TUESDAY
In a rare midweek league game, the University of Mary men's basketball team is hosting Minot State University in a Northern Sun contest on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tip off in Round Two of the Marauders-Beavers season series is set for 7:30 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders were swept on the road on Dec. 8-9, falling 85-63 at Wayne State College and 114-81 at Augustana University.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 2-7 overall and 0-5 in Northern Sun play.
 
FINALS WEEK PAJAMA PARTY
UMary students, who wrap up finals on Wednesday, are invited to wear their PJs to the Marauders-Beavers basketball game. Free pizza will be distributed in the student section, along with TruMoo Chocolate milk.  
 
FAST BREAK

• The Marauders and the Beavers conclude their home-and-home season series just six games into the Northern Sun's 22-game schedule. The two instate rivals opened the conference season against one another in Minot, ND, over Thanksgiving weekend on Nov. 25.
• While their season series will be done with Minot State before, the Marauders will have ten other conference foes to face for the first time
• The Minot State game starts another three-game home stand and the end of a UMary run of playing 6-of-8 games at home
• Eight Marauders are averaging at least 5.2 points per game
• A trio of Marauders are averaging double digits in points: Keith Hunter (14.6 ppg), Tom Kubank (10.8 ppg) and Trevor Zacher (12.3 ppg)
• Just six different players have started this season for the Marauders. The front line of Tom Kubank, Trevor Zacher and Matthew Kreklow has started all seven games. Jaylan White, Brody Sharkey and Keith Hunter have split the starts at the two guard positions.
• Distribution point: In his first few starts, Jaylan White is garnering assists, including a career-best eight against Yellowstone Christian followed by six against MSU Moorhead. White is 10th in the NSIC in assists at 3.9/game.
• Four out of the Marauders five top scorers and 11 out of 13 made their UMary debut this season
• The Marauders are 6^th in the NSIC in treys made per game (8.2)
• UMary is 4^th in the NSIC in turnover margin at +2.78.
• Jaylan White leads the NSIC in assist to turnover ratio (3.5)

 
OPPO RESEARCH VS. MINOT STATE UNIVERSITY BEAVERS
Minot State University is 10-1 overall and 4-1 in the NSIC… The Beavers are 2-1 in the NSIC North… MSU is getting votes in the national polls but hasn't yet cracked the Top 25… Sr. F Tyler Rudolph is a three-time NSIC North Player of the Week this season. The all-time MSU rebounder (781 and counting) is fourth all-time in scoring (1,616 points) and has 29 career double doubles. He leads the Beavers in scoring (23.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg) and shooting 62.4 percent from the floor and 85.7 percent at the line… David Akibo is second in scoring (11.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.2 rpg)… As a team the Beavers are shooting 48.4 percent to 41.6 percent for the opposition… Head coach Matt Murken is 71-81 in is sixth year overall at Minot State and 117-97 in eight seasons as a head coach (two years at Jamestown).
                                    
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. BEAVERS
In a series that stretches back to the 1972-72 season – just the third year of Marauders basketball – the University of Mary trails Minot State 36-34 in the all-time series… In a series of runs, the Beavers have won the last two games after the Marauders had won the previous three… The Beavers have won 11 of the last 15 get-togethers… The last season sweep was by the Marauders in 2015-16… the two teams each won at home last year (2017-18).
 
LAST MEETING: In the conference opener, visiting UMary fell 91-61 at Minot State on Nov. 25. The Marauders used a 14-4 run to pull within 48-44 before the Beavers scored 23 of the next 27 points. Keith Hunter led the Marauders with 13 points. Trevor Zacher added 12. Freshman Wyatt Carr scored ten points after making 3-of-5 trey attempts. MSU senior forward Tyler Rudolph posted 28 points and 14 rebounds and Russ Davis added 15 points.  
 
STOP THIEF!
The Marauders lead the NSIC in steals at 7.0/game. The main culprits are Jaylan White, Tom Kubank and Trevor Zacher, who all average a team-best 1.2 steals/game.
 
GUARDIAN OF THE GOAL
Fr. F Matthew Kreklow is off to a strong start on the defensive end. The 6-9 man in the middle is averaging 1.4 blocks/game (4th in the NSIC) and influences many others. Kreklow is also 18th in rebounds with 5.9/game. He is scoring 8.9 ppg and shoots 49.2 percent from the floor.
 
DOWNTOWN
Jr. G Keith Hunter has been the Marauders deep threat, averaging 2.3 treys per game while hitting 43.9 percent of his 3-point attempts.
 
NEW BLUE
The Marauders feature a new look in the 2017-18 season with just three players back who saw action last year for UMary. Senior forward Trevor Zacher started 13 games last season for the Marauders and is UMary's lone returner who played significant minutes. Senior forward Michael Gorder enters his fourth season at UMary and has been a key reserve. Sophomore guard Jaylan White is also back and has stepped into the starting lineup.
 
STEPPING FORWARD
While the Marauders return three players with experience playing in the Blue & Orange, not all players are new to the roster. Junior forward Tom Kubank, sophomore guard Evan Anderson, and freshmen Matthew Kreklow, Connor Hellebust and Levi Clagett all redshirted at UMary last season.
 
FIRST
Junior guards Keith Hunter and Brody Sharkey, redshirt freshman Connor Hellebust and freshmen Wyatt Carr and Lucas Mayer are in their first year with the Marauders and all have made key contributions. Hunter leads the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game. He's making 49.4 percent of his shots overall and hitting 43.9 percent of his trey attempts… Sharkey has started four games and averages 8.0 ppg… Hellebust is scoring 6.1 ppg and making 40 percent of his trey attempts. His last weekend out Hellebust scored a career-high 10 points at Wayne State and nine at Augustana, making a combined 5-of-8 3-pointers in the two games… Carr chips in 5.2 ppg and is making 47.4 percent of his shots overall… Mayer has played in all seven games and averages 1.7 ppg.
 
FRONT LINE
The Marauders mobile front line is quickly learning to play together. Senior F Trevor Zacher is second on the Marauders in scoring (12.3 ppg) and 3-pointers (15). He leads the team in shooting percentage (.527) and third in rebounding (4.0 rpg)… Junior F Tom Kubank is third in scoring at 10.8 ppg, pulls down 4.1 rebounds/game and is shooting 48 percent from the field… Freshman center Matthew Kreklow registered his first career double double with 11 points and ten rebounds against Yellowstone. He is averaging 8.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.4 blocks and is making 49 percent of his shots.
 
THE BORTKE COURT MAC ATTACK
After struggling at home the last few seasons, Mary is once again finding success at the McDowell Activity Center (MAC). The playing floor was christened Bortke Court in honor of long-time Mary men's basketball coach and athletic director Al Bortke in July 2009. Here is the Marauders NCAA Division II home record:
2006-07:   5-  7
2007-08:   4-  7
2008-09:   7-  5
2009-10: 11-  2
2010-11: 12-  1
2011-12:   3-10
2012-13:   3-  9
2013-14:   6-  7
2014-15:   4-  8
2015-16:   8-  7
2016-17:   8-  6
2017-18:   1-  3
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
LISTEN LIVE
University of Mary fans can listen to all Marauders conference games live on Fox Sports 710 as Rick Anthony, the Voice of the Marauders, brings you all the game action. You can also listen live online at www.foxsports710.com. Click the "Listen Live" link to stream the game in real time.
 
BACK AT THE MAC
The Marauders remain at home to close out 2017, hosting the University of Minnesota Duluth on December 30 at 6 pm and St. Cloud State on December 31 at 4 pm in the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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