THIS WEEK
Making their last road trip of the regular season, the University of Mary men's basketball team heads to northern Minnesota for a pair of Northern Sun North division contests. The Marauders open the weekend at Bemidji State University on Friday, Feb. 15. Game time is 7:30 pm from the BSU Gymnasium. On Saturday, Feb. 16, UMary visits the University of Minnesota Crooktson. Tip off from Lysaker Gymnasium is 5:30 pm.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 11-13 overall, 8-10 in the Northern Sun overall (t-10^th place) and tied for fifth in the NSIC North. In NSIC North games only, UMary is 6-4.
 
PLAYOFF PUSH
With four games left in the regular season, the Marauders are tied with Minnesota Crookston for fifth in the NSIC North and three games behind the University of Minnesota Duluth for the fourth and final home berth in the first round of the conference tournament, which is set for Wednesday, Feb. 27. The top four teams in each of the North and South divisions will host in the opening round (#1 North hosts #8 South, #1 South hosts #8 North, #2 N v #7 S, #2 S v #7 N, etc.). However, if there is a tie in overall NSIC record, the game will be hosted by the higher (better) seed unless the lower (worse) seeded team beat the higher seeded team on the road during the regular season… The NSIC / Sanford Health Men's Tournament quarterfinals, semifinals and championship games are set for March 3-5 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD.
 
LAST TIME OUT
On their longest conference road trip of the season, the University of Mary split a pair of games, winning 78-72 at Upper Iowa before falling 84-56 at Winona State… Behind a season-high 22 points and nine rebounds from Dennis Austin III, the Marauders opened the weekend with a win at Upper Iowa. Facing his alma mater where he played the last three seasons, Austin made 8-of-12 shots and added four assists and two steals. Connor Hellebust was 4-of-5 on treys and scored 19 points. Matthew Kreklow added 12 points and Jaylan White 10. UMary used a 17-4 run in the first half to gain the lead and played out front the rest of the night. Joe Smoldt had 19 points for UIU… A barrage of 3-pointers carried Winona State past the visiting Marauders on Saturday. The Warriors hit their first six attempts on the night and was 10-of-11 in the first half from behind the arc to build an insurmountable lead. Tom Kubank led the Marauders with 14 points. Wyatt Carr scored 11 off the bench. Both had three 3s for UMary in the game. Mason Domask led the Warriors with 19 points.
 
DEEEE-FENSE
The Marauders are posting impressive defensive figures this season. UMary is 4^th in the Northern Sun in both scoring defense (70.7 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.442) and second in steals (7.1).
 
POINT REDUCTION PROGRAM
The Marauders defense has made tremendous strides on the defensive front, allowing seven fewer points per game than a year ago. The Marauders are giving up just 70.7 points per game after allowing the opposition 77 ppg last season… UMary has also held the opposition to a shooting percentage of 44.2 percent after teams made 48.4 percent of their field goal attempts last season, boosting the Marauders from 15^th a year ago on the NSIC leaderboard to 4^th now. 
 
LEGALIZED LARCENY
The Marauders are second in the NSIC in steals this season at 7.1/game. Jaylan White leads the way with 1.3 steals/game to rank 5^th in the NSIC. Dennis Austin III is 14^th in the NSIC in steals (1.2), Tom Kubank is 21^st and Connor Hellebust 22^nd at 1.0 steals/game.
 
FAST BREAK

• The Marauders string of six straight games outrebounding their opponents ended at Winona State. On the year the Marauders are outrebounding their opponents by 0.5/game after finishing last season at -4.7.
• The Marauders conclude their second of two four-game road trips this weekend when they visit the Beavers and Golden Eagles
• After holding opponents to 67 points or fewer six times a year ago in 27 games, the Marauders have limited opponents to 67 or fewer points 11 times in 24 outings already this season.
• In 24 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
• Nine Marauders average at least 1.9 rebounds/game

 
FREE THROW FOLLOWTHROUGH
UMary is shooting 73.9 percent (334-of-452) from the free throw line to their opponent's 71.1 percent (290-of-408)… The Marauders have made more free throws than the opposition 15 times and attempted more 15 times in 24 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 three time and makes twice… UMary is 9-6 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… In a six-game stretch prior to last weekend at WSU and UIU, the Marauders made over 80 percent of their free throw attempts, going 115-of-139 (83 percent) stretch. Included in that figure was a combined 31-of-34 (91.2%) effort at home against Wayne State and Augie.
 
