SEASON OPENER
The University of Mary men's basketball team opens the 2019-20 regular season this weekend at the GAC/MIAA/NSIC Challenge in Alva, OK. The Marauders open the season against the University of Central Oklahoma on Friday, Nov. 8, before facing Northeastern State University on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tip off both days is 2:15 pm from the Percefull Fieldhouse on the campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
 
GAC/MIAA/NSIC CHALLENGE
Hosted by Northwestern Oklahoma State University, the GAC/MIAA/NSIC Challenge features teams from the three conferences that comprise the NCAA Central Region. Marauders opponents Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma are both members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association while host school Northwestern Oklahoma State competes in the Great American Conference.
 
To follow the Marauders at the GAC/MIAA/NSIC Challenge, go to www.goumary.com/coverage for links to live stats and web casts.
 
MATCHUPS
The Marauders face two opponents for the first time in program history when UMary takes to the floor against the Bronchos of Central Oklahoma and the RiverHawks of Northeastern State.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders finished the 2018-19 season 12-17 overall and 9-13 in the Northern Sun, finishing tied for 5^th in the NSIC North and tied for 10^th overall in the league standings…  Northeastern State was 14-15 overall and 8-11 in the MIAA… Central Oklahoma finished 11-17 overall and 4-15 in the MIAA.
 
UPWARD MOBILITY
The Marauders improved by six wins overall and five wins in the NSIC last season.
 
REJECTION LETTERS
With 76 career blocks, Matthew Kreklow is third all-time at UMary behind only Marc Hawley (108 in 1995-97) and Eric Erdmann (99 in 2006-11) … Kreklow's 53 blocks in 2018-19 as a sophomore was one shy of the school's NCAA era single season record by Damon Smith in 2011-12.
 
WHITE NAMED MARAUDERS NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH
Point guard Jaylan White, entering his third season as a starter, was named the Marauders NSIC Preseason Player to Watch for 2019-20. The native of St. Charles, IA, earned All-Northern Sun honorable mention honors in 2018-19 after averaging a team-leading 13.8 ppg and 3.3 RPG. He was among the league leaders in free throw percentage (.826), had 2.5 rebounds/game and 1.3 steals/game. After serving as a key reserve as a freshman, White has started 55 out of the Marauders last 56 games, including all 29 last year. He is averaging 8.6 points per game in 84 career games and has totaled 723 points while distributing 229 assists (15^th all-time).
 
FOR THREE
The Marauders return three starters from last season, senior G Jaylan White (13.8 ppg/3.3 apg/2.5 rpg), junior center Matthew Krekow (11.7 ppg/56 rpg/1.8 blocks per game), and junior G Connor Hellebust (9.9 ppg/3.6 rpg/1.4 apg).
 
KEY COGS
UMary returns six players who saw considerable action for the Marauders: senior guards Evan Anderson (3.0 ppg / 1.2 apg) and Johnnie Turner (2.0 ppg / 1.8 rpg), junior wing Wyatt Carr (4.8 ppg / 2.3 rpg / 32 treys), and three sophomores, forward Lucas Mayer (6.4 ppg / 3.9 rpg / 55.9 field goal %), guard Trever Kaiser (3.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg) and forward Justin Engg (1.6 ppg / 1.4 rpg).
 
WELCOME ABOARD
The Marauders welcomed several newcomers this season. Jr G Glenn Jordan joins the Marauders after an all-conference career at Allan Hancock College… G Josh Sipes and F Kade Amundson are redshirt freshmen who were with the Marauders program last season… F Logan Nagorski, G Treyton Mattern, G Matthew Johnson and F Regan Tollefson are true freshmen with the UMary program this season.
 
DEEEE-FENSE
A big reason UMary took a jump in wins last season was due to team defense. The Marauders were third in the NSIC in points allowed (70.9 points per game), 5^th in field goal defense (.444), and 3^rd in steals (6.6/game)… UMary allowed six fewer points than the season before and had been 15^th in field goal percentage defense.
 
THE BORTKE COURT MAC ATTACK
The Marauders once again found success on Bortke Court in the McDowell Activity Center. 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:   9-  5
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
KITTTELL CLOSING IN ON 100
Marauders head coach Joe Kittell, in his fifth season at UMary, is closing in on 100 career wins as a collegiate head coach with a current total of 100. Kittell earned 42 wins in two seasons at Lake Region State College and owns 49 at UMary.
 
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