THIS WEEK
Coming off a weekend sweep, the University of Mary men's basketball team continues their four-game home stand when the Wayne State College Wildcats and the Vikings of Augustana University visit the McDowell Activity Center on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2. The Marauders open the two-game against the NSIC South-leading Wildcats on Friday. Game time is 7:30 pm. The homestand wraps Saturday when the Vikings, currently third in the NSIC South, and the Marauders tip off at 5:30 pm.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 9-11 overall, 6-8 in the Northern Sun overall (t-9^th place) and 6-4 in the Northern Sun North division (2^nd place).
 
HOME
The Marauders wrap up a four-game home stand this weekend, their second-longest of the year. Earlier this season UMary played six straight games at the MAC. So far this season the Marauders are 7-3 at home.
 
LAST TIME OUT
After playing four straight games on the road and 7-of-9 away from the MAC, the Marauders showed their excitement at being back home by sweeping Minnesota Crooktson and Bemidji State… The Marauders opened the weekend with a 76-67 win over the Golden Eagles, who were a pair of wins ahead of UMary in the NSIC North standings. UMary held UMC to 13 points under its scoring average, in part to a +8 margin in turnovers and +6 rebounding edge. Dennis Austin III was a key player on both ends of the court, scoring ten points, grabbing six rebounds, distributing six assists and making five steals. Jaylan White added 17 points, Tom Kubank had 16 points and nine rebounds and Matthew Kreklow posted 14 points and ten rebounds for his second double double. Chase Knickerbocker and Brian Sitzmann each had 14 points for UMC and were a combined 7-of-10 on treys. One of the nation's leading scores, Harrison Clleary was held to a season-low nine points. A tight contest, the Marauders separated from the Golden Eagles with a late 9-0 run… The Marauders closed the weekend with an 83-66 victory over Bemidji State. UMary's defense held BSU to a 40 percent shooting night, including a 5-for-22 night behind the arc. Matthew Kreklow scored a career-high 27 points and had six rebounds. Dennis Austin III had 17 points, ten rebounds and four steals. Justin Engg scored a career-high 12 points and Jaylan White had 11 points. Ja Morgan led BSU with 22 points. UMary grabbed an early 18-3 lead and never trailed in the game.
 
KREKLOW NAMED NSIC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Soph. F Matthew Kreklow was named the NSIC North Division Player of the Week after posting a double double in one game before setting a career-high in scoring the next night as the Marauders swept Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State on Jan. 25-26. The Maple Plain, MN, native averaged 20.5 points/game, 8.0 rebounds/game, shot 59.3 percent from the floor and made 9-of-10 rebounds in the two victories… Kreklow opened the two-game set with his second double double of the season, scoring 14 points and hauling down a game-high 10 rebounds in a 76-67 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston. He also had a block, an assist and two steals while helping UMary outscore UMC 30-16 in the paint… The following night Kreklow exploded for a career-high 27 points to lead all scorers in an 83-66 victory over Bemidji State. He connected on 10-of-14 shots from the floor, made all seven free throws, snared six rebounds and added an assist and a block. HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE Marc Musungayi was the Marauders last NSIC Player of the Week when he claimed the honor in January 2014 after also leading UMary to a pair of home wins.
 
THANK YOU DAKOTA COMMUNITY BANK & TRUST, FEB. 1-2 GAME SPONSOR
Dakota Community Bank & Trust is the game sponsor for Marauders men's and women's basketball on Friday and Saturday. Fans can pick up complimentary tickets at local Dakota Community Back & Trust locations.
 
IT'S A SLAM DUNK DON'T DRIVE DRUNK WEEKEND FEB. 1-2
This is the Marauders "It's A Slam Dunk, Don't Drive Drunk" weekend. The 7th annual campaign by schools in the Northern Sun, NSIC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) members will collect signatures from fans pledging not to drive drunk. Brand pens and wristbands will be handed out to fans that pledge to join in this initiative. Over the past six years, NSIC SAAC members have collected over 50,000 signatures from fans pledging not to drive drunk. The NSIC encourages fans to support this effort and to always drive responsibly.
 