TURNOVER TOWN
The Marauders are +1.25 in turnovers, the 7th-best mark in the NSIC. The Marauders broke even on turnovers last season.
 
DOWN UNDER
Sr. F Tom Kubank is 2^nd on the Marauders in scoring this season with much of his production from behind the arc. The Adelaide, South Australia, native averages 11.7 points/game and makes 2.0 treys/game, 18th in the NSIC… he is 48-of-130 behind the arc (37 percent)… reached double figures in scoring in 13 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 his Jan. 25-26 efforts, So. F Matthew Kreklow is 3rd in the NSIC in blocked shots at 1.7/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 Augie 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 (11.7 ppg) and first in rebounds (5.9 rebounds/game)… 4^th in assists at 1.4/game… The post player knocked down all ten of his free throw attempts in a win over Minnesota Duluth and is 68-of-83 at the line to rank 9^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage (.819)… 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… the first UMary player to earn NSIC player of the week honors since January 2014.
 
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 13.5 points per game… one of the top free throw shooters in the NSIC, the junior is 98-of-119 at the line to rank 7^th in the league with an .824 free throw percentage… White is 10th in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (2.2) and 10^th in assists (3.5/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 and against Augie… In win over Augie White posted 20 points and tied his career-high with eight assists.
 
HEATING UP
So. G Connor Hellebust is heating up. The Bismarck, ND, native posted double digit points in eight of his last 15 games… averaging 10.2 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… went 4-of-5 on 3s and scored 18 points with six assists in win over Augie – both 3s and assists were career-highs… followed immediately with another 4-for-5 effort behind the arc and 19 points at Upper Iowa… was 3-for-5 behind the arc against the Wolves… also hit three 3s at UMD… hit multiple 3s in eight of the last 14 games.
 
STAT STUFFER
Sr. G Dennis Austin III is filling all the stat columns this year… in a homecoming win at his alma mater Upper Iowa last weekend, Austin scored 22 points, grabbed nine rebounds, had four assists, made two steals and was 8-for-12 from the field…  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 5.7/game, 2nd in steals (25), second in assists (1.8) and 5^th in scoring (7.0)... had season-high 12 rebounds against Minnesota State… Made at least 50 percent of his shots in 12 of last 15 games… and is shooting 52.3 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 (927).
 
BENCH BOOST
Freshman guard Trever Kaiser continues to provide a spark off the bench… Scored career-high 21 points in win over Augie. He was 4-of-7 on treys, 6-of-9 overall from the floor, made all five free throw attempts and posted three assists… With a pair of Marauders out of the lineup four weeks ago, Kaiser picked up some of the slack and posted a then career-high ten points against both Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State. He followed with seven points against UMC and three points and four assists against BSU. HE has scored in eight of his last nine games… 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. In his next outing, Engg hit 2-of-3 trey attempts and grabbed six rebounds against Wayne State… Wyatt Carr has provided quality points off the bench all season. The sophomore wing averages 5.0 ppg and is shooting 37 percent from behind the arc (27-of-73). Has connected for multiple treys in eight games with a season-best four at Minnesota Duluth in the 100-98 triple overtime game. Has made all 15 of his free throws this season.  
 
