THIS WEEK
The University of Mary men's basketball team wraps up a four-game road swing with a visit to Northern Sun South foes University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University. The Marauders open the weekend against the Cougars on Friday, January 18. Tip off is set for 7:30 pm at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, SD. UMary then crosses over the border to take on the Mustangs at 6 pm Saturday, January 19, at the R/A Center in Marshall, MN.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 7-9 overall, 4-6 in the Northern Sun overall (9^th place) and 4-4 in the Northern Sun North division (5^th place).
 
ROAD GAMES
The Marauders are wrapping up playing 7-of-9 games on the road and away from the McDowell Activity Center. After spending last weekend on the road, UMary finally returns home for Alumni Weekend on January 25-26 when NSIC North opponents Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State visit.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders split an incredible pair of road games last weekend, winning one game by two points in triple overtime before falling by two points the next night… The Marauders opened the weekend with a 100-98 triple overtime victory at Minnesota Duluth. After nearly winning in the first overtime on a shot at the buzzer, UMary overcame a 5-point deficit in both the second and third overtimes. Wyatt Carr nailed a 3-pointer with five seconds left in the second overtime to force a third extra session and Jaylan White hit a difficult shot in the final two seconds of the third overtime to win the game. White scored 12 of his 25 points in overtime, hit all eight of his free throws in the game and made four assists. Connor Hellebust added 21 points, Tom Kubank had 18 points, Carr 12 and Dennis Austin III 11 points. Both Carr and Kubank had four 3s. Brandon Myer had 31 points and 11 rebounds for UMD and Sean Burns had 26 and 15… The Marauders fell just shy of upsetting the Huskies of St. Cloud State - previously ranked nationally this year – 60-58. Matthew Kreklow had 19 points and nine rebounds for UMary. Gage Davis had 23 for SCSU. The visiting Marauders held a 56-53 lead in the last four minutes but couldn't hold on.
 
RANGE FINDER
The Marauders have started to find their range from behind the arc. Over the last three games UMary is 29-of-71 (40.8 percent) in treys after making just 18-of-66 (27.2 percent) the three games prior.
 
DEEEE-FENSE
The Marauders are posting impressive defensive figures this season. UMary is third in the Northern Sun in scoring defense (68.6 ppg), sixth in field goal percentage defense (.435) and third in steals (7.0).
 
DEEEE-FENSE PART 2
The Marauders stand 42^nd in NCAA Division II in points allowed per game (68.6 ppg).
 
POINT REDUCTION PROGRAM
The Marauders defense has made tremendous strides on the defensive front, allowing nine fewer points per game than a year ago. The Marauders are giving up just 68.6 points per game after allowing the opposition 77 ppg last season… UMary has also held the opposition to a shooting percentage of 43.5 percent after teams made 48.4 percent of their field goal attempts last season, boosting the Marauders from 15th a year ago on the NSIC leaderboard to 6th now. 
 
VICTORY!
With seven wins, the Marauders have exceeded last year's overall win total with half the season in the books and 12 games remaining already in the regular season. The Marauders four conference wins equals last year's mark.
 
OVERTIME OVERTURES

• The Marauders triple overtime 100-98 win is the longest game for UMary during the NCAA era and maybe in school history
• UMary played double overtime games against St. Cloud State (88-83 home win 1.17.14) and Minot State (92-88 home loss 11.22.11) for what had been the longest games
• UMary has played 24 overtime games during the NCAA era (Fall 2006 and on) and have won ten times
• The 98 points allowed is the most the Marauders have allowed in any NCAA era win (previously high was in 96-91 win over Minnesota State 2.27.16 in NSIC tournament quarterfinals)
• Marauders were 9-of-11 at the free throw line in the three extra sessions while UMD was 5-of-12. Jaylan White went 6-of-6 in OT at the line, making four in the final stanza
• Jaylan White scored 12 points in overtime, including eight of the Marauders 13 points in the overtime session
• The Marauders and Bulldogs have gone to overtime twice this season with UMary winning both times on baskets in the closing seconds