DEEEE-FENSE
The Marauders are posting impressive defensive figures this season. UMary is third in the Northern Sun in scoring defense (69.4 ppg), fifth in field goal percentage defense (.437) and second in steals (7.7).
 
POINT REDUCTION PROGRAM
The Marauders defense has made tremendous strides on the defensive front, allowing eight fewer points per game than a year ago. The Marauders are giving up just 69.4 points per game after allowing the opposition 77 ppg last season… UMary has also held the opposition to a shooting percentage of 43.7 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 5th now. 
 
VICTORY!
With nine wins, the Marauders have exceeded last year's overall win total with eight games remaining in the regular season. The Marauders six conference wins has exceeded last year's total by two.
 
LEGALIZED LARCENY
The Marauders are second in the NSIC in steals this season at 7.7/game. Jaylan White leads the way with 1.5 steals/game to rank 3^rd in the NSIC. Connor Hellebust and Tom Kubank are 12^th at 1.2 steals/game and Dennis Austin III is 16^th (1.1).
 
FAST BREAK

• Last weekend's sweep of UMC and BSU was the first of the season for the Marauders and the first home weekend sweep since February 2017
• Opponents shot a combined .419 last weekend and were held to an average of 66.5 points/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 nine times in 20 outings already this season.
• The Marauders wrap up a four-game home stand this weekend before beginning a 4-game road swing starting Feb. 8
• 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 20 games, the Marauders have forced more turnovers than they have committed 13 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
• Nine Marauders average at least 3.2 points per game
• Seven Marauders average at least 2.0 rebounds/game

 
FREE THROW FOLLOWTHROUGH
UMary is shooting 73 percent (281-of-385) from the free throw line to their opponent's 70.3 percent (246-of-350)… The Marauders have made more free throws than the opposition 12 times and attempted more 12 times in 20 games… the opposition has had the edge in attempts six times and in makes seven times… Both teams have attempted the same number of free throws twice and makes once… UMary is 7-5 when making more free throws than the opposition… Marauders had a season-high 29 makes in 36 attempts at USF. In the same game the Cougars were 31-of-41… The Marauders have made over 80 percent of their free throw attempts in three of their last four games and are a combined 84-of-105 (80 percent) during that stretch.
 
TURNOVER TOWN
The Marauders are +2.25 in turnovers, the 4th-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 2.0 treys/game, 19th in the NSIC… he is 40-of-109 behind the arc (37 percent)… reached double figures in scoring in 11 games w/ career-high 25 against SD Mines…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… Just missed a double double with 16 points and nine rebounds in a home win over UMC… 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... Kubank is the Marauders 2019 Kevin Olson Award recipient.
 
SWAT CITY
The NSIC North Player of the Week for is Jan. 25-26 efforts, So. F Matthew Kreklow is 3rd in the NSIC in blocked shots at 1.8/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… Career-high 27 points in home win over Bemidji State to cap Player of the Week efforts. Had 14 points and 10 rebounds the night before against Minnesota Crookston… 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 (6.1 rebounds/game)… 4^th in assists at 1.5/game… The post player knocked down all ten of his free throw attempts in a win over Minnesota Duluth and is 62-of-76 at the line to rank 12^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage (.816)… posted double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against SD Mines… Double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against UMC… 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 14.2 points per game (23rd in the NSIC)… one of the top free throw shooters in the NSIC, the junior is 81-of-104 at the line to rank 11^th in the league with an .817 free throw percentage… White is 12th in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (2.0) and 12^th in assists (3.3/game)… he has led the Marauders in scoring nine 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 six of his last 11 games… averaging 10.0 points/game on the season… tied his career-high with 21 points at Southwest Minnesota State… Also had 21 at UMD in the 100-98 triple overtime win… was 3-for-5 behind the arc against the Wolves… also hit three 3s at UMD… hit multiple 3s in seven of the last 12 games… over last 12 games is averaging 4.0 rebounds/game.
 
