THIS WEEKEND
For the first time in three weeks, the University of Mary returns home and hosts a full weekend of Northern Sun basketball when MSU Moorhead and Northern State University comes to campus. The two-game set begins with a visit from MSU Moorhead on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 pm. The weekend wraps up when the Marauders hosts Northern State University on Saturday, Dec. 14. Both games will be played in the McDowell Activity Center.
 
TUESDAY TUSSLE
The Marauders also have a midweek game on tap when UMary hosts the University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Game time is 6 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.  
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 5-3 overall and 1-2 in the Northern Sun… MSU Moorhead is 5-4 and 1-2… Northern State is 6-3 and 2-1… the Bengals are 4-8.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders had a four-game win streak snapped in an 88-56 loss at St. Cloud State. Jaylen White led the Marauders with 11 points and Matthew Kreklow added 10 points and seven rebounds… White scored 17 points, Connor Hellebust 16 and Trever Kaiser 12 off the bench in the Marauders 73-62 road loss to Minnesota Duluth. Down 15 in the first half, the Marauders closed to 56-54 on a 3-ball from Hellebust. The Bulldogs then used a pair of treys and a 7-of-8 effort at the free throw line to hold off the Marauders rally. Brandon Myer posted 25 points and 10 rebounds for UMD and was the NSIC North Player of the Week.
 
HOME COOKING
After spending the last two weekends on the road, the Marauders will play four straight games at home. UMary doesn't have to leave the MAC until a game at Concordia-St. Paul on Jan. 3… The Marauders are 3-0 at home in the McDowell Activity Center this season.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – MSU MOORHEAD DRAGONS
The Dragons five-game win streak was snapped last weekend, dropping home games to Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. MSU Moorhead opened the Northern Sun season with an 81-74 home win over Northern State. An experienced group who is picked to finish fifth overall in the NSIC and third in the NSIC North, senior guard Johnny Beeninga is closing in on 1,000 career points. He is averaging 8.2 ppg and 2.2 assists/game. Gavin Baumgartner is the leading scorer at 16.9 ppg, averages 5.1 rebounds/game and is shooting 56 percent from the field.  Bryce Irsfeld is scoring 15.2 ppg, distributes 2.7 apg, makes 92 percent of his free throws and 52 percent from the floor… Head coach Chad Walthall is four victories from 200 career wins at MSU Moorhead.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. DRAGONS
The Marauders trail the Dragons 19-15 in the all-time series… Since joining the NCAA and NSIC, UMary is 10-17 against MSUM… The Marauders have won the last three meetings with the Dragons… The Marauders won the first conference match-up 75-72 at MSUM on January 16, 2007… The Dragons followed with five straight wins, including an overtime victory, one win by one point and another by two points… The Marauders snapped the Dragons streak 74-58 at home on Jan. 30, 2010, the first of five straight UMary wins that concluded with a 72-51 win over 19th ranked MSUM on Jan. 7, 2012, at the MAC… The Marauders snapped an 8-game losing streak to the Dragons with a 77-73 upset win at 3rd ranked MSUM on January 8, 2016… The Marauders snapped a six-game home losing streak to the Dragons last spring, defeating MSU Moorhead 83-63 on Feb. 23, 2019. The Marauders doubled their win streak to two over the Dragons with a 78-73 win at MSU Moorhead on Dec. 14, 2018. Matthew Kreklow and Dennis Austin III both had 15 points and six Marauders reached double digits.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY WOLVES
Led by first year head coach Saul Phillips, the Wolves are 6-3 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC. Phillips previously was head coach at NCAA Division I schools North Dakota State and Ohio… After opening NSIC play with a road loss to MSU Moorhead, Northern State swept Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State last weekend. The Wolves starting lineup features just one senior and three underclassmen. So. F Parker Fox leads the team in scoring (19.9 ppg) and rebounds (9.8 rpg). Fellow sophomore Mason Stark is right behind at 13.9 ppg. Sr. G Gabe King checks in at 12.3 ppg.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WOLVES
The Marauders trail the Wolves 28-13 in the all-time series… Recently UMary and NSU have split their series in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 before the Wolves swept the series the last two seasons… The Wolves have won the last five meetings… UMary last defeated Northern State 77-75 on Dec. 3, 2016, in Aberdeen, SD, as Bryan Jefferson scored 17 points and Ricky Suggs added 14 off the bench… The Marauders last home win was a 60-58 victory on Dec. 4, 2015. Marquealis Edwards led UMary with 16 points and four steals… LAST MEETING The Wolves edged the Marauders 69-64 on Feb. 22, 2019, at the MAC. Jaylan White led UMary with 22 points, Dennis Austin III had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Wyatt Carr came off the bench to score 12 points. Gabe King led NSU with 19 points. The Marauders fought back from a 15 point deficit to close within two but the Wolves held on and clinched the NSIC title.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – UNIVERSISTY OF MAINE at FORT KENT BENGALS
The University of Maine at Fort Kent plays the Marauders for the first time on Tuesday. The Bengals are in the process of playing three games in North Dakota, also facing Mayville State and Valley City State. In his sixth season at UMFK, Tom Bird was Director of Basketball Operations at North Dakota State University in 2013-14. In three different seasons Bird has led the Bengals to 20 or more wins. In 2017 and 2018, the Bengals advanced to the USSCAA National Tournament Final Four. Zeke McMurtry leads the Bengals in scoring at 15.8 ppg, followed by Julian Hymes at 9.5 ppg.   
 