 
FAST BREAK

• Sr. G Dennis Austin III averaged 10 ppg and 5 rpg last weekend. He is second on the team in rebounding at 5.7/game. The senior went over 1,000 career points in his collegiate career last weekend, including his three seasons at Upper Iowa.
• Soph. G Wyatt Carr his a season-high four treys against Minnesota Duluth and scored a season-high 12 points
• The Marauders conclude their first of two four-game road trips this weekend
• This is just the second weekend UMary has faced NSIC South opposition
• It took the Marauders just ten games to reach six wins this season, the fastest since opening the 2015-16 season with six wins in eight games
• In 16 games, the Marauders have forced more turnovers than they have committed nine times and broke even once
• The Marauders lost their first three games this season by a combined 11 points. In each of the three games UMary had possession of the ball in the final minute of the contest with a chance to at least tie the game.
• Getting everyone involved, the Marauders have had up to 11 players score in a game this season
• Eight Marauders average at least 3.2 points per game
• Six Marauders average at least 2.3 rebounds/game
• After holding opponents to 66 points or fewer four times a year ago in 27 games, the Marauders have limited opponents to no more than 66 points eight times in 16 outings already this season.

 
FREE THROW FOLLOWTHROUGH
UMary is shooting 70.4 percent (197-of-280) from the free throw line to their opponent's 67.9 percent (178-of-262)… The Marauders have made more free throws than the opposition nine times and attempted more nine times in 16 games… the opposition has had the edge in attempts five times and in makes six times… Both teams have attempted the same number of free throws twice and makes once… UMary is 5-4 when making more free throws than the opposition.
 
TURNOVER TOWN
The Marauders are +1.69 in turnovers, the 7th-best mark in the NSIC.
 
DOWN UNDER
Sr. F Tom Kubank is second on the Marauders in scoring this season with much of his production from behind the arc. The Adelaide, South Australia, native averages 12.1 points/game and makes 2.2 treys/game, 14th in the NSIC… he is 35-of-92 behind the arc (37 percent)… in back-to-back games Kubank tied his career-high in rebounds with 12 in wins over Minnesota Duluth and MSU Moorhead. He is third on the Marauders in rebounding (5.4 rebounds/game)… He paired 11 points and 12 rebounds against MSUM for his first double double of the season… Hit season-high five treys against SD Mines… Kubank cracked the 1,000 point barrier as a collegiate student-athlete against MSU Moorhead on Dec. 14, including his two seasons at Lake Region State College. 
 
SWAT CITY
So. F Matthew Kreklow is 3rd in the NSIC in blocked shots at 1.9/game. He tied the Marauders NCAA-era record with six blocks at Minot State on Dec. 30. He also had four against Mayville State and three against Minnesota Duluth and Concordia-St. Paul… had one of his best games of the season at SCSU with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists while making 8-of-13 field goals and all three free throws… He is third on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and first in rebounds (5.8 rebounds/game)… The post player knocked down all ten of his free throw attempts in a win over Minnesota Duluth and is 43-of-54 at the line to rank 12^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage (.796)… posted double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against SD Mines… reached double figures in rebounds against Mines and at Minot State.
 
WHITE NOISE
Jr. G Jaylan White is a sparkplug for the Marauders on both ends of the court. He leads the Marauders in scoring at 14.4 points per game (17th in the NSIC)… one of the top free throw shooters in the NSIC, the junior is 63-of-79 at the line to rank 11^th in the league with a .797 free throw percentage… White is 5th in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (2.3) and 12^th in assists (3.3/game)… he has led the Marauders in scoring eight times, including a career-best 29 points against Minnesota Duluth at home… in triple overtime win at UMD White scored 25 points and made all eight free throws. He hit the game-winning shot with less than two seconds remaining in the third overtime… also scored 20 points at Minot State.
 
HEATING UP
So. G Connor Hellebust is heating up. The Bismarck, ND, native posted double digit points in four of his last seven games with 12 points at MSU Moorhead, 20 at Northern State, 19 against Minnesota State and a catreer-high 21 at UMD in the triple overtime win… was 3-for-5 behind the arc against the Wolves… also hit three 3s at UMD… hit multiple 3s in five of the last eight games… over last eight games is averaging 4.1 rebounds/game.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS COUGARS
One of the top teams in the NSIC this season, the Cougars are 12-4 overall and 7-3 in the NSIC after winning four straight games. USF is one game back of Minnesota State and Wayne State for first place in the NSIC South division. USF averages 80.2 points per game and allows 69.5 ppg to rank fourth in the league in both categories. The Cougars are outrebounding their foes by 12.1 per game to lead the NSIC. Last weekend USF held Minnesota State – one of the top scoring teams in the league - to 45 points. All-NSIC G Trevon Evans averages 23.4 ppg and has scored 986 points in his career. He has twice been named the NSIC South Player of the Week this year. Drew Guebert is 4^th all-time in scoring at USF with 1,722 points in 108 games. He averages 19.9 ppg, 6^th in the NSIC.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. COUGARS
The Cougars lead the series with the Marauders 5-2… USF won the first four games in the series before UMary claimed the next two… The Marauders first win was a 69-65 road win on Dec. 12, 2015… Mary is 1-2 at home and 1-3 at USF… The two former NAIA competitors first met as NCAA and NSIC foes on 2.9.13 with USF gaining a 75-70 home win. The Marauders joined the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season and the Cougars began NSIC play in 2012-13… USF won the last meeting 75-66 at home on February 2, 2018. Matthew Kreklow and Keith Hunter both scored 17 points for the Marauders while Drew Guebert led the Cougars with 26 points, four treys and nine rebounds.
 
