falls, Henry hit a long trey with six seconds remaining in the game to force the extra session in what became a 79-71 loss. Henry has posted double figure point totals in ten games as a freshman. His biggest night of the season was 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 in the game. The team leader with 34 three pointers, Henry averages 8.5 points per game, fourth best total on the Marauders. At the free throw line Henry is 32-of-41.

DECOSTE ON THE DRIVE
Germain Decoste continues to make big strides in recent weeks. The junior forward pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds in the Marauders 67-62 win at Minnesota Crookston and added eight points in the game. The following night he tied his career-high with 12 points at Bemidji State. He also had six rebounds in the game. Decoste has started the last 14 games for the Marauders and 15 this season, averaging 5.6 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 58.6 per cent from the field. Over the last 11 games Decoste leads the team in rebounding (5.8) and field goal percentage (.633) and is fourth on the team in scoring (8.3).
 
THE FRESHMEN
Three different freshmen have started games this season for the Marauders. Guard Damonta Henry, fourth on the team in scoring at 8.5 points per game, has started seven times. Isaac Lindquist has four starts in the post and Luke Scott has one at guard.

MOVING UP
Freshman forward Bryan Jefferson set a career-high with 11 points against Sioux Falls. The Aurora, Ill., native played a career-high 25 minutes and had six rebounds.

MUSUNGAYI MAKES THE MARK
Senior center Marc Musungayi ranks among Northern Sun leaders in several categories. For the season Musungayi is 19th in the NSIC in scoring (13.2 PPG), 18th in rebounding (5.6 RPG) and 12th in blocks (1.0 BPG).

MAKING SHOTS
Jalen Jaspers is among the leaders of the Northern Sun leaders in field goal percentage. Senior guard Jalen Jaspers is 11th (.543) in the NSIC and senior forward Marc Musungayi is 14th at .538.

FIVE BY EIGHT
Five Marauders are averaging at least 8.0 points per game. Marc Musingayi leads the team at 13.2 points per game, followed by Jalen Jaspers at 10.6, Chirs Mason at 9.0, Damonta Henry at 8.5 and Devan Douglas at 8.0.

DOUBLE DIGIT THREAT
Nine different Marauders have reached double figures in a game this season: Marc Musungayi (17 times), Devan Douglas (10), Chris Mason (11), Damonta Henry (10), Jalen Jaspers (11), Brandon Tyler (3), Germain Decoste (5), Marquealis Edwards (2), Mike Johnson (1) and Bryan Jefferson (1).

TURN UP THE HEAT
The Marauders are averaging 5.00 steals per game. U-Mary was next to last in the NCAA a year ago with 3.3 steals/game. Chris leads the Marauders with 20 steals.