THIS WEEKEND
For just the second time this season overall and the first time at home, the University of Mary men's basketball team faces a pair of foes from the Northern Sun South division when the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears and the Minnesota State University Mavericks visit the McDowell Activity Center on Friday and Saturday, January 12-13. The first Marauders home games of the New Year tip off on Friday at 8 pm against the Golden Bears. The weekend wraps up against the Mavericks at 6 pm in the Samaritan's Feet Barefoot Coaching game.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split a pair of road games. UMary opened the weekend with a 71-55 loss at #13 Northern State. Jaylan White was perfect at the free throw line in eight chances and scored a team-high 16 points. The Marauders then picked up their first NSIC win of the season with a 77-65 victory at defending NSIC champion MSU Moorhead. White scored a career-high 27 points and distributed five assists to headline the Marauders efforts, making 9-of-11 field goal attempts. Trevor Zacher added a career-best 23 points and seven rebounds.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 3-11 overall and 1-9 in Northern Sun play (8^th NSIC North, 16^th overall).
 
RADIO BROADCAST ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, MOVES TO KFYR 550
Make sure to adjust your radio dial on Saturday, January 13, from Fox Sports 710 to KFYR 550 AM to hear award-winning Voice of the Marauders Rick Anthony call the UMary men's and women's basketball contests.
 
SAMARITAN'S FEET BAREFOOT COACHING GAME
To raise awareness for those who may not have shoes, Marauders women's and men's head basketball coaches Rick Neumann and Joe Kittell will coach barefoot for Samaritan's Feet Night on Saturday, January 13, when Minnesota State University visits the McDowell Activity Center. This is the third straight year Neumann and Kittell have coached in their bare feet to help draw awareness for the need for shoes both here in the U.S. and around the world. For Kittell, the 2017 Samaritan's Feet Barefoot Coach of the Year, it is the fifth time in his career… Marauders men's assistant coaches Casey Bruggeman, Justin McCloud and Jarod Obering and women's assistant coaches Jason Schmitz, Kayla Timmerman and Jason Mattheis also plan to coach barefoot. Samaritan's Feet will conduct a shoe distribution in the Bismarck community later this spring. Marauders athletics have assisted with a pair of shoe distributions in the area over the past couple years, providing over 300 pairs of shoes to children at both events. Since 2013, over 4,000 children across North Dakota have been blessed with new shoes at over 17 separate events across the state.
    
BEK TO TELEVISE MARAUDERS-MAVERICKS GAME STATEWIDE
The BEK Broadcasting Network will carry Saturday's University of Mary men's and women's basketball home games against Minnesota State University live statewide on BEK Prime. The Marauders-Mavericks doubleheader tips off at 4 pm with the women's game. The men's contest starts at approximately 6 pm. View the Marauders basketball games on the BEK Broadcasting Network via local cable providers on BEK PRIME and on KNDB/KNDM in Western North Dakota and KRDK in Eastern North Dakota. Visit www.bektel.com/bbn for local channel assignments and current broadcast schedule. The BEK Broadcasting Network is also available nationally on BEK Now via your ROKU streaming device. Check out www.beknow.tv for more information.         
 
FAST BREAK

• Last Saturday's win at defending NSIC champion MSU Moorhead snapped a nine-game conference losing string for UMary
• Jaylan White (27 points) and Trevor Zacher (23) combined for 50 points against the Dragons. It was the first time this season the Marauders had two players each score 20 points or more in a single game
• Jaylan White had the biggest weekend of his career, averaging 21.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 2.5 apg in two games. He made 13-of-16 field goal attempts, hit both 3-point attempts and converted 15-of-16 free throws. The sophomore guard committed just one turnover in the two games. The 27 points against the Dragons was a career-high.
• Trevor Zacher also posted a career-high with 23 points against the Dragons
• After playing on the road last weekend for the first time in four weeks, the Marauders return home to face the Golden Bears and the Mavericks
• The weekend series with the Golden Bears and the Mavericks is just the second time this season the Marauders have tangled with teams from the NSIC South. It is the first UMary has hosted teams from the South division after previously visiting Wayne State and Augustana.
• Eight Marauders are averaging at least 4.4 points per game
• A pair of Marauders are averaging double digits in points: Keith Hunter (13.5 ppg), and Trevor Zacher (11.7 ppg) with Matthew Kreklow (9.6 ppg) and Tom Kubank (9.1 ppg) barely off the pace.
• Only six players have started games this season for the Marauders. The front line of Tom Kubank, Trevor Zacher and Matthew Kreklow has started all 14 games. Jaylan White, Brody Sharkey and Keith Hunter have split the starts at the two guard positions.
• Four out of the Marauders five top scorers and 11 out of 13 made their UMary debut this season