LISTEN UP
Marauders fans can follow all the action live over the air on Fox Sports 710 AM with Voice of the Marauders Jesse Rostvedt providing the call… links to live video, audio and stats are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage. 
 
DIAL ADJUSTMENT
Saturday's Marauders men's and women's basketball games against Northern State University will be aired on KFYR 550 AM instead of FOX SPORTS 710.  
 
BEK SPORTS TO BROADCAST MARAUDERS VS. DRAGONS, WOLVES, BEAVERS
The next three University of Mary Northern Sun men's and women's basketball doubleheaders will air statewide on BEK Sports. BEK will air the Marauders games against MSU Moorhead on Friday, Dec. 13, the Northern State doubleheader on Saturday,  Dec. 14, and the instate rival twin bill against Minot State University on Saturday, Dec. 21…  View all three Marauders doubleheaders on the BEK Broadcasting Network via local cable providers on BEK PRIME and over-the-air on KNDB/KNDM in Western North Dakota and KRDK in Eastern North Dakota. Visit www.bek.coop/bek-tv/ for local channel assignments and current broadcast schedule. The BEK Broadcasting Network is also available nationally on BEK Now via your ROKU streaming device.
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders are holding teams to 65.6 points per game, the third-best figure in the NSIC. The opposition is making just 41.9 percent f their field goal attempts against UMary, 8^th in the NSIC.
 
DEFENSE PART II
UMary is 24^th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 65.6 ppg.
 
FREEBIES
Taking advantage of opportunities at the foul line, the Marauders are converting an impressing 76.1 percent of their free throw attempts (108-of-142). UMary ranks 5^th in the NSIC... The Marauders have shot 50 more free throws than the opposition… UMary foes are making 79.3 percent of their free throws, the highest percentage in the NSIC. 
 
LESS GIVING MORE TAKING
The Marauders are 5^th among NSIC teams this season in turnovers at +2.13/game… additionally the Marauders rank 6^th in steals (6.4/game).
 
HELPING HAND
After five games the Marauders are averaging 13.13 assists per game, 7^th in the NSIC.
 
SWAT CITY
The Marauders are blocking 3.5 shots/game, 6^th in the NSIC. Much of the work is being done by junior Matthew Kreklow, who is 2^nd in the NSIC at 2.2 rejections/game.
 