OPPO RESEARCH: BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY BEAVERS
Bemidji State is 8-14 overall, 5-13 in the NSIC and 2-8 in the NSIC North. The Beavers are 4-4 in their last eight games, winning on four straight Fridays but losing on four straight Saturdays. The Beavers hit 17 treys in a 73-58 win over Concordia-St. Paul last week. The Beavers average 75.3 ppg and are 7th in the NSIC in shooting percentage (.473) and 3-point shooting percentage (.376) and 5^th in rebounding margin (+3.4) but allow 79.1 ppg, and are last in the NSIC in turnover margin at -5.23. Sophomore Derek Thompson leads BSU in scoring (15.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg). Logan Bader averages 10.6 ppg with Jacob Hoffman (11.8) and Ja Morgan (12.0) just ahead on the team leader board.   
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. BEAVERS
Mary leads the series with BSU 16-10… The series began in 1971 with a 92-87 home win for the Marauders… The two teams played twice in the 1987 season with each school winning at home… Since becoming a member of the NSIC, Mary captured the first five meetings before BSU broke through with a home win in the 2009-10 season… After six straight losses to the Beavers, the Marauders swept the season series in 2014-15 and 2015-16 before splitting the last two seasons… last year the Marauders defeated the Beavers 88-80 in overtime at BSU… in their last meeting Jan. 26, 2019, the Marauders defeated the visiting Beavers 83-66 as Matthew Kreklow scored a career-high 27 points, making 10-of-14 shots. Dennis Austin added 17 points, ten rebounds and four steals. Justin Engg added 11 points.
 
OPPO RESEARCH –UNIVERSTY OF MINNESOTA CROOKSTON GOLDEN EAGLES
UMC is nearly perfect at home (12-1) but has yet to win on the road (0-9). Overall the Golden Eagles are 15-12, sit 8-10 in the NSIC and 4-6 in the NSIC North. Among their wins is a 76-57 thrashing at home of a St. Cloud State team ranked nationally at one point this season and a 108-88 home win over MSU Moorhead, tied for 2^nd in the NSIC with SCSU. UMC also beat 2^nd place Minnesota State at home, the Golden Eagles first win ever over the Mavericks. Since joining the NSIC in 1999-2000, this is just the second time the program has posted double-digit wins (10 last year) and has set a school record for NSIC wins with eight (formerly seven last year). The Golden Eagles average 78.6 ppg and 9.5 treys. Defensively UMC holds opponents to a .444 shooting percentage and have a +3.1 turnover margin. The dynamic Harrison Cleary is 4^th in the NSIC in scoring (21.6 ppg) and torched MSUM for 47 points earlier this season. The junior guard UMC's all-time leading scorer (1,924 points) and is 5^th all-time in NSIC games (1,428). He shoots 43 percent from the floor, makes 47 percent of his 3s and converts 95 percent of his free throw attempts. Chase Knickerbocker chips in 11.6 ppg and 4.3 rebounds/game.
                                  
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. GOLDEN EAGLES
Since joining the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season, the Marauders are 20-5 against the Golden Eagles… UMary is 12-1 at home and 8-4 away versus UMC… The Marauders are 12-2 in the last 14 outings against the Golden Eagles… UMary has won seven straight home games… The only home UMary loss to UMC was 56-53 on Jan. 8, 2012… In their last meet on Jan. 25., 2019, the Marauders defeated the visiting Golden Eagles 76-67. UMary was +8 in turnovers and +6 in rebounds and held Harrison Cleary to nine points. Jaylan White paced UM with 17 points, Matthew Kreklow had 14 points and nine rebounds, Tom Kubank had 16 points and nine rebounds and Dennis Austin III posted 10 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals.
 
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 eight 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:   8-  4
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 zlongest 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

 
NUMBERS GAME
UMary put up a lot of big numbers in their 101-87 win over visiting Augustana… the 101 points is the most points the Marauders have ever scored in a Northern Sun game. UMary joined the NSIC for the 2006-07 season… The previous high was 100 points UMary scored in its 100-98 triple overtime win at Minnesota Duluth… It was the most points UMary had scored in a game since posting a school-record 144 against Oglala Lakota College on Dec. 14, 2015… The Marauders had season-highs in points (101), field goal percentage (57.6% on 34-of-59 shooting), 3-point shooting percentage (50%) and 3-point makes (14).
 
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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