 
TOUGH RUN
Out of their first ten conference contests, seven of the Marauders games came against teams with winning records and teams currently in the top seven of the league standings. Two more games came against the defending conference champion. The schedule isn't any easier this weekend when NSIC South-leading Minnesota State is on the docket.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL GOLDEN BEARS
Concordia-St. Paul is 2-13 overall this season and 1-8 in the Northern Sun (8^th in the NSIC South standings, 15^th overall)… In the midst of a four-game road swing, the Golden Bears lost at both Wayne State and Augie last weekend… the lone NSIC win for CSP was at home over MSU Moorhead… Jr. C Bryndan Matthews is in the NSIC top 15 in six different categories this season, including 3^rd in rebounding (7.4 rpg) and 11^th in scoring (15.7 ppg). He became the 18^th CSP player to crack 1,000 points in a career and sits with 1,019… Ted Brown is third in the NSIC in shooting percentage (.636) and averages 8.6 ppg… So. G Avan Ward scores 14.3 ppg…  The lone senior in the rotation is starting G Ahmed Newsome, who averages 5.3 ppg… Head Coach Joey James is in his fourth season at CSP and has a record of 40-65.
 
HISTORY LESSON UMary trails in the all-time series with Concordia-St. Paul 12-8… The Marauders have won the last two meetings after snapping a 6-game losing skid to the Golden Bears at home in the opening round of the 2016 NSIC tournament 76-72 on February 24. Marquealis Edwards scored a team-high 16 points and Devan Douglas added 13… The Marauders won the first two meetings between the schools in the 1980s when both were members of the NAIA… When Mary joined the NSIC in 2006-07, CSP won the next five meetings… The Marauders broke their losing streak to the Golden Bears with an 83-74 win at the NSIC Holiday HoopsFest on November 29, 2009, soon followed with a 75-68 win at the MAC on January 23, 2010, behind 24 points by Eric Erdmann. It was the first NSIC win for UMary over CSP… UMary is 2-6 at home against CSP and 6-6 on the road.
 
LAST MEETING Ricky Suggs scored a team-high 19 points to lead the Marauders to an 87-75 road win over the Golden Bears on January 14, 2017. UMary hit 8-of-11 3-pointers in the first half to claim an early 13-point lead. The Marauders shot 52.5 percent overall for the game and held a 27-12 edge in points off turnovers. Damonta Henry scored 18 points off the bench and Pat Thomas added 13 for UMary. Bryndan Matthews had 21 points and nine rebounds for CSP.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MAVERICKS
NSIC South Division-leading Minnesota State is 12-3 overall and 8-1 in the NSIC (1^st in NSIC South, 2^nd overall)… The Mavericks only conference loss was to league-leading and nationally-ranked Northern State 87-84 at home… Five Mavericks average double figures in points… Kevin Krieger leds the way with 15.7 ppg, just ahead of Charlie Brown (15.5 ppg)… Carlos Anderson averages 11.7 ppg off the bench… Chris Kendrix leads MSU in rebounds (6.5 rpg) and chips in 10.3 ppg… The Mavericks are second in the NSIC in scoring at 83.5 ppg… MSU is second in free throw shooting percentage (.771) and fourth in field goal percentage (.483)… Head coach Matt Margenthaler is in his 17^th season directing the Mavericks and has a career record of 363-146 with seven conference titles and 11 NCAA tournament appearances.
 
HISTORY LESSON The Marauders are 3-10 all-time against the Mavericks… … UMary had claimed back-to-back wins before MSU ended the Marauders 2017 season 87-78 in the opening round of the NSIC tournament… UMary snapped a 5-game losing streak to Minnesota State with a 96-91 overtime win in the 2016 NSIC quarterfinals… The two teams first met Dec. 12, 2008, in Bismarck with the Mavericks winning 83-61… After losing the first four games in the series, Mary claimed its first win 84-69 at home on January 15, 2011 as All-American Anthony Moody hit eight treys and scored 31 points and Jordan Wilhelm added five three pointers and 17 points… The Marauders picked up their first win at the Taylor Center 75-61 on January 14, 2017.
 
