Men's Basketball | 1/30/2015 3:24:00 PM

THIS WEEKEND
The longest home stand of the season for the University of Mary wraps up this weekend when the Marauders host Northern Sun south division foes Augustana and Wayne State College on Jan. 30-31 in the McDowell Activity Center. The Marauders first face the NSIC-leading and 5th ranked Vikings at 8 p.m. on Friday to tip off Military Appreciation Weekend. The four-game Marauders home stand concludes on Saturday against the Wildcats at 4 p.m.

RECORDS
U-Mary is 6-12 overall and 4-10 in the Northern Sun (t-6th NSIC North Division, t-12th overall)
Augustana Vikings are 19-1 overall and 13-1 in the NSIC (t-1st NSIC South, t-1st overall)
Wayne State Wildcats are 4-16 overall and 1-13 in the NSIC (8th NSIC South, 16th overall)

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split a homestand, losing 96-88 to St. Cloud State before rebounding with a 75-71 win over Minnesota Duluth
Augustana swept a home series, defeating Winona State 97-68 and Upper Iowa 92-81
Wayne State split its home series, losing to Upper Iowa 76-64 before beating Winona State 81-79 for the Wildcats first NSIC win of the season

WEEKEND HEADLINES
After Saturday's win vs. Minnesota Duluth, the Marauders are looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season
Despite a slow start to the conference season, the Marauders are just one game out of 10th place overall in he NSIC and one game back of 5th in the NSIC North Division
The Marauders are undefeated on Saturdays in 2015, winning four straight games
The Marauders wrap up a four-game home stand this weekend, the longest of the season for U-Mary
U-Mary is in the midst of playing 6-of-8 games at home
This weekend starts a run of four straight contests against teams from the NSIC South division
Marauders are 20th nationally in fewest turnovers/game (11.2)
Marquealis Edwards ranks in the Northern Sun top 17 in points, rebounds, steals, assists, defensive rebounds and assist/turnover ratio
MILITARY APPRECIATION WEEKEND
To honor and recognize the service and sacrifice of our nation's service members and their families, the University of Mary is designating the men's and women's home basketball games on January 30-31 as Military Appreciation Weekend when Augustana and Wayne State College visit the McDowell Activity Center. The North Dakota National Guard, the sponsor of Military Appreciation Weekend, will distribute 400 tickets to military members and their families. Service members will be honored at Saturday's game and each U-Mary team will have a member of the military as an honory captain.

IT'S A SLAM DUNK, DON'T DRIVE DRUNK
To further raise awareness of the dangers of drunk driving, the University of Mary is participating in the third annual "It's a Slam Dunk, Don't Drive Drunk" initiative this weekend when the Marauders host Augustana and Wayne State College in Northern Sun men's and women's basketball on Jan. 30-31. Started in 2013 by the Northern Sun and its member schools, the campaign commemorates Drake Bigler, the five month old son of Southwest Minnesota State University's Men's Basketball Coach Brad Bigler, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2012. During the Marauders basketball games this weekend, U-Mary Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) members will be collecting signatures from fans pledging not to drive drunk. Pledge stickers and window decals will be handed out to fans that sign the pledge sheet. The institution which collects the most pledges and the institution with the greatest percentage of pledges based on total attendance will each receive a check for $500 that will be donated to Make-A-Wish. Over the past two years, NSIC SAAC members have collected over 20,000 signatures from fans pledging not to drive drunk. The NSIC encourages fans to support this effort and to always drive responsibly.

HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. VIKINGS
U-Mary is 5-9 against Augustana
The series started in 1999-2000 with an 89-64 Vikings win
The first Marauders win was a 68-64 victory on January 18, 2006.
U-Mary's last win was a 90-81 home victory on February 11, 2011. Anthony Moody exploded for 32 points and seven assists for the Marauders and Cody Schilling had 34 points for the Vikings
Augustana has won the last four games, including two straight at the McDowell Activity Center
Last Meeting
Fouled in the act of shooting a 3-pointer, Daniel Jansen made 2-of-3 free throws with 1.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in a 75-68 Augustana win at U-Mary on 1.3.14. Jansen then hit a trey to open overtime and the Vikings led the rest of the session. The Marauders built a 14 point lead in the second half but couldn't hold off the Vikings. Damonta Henry hit 5-of-7 treys and led the Marauders with a career-high 25 points. Marc Musungayi added 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Jensen led all players with 31 points and 11 rebounds. He also had three treys, three steals and three blocks while going 10-of-18 at the free throw line. Casey Schilling had 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WILDCATS
The Wildcats hold an 11-4 series lead over the Marauders
The two teams first met during U-Mary's transition season from NAIA to NCAA play in 2005-06 with the Marauders claiming a 70-65 win
Wayne State followed with six straight wins over U-Mary before the Marauders broke the streak with a 73-62 win at WSC on Dec. 5, 2009
U-Mary's last win was a 61-60 decision at WSC on Feb, 10, 2012, behind 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks by Damon Smith
The Wildcats are 6-1 in Bismarck and 5-3 at home against the Marauders
U-Mary's only home win was a 62-59 win on Feb. 11, 2011. Eric Erdmann and Anthony Moody both scored 14 points in the Marauders.
Last Meeting
In a defensive battle, Wayne State made 21-of-27 free throws and had a 39-29 rebounding edge in a 66-57 win at U-Mary on 1.4.14. The Marauders were 12-of-19 at the line. U-Mary shot 38.5 percent from the floor and WSC finished at 39.2 percent. The Marauders closed within 59-53 in the final minute but the Wildcats preserved their win by making 7-of-8 free throws. Devan Douglas led U-Mary with 11 points. Marc Musungayi posted 10 points and seven rebounds. Adol Aluong led WSC with 16 points and Ryan Rolfzen added 10.

THE OPPONENT: Augustana
The dominant team in the Northern Sun this season along with MSU Moorhead, Augustana has suffered just one loss in 20 games overall and is 13-1 in the NSIC, earning the Vikings a lofty team ranking of 5th in the nation. Augie features the most potent attack in the NSIC, scoring 87.2 points per game. Defensively the Vikings allow just 69.3 PPG, 4th in the league, and are outscoring opponents by 17.8 PPG per game. Dominance on the boards is a big part of their game, hauling down 9.4 more rebounds than their foe each game. Junior center Daniel Jensen, an All-NSIC 1st team selection last year, leads the NSIC in scoring at 20.1 PPG. He is sixth in rebounding at 7.0. All-NSIC junior forward Casey Schilling averages 18.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.8 steals/game, and shoots 57 percent from the floor. Additionally, Alex Richter (15.7 PPG) and Jordan Spencer (11.0) also average double digits.

THE OPPONENT: Wayne State College
After opening the conference season with 13 straight losses, Wayne State broke into the NSIC win column with an 81-79 home victory over Winona State on Saturday. It was the first Wildcats win over the Warriors in ten years and snapped an 18-game losing streak to WSU. Wayne State averages 71.9 points a game (12th-NSIC) while allowing 78.1 (15th-NSIC). The 'Cats shoot 45.4 percent from the field (13th-NSIC), 31.8 percent behind the 3-point line (16th-NSIC) and 69 percent at the free throw line (9th-NSIC). Head coach Brian Dolan, who led Upper Iowa to the NCAA playoffs in 2013, is in his second season at Wayne State. Senior center Patrick Kurth leads the Wildcats in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (5.5). The Sioux City North graduate shoots 66 percent from the field (105-of-159) to rank third in the NSIC and is tied for eighth in the NSIC in blocked shots per game at 1.0. The WIldcats start three freshmen: G Trae VandeBerg (11.1 PPG), F Jordan Cornelius (7.4 PPG) and G Kendall Jacks (7.2 PPG).
 