WHITE HOT
When needed, Jaylan White has taken over a trio of Marauders wins this season. The senior point guard scored 18 points in the opening game of the year, nine coming in the second half and the other nine in overtime… Against Dickinson State he just missed his career-high, scoring 28 points and making 10-of-15 shots in the win… In a win at Minot State, White scored all 13 of his points in the final seven minutes to help the Marauders overcome an 11-point deficit, scoring the winning basket with 8.8 seconds left in the game… currently White is 4^th in the NSIC in steals (1.9)/game), is 8^th in free throw percentage (.848), 11^th in assists (3.4), 12^th in assists to turnovers (1.6), and 23^rd in scoring (13.9 ppg)… Entering his third season as a starter, White 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 63 out of the Marauders last 64 games, including all 29 last year. He is averaging 9.1 points per game in 92 career games and has totaled 834 points while distributing 256 assists (8^th all-time). Next on the all-time assist is Jordan Englehardt with 263.
 
800/250
Earlier this season in the Minot State contest, senior guard Jaylan White cracked 800 career points and 250 assists. He became just the 6th UMary player to reach that combination of points and assists, joining Tracy Porter 1,006 points/489 assists), Scott Kleinjan (2,268/478), Jim Hughes (871/404), Rusty Gillette (1,167/323), and Jordan Englehardt (892/263).
 
CLUTCH
For the second time in his career, Jaylan White hit a game-winning bucket in the final seconds of a game in the Marauders victory at Minot State University. The senior posted the game-winning basket in the 56-53 win with 8.8 seconds on the clock… Last season the All-NSIC guard hit a shot with under three seconds remaining of a 100-98 triple overtime win at Minnesota Duluth. 
 
DOWNTOWN
Connor Hellebust is off to a strong start behind the arc. He is 10^th in the NSIC in treys/game (2.4). The junior guard is 24^th in scoring (13.8 ppg)… Hellebust has hit for double digits in points in six of eight games, scoring 18 against both Northeastern State and Presentation… he posted a team-best 15 points in the Marauders win at Minot State… has hit three or more treys in a game four times… he has also hit at least one trey in each game.
 
DOWNTOWN PART 2
The Marauders are making 8.1 treys per game (9^th in the NSIC) and are converting 32.2 percent of their attempts.  
 
DEBUT
Four players have made their Marauders debut this season: junior Glenn Jordan, redshirt freshmen Kade Amundson and Josh Sipes and freshman Regan Tollefson. Sipes has stepped into the Marauders starting lineup at the wing and averages 5.0 ppg. He is third on the team in treys (9)… Amundson has started two games and averages 5.3 ppg… Jordan is scoring 4.0 ppg… Tollefson has played in six games and averages 2.8 ppg.
 
UPWARD MOBILITY
The Marauders improved by six wins overall and five wins in the NSIC last season.
 
REJECTION LETTERS
After posting one block in his first game of the season against Presentation, Matthew Kreklow has a pair -of four-block efforts (Dickinson State, Minot State) and ranks third all-time at UMary in blocked shots with 89. He trails 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… Kreklow is 3^rd on the team in scoring at 11.8 ppg… he is making 56.9 percent of his field goals and has made 13-of-14 free throws… he also leads the team with 7.3 rebounds/game… he posted his first double double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds at Minot State.
 
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). (stats from 2018-19)
 
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). (stats from 218-19)
 
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 in 2018-19 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
2019-20:   3-  0
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
NIFTY 50
Marauders head coach Joe Kittell won his 50^th game as Marauders head coach in the 2019-20 season opener against Central Oklahoma. Kittell is the fifth UMary basketball coach to reach that mark, following Al Bortke (335), Jim Feeney (144), Rod Jonas (69) and Juno Pintar (55). He now has 54 wins at UMary.
 
KITTELL 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 96. Kittell earned 42 wins in two seasons at Lake Region State College and owns 54 at UMary.
 
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