OPPO RESEARCH VS. THE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MUSTANGS
Two-time All-NSIC guard and SMSU's all-time leading scorer Ryan Bruggeman is one of the nation's top players. He has scored 1,773 points in his career and averages 23.6 ppg. Sr. G Taylor Schafer is averaging 12,6 ppg and had a team-high 41 3s. Soph. F Kenny Byers adds 10.6 ppg. The Mustangs, last in the NSIC in shooting percentage in conference games, has lost four games in a row and sits with a mark of 8-8 overall and 3-7 in the NSIC after winning the NSIC South title last year. SMSU owns the 14^th most difficult schedule in NCAA Division II and the most difficult among NSIC teams.
                                 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. MUSTANGS
The Marauders trail the Mustangs in the series 14-3… UMary is 2-5 all-time at home in the MAC and 1-8 at SMSU's R/A Facility… UMary's last win in Bismarck over SMSU was 74-65 February 14, 2014… The Marauders last win in Marshall, MN, was 91-82 on December 11, 2015... in their last meeting the Mustangs defeated the Marauders 78-73 in a meeting between NSIC South champ SMSU and last place UMary in the opening round of the NSIC tournament on February 21, 2018. Freshmen Connor Hellebust had 19 points and Matthew Kreklow 17 with Jaylan White adding 14 and Michael Gorder ten for the Marauders. Carter Kirk had 24 points and 14 rebounds to lead SMSU. UMary held a late lead at 60-58.   
 
HOME COOKING
The Marauders completed a six-game home stand earlier this year with five victories, including a pair of Northern Sun wins…. UMary won just two games at home last season.
 
THE BORTKE COURT MAC ATTACK
The Marauders opened up their home schedule with a pair of wins this season after struggling last season at the McDowell Activity Center. Despite last year's setback, UMary has found success in recent seasons at the 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:   2-11
2018-19:   5-  3
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
BOOM!
UMary games against Minnesota Duluth has created incredible end of the game drama this season…. In the first meeting, Dennis Austin III knocked down a buzzer-beating three-pointer from the right corner in front of the Marauders bench with 0.2 seconds remaining in overtime to lead the Marauders to a 73-70 home win over Minnesota Duluth… In the rematch at UMD, Wyatt Carr hit a trey with less than five seconds remaining in the second overtime to force a third overtime. Jaylan White then hit a driving layup with less than two seconds remaining on the Marauders 100-98 triple overtime road win against the Bulldogs… Here's a look at some other late game heroics during the Marauders NCAA era…

• Marquealis Edwards hit a layup in the final five seconds of a 77-76 win over Southern Arkansas on Nov. 14, 2015
• Marquealis Edwards forced overtime with a layup in the final five seconds to tie the game in a 96-91 win over Minnesota State on Fe. 22, 2016, in the NSIC quarterfinals
• Josh Turner hit a three-pointer with four seconds left in a 73-72 win at Chadron State on Nov. 15, 2011
• Jason West hit a three-pointer with no time on the clock at the end of regulation to force overtime in an 80-77 UMary win at Minnesota Duluth
• Eric Erdmann not only hit a layup at the buzzer in regulation to force overtime and then hit a layup at the buzzer in overtime to win the game 71-69 at Bemidji State on Jan. 12, 2008
• Bill Shetler drained a long three-pointer from inside the half-court line as time expired in the Marauders 78-75 win over visiting Mayville State on Dec. 15, 2006
• One day later the Marauders defeated visiting University of North Dakota on Dec. 16, 2006, when Jordan Engelhardt hit two free throws with a second remaining in the game

 
LISTEN LIVE
University of Mary fans can listen to all Marauders home and conference games live on Fox Sports 710 as Jesse Rostvedt, 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.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
To find links to live stats, audio and video, go to www.goumary.com/coverage
 
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