STAT STUFFER
Sr. G Dennis Austin III is filling all the stat columns this year… In a sweep over UMC and BSU at home, Austin had 10 points, six assists, six rebounds and five steals against the Golden Eagles and 17 points, ten rebounds, two assists and four steals against the Beavers… is second on the team in rebounding at 5.9/game, third in steals (19), second in assists (1.6) and 5^th in scoring (6.9)... had season-high 12 rebounds against Minnesota State… Made at least 50 percent of his shots in nine of last 12 games… and is shooting 50.5 percent on the year… The senior graduate transfer in his first year at UMary went over 1,000 career points in his collegiate career, including his three seasons at Upper Iowa.
 
BENCH BOOST
With a pair of Marauders out of the lineup two weeks ago, freshman guard Trever Kaiser picked up some of the slack and posted a career-high ten points against both Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. Last weekend he followed with seven points against UMC and three points and four assists against BSU… R-Fr. Justin Engg exploded for a career-high 12 points in a home win over Bemidji State. His previous career-best was six points and he had just 13 total points in 15 games. Engg was 2-for-4 on treys and 4-for-6 from the field.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: WAYNE STATE COLLEGE WILDCATS
Off to their best start since 1998-99, The Wildcats are 15-5 this season and an NSIC South-leading 10-4 one year after finishing 14-17 and 9-13 and two years after winning 10 games. Capable at home or on the road, the Wildcats are 5-2 in NSIC contests wherever they play and rank sixth in the CoSIDA Central Region poll. The Wildcats are 4^th in the NSIC in scoring (79.8 ppg) and fifth in field goal percentage (.478). On the other end of the court the Wildcats are 2^nd in scoring defense (69.3 ppg) and 3^rd in field goal percentage defense (.432). Wayne State starts a trio of seniors and two freshmen. Sr G Trevin Joseph leads the team in scoring (17.4 ppg) with Sr. G Kendall Jacks right behind (16.0 ppg). Sr. PG Vance Janssen checks in at 13.0 ppg while Fr. F Jordan Janssen combines 10.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg. Head coach Jeff Kaminsky is in his third season at Wayne State and is the former head coach at Valley City State University in North Dakota.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WILDCATS
The Wildcats hold a 13-6 series lead over the Marauders… The Wildcats snapped the Marauders 2-game series win streak with an 85-63 win in Wayne, NE, on Dec. 18, 2017, the last meeting between the two teams. Trevor Zacher led UM with 16 points. Jordan Cornelius had 20 for WSC… The two teams first met during UMary'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 Mary before the Marauders broke the streak with a 73-62 win at WSC on Dec. 5, 2009… The Wildcats are 7-2 in Bismarck and 6-4 at home against the Marauders… The Marauders last home win was an 85-78 victory 12.9.16 behind 19 points from Bryan Jefferson.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY VIKINGS
Third in the NSIC South with a 9-5 mark, Augustana is 13-7 overall. Head coach Tom Billiter – in his 16^th season with the Vikings and a former North Dakota State head coach - won his 300^th game last weekend as Augie's head coach and has 397 wins overall. The Vikings lost ten players off last year's roster that accounted for over 71 percent of their scoring. However four freshmen have stepped in and played key roles. True freshmen Michael Schaefer (12.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG), A.J. Plitzuweit (13.5 PPG, 3.68 APG), Dylan LeBrun (9.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and Trevor Hanson (9.0 PPG, 4.2 RPG) are all currently in the Augie starting lineup, alongside sophomore Matt Cartwright (16.3 ppg). Winners in 10 of their last 14 games after a 3-3 start, Augie is 3-4 in its last seven games.
                                 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. VIKINGS
Mary is 5-13 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… Augustana has won the last eight games, including three straight at the McDowell Activity Center and four in Sioux Falls… UMary'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… Last Marauders road win over the Vikings was a 63-49 victory on December 4, 2009… Augie won last year's meeting 114-81 in Sioux Falls, SD. Keith Hunter led UM with 17 points. John Warren scored 29 for Augie behind the strength of six treys.
 
HOME COOKING
The Marauders completed a six-game home stand earlier this year with five victories, including a pair of Northern Sun wins…. After winning just two games at home last season, the Marauders have seven this year.
 
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:   7-  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

 
OVERTIME OVERTURES
An impressive amount of facts and figures resulted from the Marauders 100-98 triple overtime win at Minnesota Duluth on January 11. Here are just a few…

• It was 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

 
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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