REWIND
For the fourth straight week, the Marauders gained a weekend split. U-Mary opened a four-game home stand with a 96-88 shootout loss to St. Cloud State. Both teams made half their shots but the Huskies had a 13-8 edge in treys and made 23-of-27 free throws to 8-of-14 by the Marauders. Marquealis Edwards led U-Mary with 22 points. He also had eight rebounds and seven assists. Bryan Jefferson had his second double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Jaycob Velasco hit 7-of-9 shots and scored 17. Scottie Stone led SCSU with 29 points, NSIC Player of the Week Jordan Poydras had 27 and Donnell Cegers added 25... The Marauders picked up their fourth straight win on a Saturday with a 75-71 win over Minnesota Duluth. In a game of huge momentum changes, the Marauders gained and lost a 17 point lead. Leading by one late, U-Mary hit all four free throws in the final two minutes to claim the win. Jaycob Velasco led U-Mary with 24 points in 21 minutes, making 10-of-15 shots. Marquealis Edwards added 14 points and six assists and Germain Decoste had 11 points. All-conference forward Brett Ervin scored a game-high 31 points for UMD and Pierre Newton added 18. The Marauders bench, led by Velasco, scored 40 points while the Bulldogs reserves did not score a single point.
 
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT (FOR WINNING)
The Marauders have won all four of their Saturday games in 2015,  defeating Bemidji State 86-80, Northern State 80-76, Upper Iowa 69-56 and Minnesota Duluth 75-71.  

VELASCO ON FIRE
Jaycob Velasco virtually couldn't miss last weekend, making over 70 percent of his field goal attempts and scoring 41 points in just 35 minutes while leading the Marauders men's basketball team to a home split. The junior forward averaged 20.5 points and 1.5 assists while making 17-of-24 field goals – including 5-of-8 behind the arc - and both free throws. The Sacramento, Calif., native posted 17 points and two rebounds while making 7-of-9 shots from the floor (3-of-4 behind the arc) in just 14 minutes against St. Cloud State. Velasco closed the weekend with a career-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting (2-of-4 behind arc), made both free throws and added three assists in 21 minutes during a 75-71 Marauders win over Minnesota Duluth. The transfer from Cosumnes River CC has reached double figures in four of his last five games and 11 times overall this season and averages 9.9 PPG.

BENCH PLAY
A huge key in the Marauders 75-71 win over Minnesota Duluth was the play of the U-Mary bench. Led by 24 points from Jaycob Velasco, the Marauders reserves skunked the Bulldogs backups 40-0.

MAC ATTACK
The Marauders are in the midst of a four game homestand and a stretch of playing four of six games at the MAC.

STAT STUFFER
Developing into one of the top all-around players in the Northern Sun, junior guard Marquealis Edwards is 17th in the NSIC in scoring (13.6 PPG), 14th in rebounding (5.6 RPG), 5th in assists (4.4 APG), 4th in steals (1.9 SPG) and 11th in assists to turnover ratio (1.5).

REJECTION COLLECTION
In just one-and-a-half seasons, Germain Decoste has cracked the Marauders career leader board in blocked shots (since 1989). The senior forward has 36 career blocks, moving him one past Kurt Schwamp (1998-2000) for ninth. For the season the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native is ninth in the NSIC with 0.9 blocks/game. He had 20 blocks last season in 20 games. The all-time school leader is Marc Hawley (1995-97) with 108... Decoste is also 6th in the NSIC in shooting percentage (59.4) and averages 7.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

CHANGE UP
After rolling with the same starting lineup of Chris Mason, Damonta Henry and Marquealis Edwards on the perimeter and Germain Decoste and Bryan Jefferson on the front line for the first five games of 2015, the Marauders swapped Alex Anderson for Henry in the win at Upper Iowa. It was the first career start for the senior guard, who has now started three straight contests. Henry has responded in force off the bench, scoring 29 points in the three games.  

NEW ROLE
Sophomore forward Bryan Jefferson made his first career start at Minot State and has remained in the lineup ever since. The Aurora, Ill., native has posted double figures in points in 11 of the 16 games he has played. He has led the team in scoring four times and rebounding six while posting two of the team's four double doubles. Jefferson leads the team in rebounding (5.9/game), is second in scoring (10.8 PPG) and second in field goal percentage (.554). In the NSIC Jefferson ranks 3rd in offensive rebounds (2.8/game), 10th in rebounding and 15th in FG%.