LAST MEETING Finding revenge for a home loss to the Marauders just a few weeks earlier, Minnesota State downed UMary 87-78 in the opening round of the 2017 NSIC tournament. The Marauders trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half and 18 early in the second. MSU had an 11-5 edge in 3-pointers. Bryan Jefferson scored 30 points for the Marauders in his final collegiate game, making 13-of-20 shots. He also had 10 rebounds. Fellow seniors Ricky Suggs, Isaac Lindquist and Damonta Henry all added ten points. Aarias Austin led MSU with 25 points and seven assists. Jon Fuqua added 17 points and eight rebounds.
 
UP THE CHARTS
In his third season at the helm of the Marauders, head coach Joe Kittell picked up his 34^th UMary win against MSU Moorhead on Saturday to pass Fritz Fell on the Marauders coaching win chart. Fell was the Marauders first head coach and was 33-37 in three seasons (1970-73). Legendary Hall of Fame coach Al Bortke leads the way with 335 wins in 16 seasons, followed by Jim Feeney (144), Rod Jonas (69), Juno Pintar (55), Randall Herbst (38), Kittell (34), Fell (33) and Jevin Budde (28).  
 
STOP THIEF!
The Marauders are seventh in the NSIC in steals at 6.2/game. The main culprits are Jaylan White (15 steals), Tom Kubank (14), Trevor Zacher (16) and Keith Hunter (12).
 
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 1.2 blocks/game (4th in the NSIC) and influences many other shots. Kreklow leads the Marauders in rebounds (5.5 rpg, 20^th in NSIC). He is also picking up the pace offensively, leading the team in field goal percentage (.528, 16^th in the NSIC) and is up to third among Marauders in scoring at 9.6 ppg. Kreklow was a force in the paint against UMD and SCSU. He scored 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting against the Bulldogs. Against the Huskies Kreklow was 6-of-7 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line for a career-best 17 points. His streak of four straight games in double figures ended last weekend.  
 
FRESHMAN FIREPOWER
Matthew Kreklow is fourth among NSIC freshmen in scoring at 9.6 ppg, trailing only Upper Iowa's Joe Smoldt (12.1), Minnesota Crookston's Ben Juhl (10.4 ppg) and Winona State's Devin Witelow (9.7 ppg). Kreklow leads all conference freshmen in shooting percentage (.567) and rebounding (5.5 rpg).
 
DOWNTOWN
Jr. G Keith Hunter has been the Marauders deep threat, averaging 1.9 treys per game while hitting 39.1 percent of his 3-point attempts. He also leads the team in scoring at 13.5 ppg while making an efficient 46 percent of his shots. The top scorer among newcomers in the NSIC, Hunter is 20^th in the NSIC in scoring and 15^th in treys/game. He has led the Marauders in scoring seven times this season with a high of 30 against MSU Moorhead.
 
DISTRIBUTION POINT
Since moving into the starting lineup in the second game of the season, Jaylan White has been one of the conference leaders in assists. The sophomore guard leads the Marauders with 3.5 assists per game, 11^th in the NSIC. He had a career-high eight against Yellowstone Christian and six against MSU Moorhead. White is also 5^th in the NSIC in assist to turnover ratio (2.7). Last weekend against Northern State and MSU Moorhead White posted five assists and just one turnover in the two games. He also found his scoring touch, posting 16 points against the Wolves and a career-high 27 against the Dragons. He made 13-of-16 field goals in the two games and was 15-of-16 on free throw 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 13.5 points per game. He's making 46 percent of his shots overall and hitting 39 percent of his trey attempts… Sharkey has started four games and averages 7.2 ppg… Hellebust is scoring 5.5 ppg and making 35 percent of his trey attempts… Carr chips in 4.4 ppg and is making 47 percent of his shots overall… Mayer has played in 13 of 14 games and averages 1.7 ppg.
 
FRONT LINE
The Marauders mobile front line quickly learned to play together. Senior F Trevor Zacher is second on the Marauders in scoring (11.7 ppg), 3-pointers (20), field goal percentage (.491) and rebounding (4.9 rpg)… Junior F Tom Kubank is 4th in scoring at 9.1 ppg, pulls down 3.1 rebounds/game and is shooting 43 percent from the field… Freshman center Matthew Kreklow registered his first career double double with 11 points and ten rebounds against Yellowstone. He averages 9.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.2 blocks and is making 53 percent of his shots.
 
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.
 
ON THE HORIZON
Following a pair of home games this weekend, the Marauders set sail for a pair of games at Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State on January 19-20.
 
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