THIS WEEK
The final weekend of the regular season, the University of Mary men's basketball team prepares for postseason play as a couple of the top teams in the Northern Sun stop by the McDowell Activity Center on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23. The weekend opens with a visit from first-place Northern State University on Friday. Tipoff on Samaritan's Feet Night is 7:30 pm. The regular season concludes when 5^th place MSU Moorhead comes to the Capital City on Saturday. Game time on Senior Night between the Marauders and the Wolves is 5:30 pm.
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 11-15 overall, 8-12 in the Northern Sun overall (t-12^th place) and tied for seventh in the NSIC North. In NSIC North games only, UMary is 6-6.
 
PLAYOFF SCENARIO
The Marauders currently are sitting seventh overall in the NSIC North. However, UMary is just a game behind both Minnesota Crookston and Minot State for fifth place in the NSIC standings. While the Marauders won't host a first round NSIC playoff game on Wednesday, Feb. 27, who UMary faces in the first round of the NSIC / Sanford Health tournament is up in the air with Sioux Falls, Minnesota State, Wayne State and Augustana all part of the opposition equation. The tournament bracket will be released following the completion of the NSIC schedule on Saturday night.
 
PLAYOFF DATA
Set for Wednesday, Feb. 27, the NSIC / Sanford Health basketball tournament features the top four teams in each of the North and South divisions hosting 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. The NSIC women's tournament opens a day earlier on March 2.
 
SAMARITAN'S FEET NIGHT
To raise awareness for those who may not have shoes, UMary women's basketball head coach Rick Neumann and Marauders head men's basketball coach Joe Kittell will coach barefoot for Samaritan's Feet Night on Friday, February 22, when Northern State University visits the McDowell Activity Center. This is the fourth straight year Neumann and Kittell have coached in their bare feet to help draw awareness for the need for shoes both here in the U.S. and around the world. For Kittell, the 2017 Samaritan's Feet Barefoot Coach of the Year, it is the sixth time in his career… Marauders men's assistant coaches Mike Annese, Montel Vidot, Michael Gorder and Dominic Miller and women's assistant coaches Adam Jacobson, Kayla Timmerman and Jason Mattheis also plan to coach barefoot… UMary fans are encouraged to participate in Samaritan's Feet Night by bringing a new pair of youth athletic shoes (preferably Boy/Girls sizes 1-5) to donate to Samaritan's Feet. Collected shoes will be provided to children from the Bismarck area who are in need. Please drop off donations at the Samaritan's Feet information table located in the Marauders Hall of Fame/Concourse of the Lumen Vitae University Center entering the McDowell Activity Center… Samaritan's Feet is a humanitarian aid organization that serves and inspires hope in children and adults by providing shoes as the foundation to a spiritual and healthy life resulting in the advancement of education and economic opportunities.
 
BEK SPORTS BROADCASTING MARAUDERS-WOLVES GAME FRIDAY
The University of Mary men's and women's basketball home games against Northern State University will be broadcast on BEK Sports across North Dakota on Friday, Feb. 22. Tip off for the women's game is set for 5:30 pm from the McDowell Activity Center on the UMary campus. The men's game immediately follows at 7:30 pm. View the two Northern Sun contests on BEK via local cable providers on BEK Sports and on KNDB/KNDM in western North Dakota and KRDK in eastern North Dakota. Visit www.bektel.com/bbn/beksportschannels/ for local channel assignments and www.beksports.com for the current broadcast schedule. BEK Sports is also available nationally on BEK Now via your ROKU streaming device. Go to www.beknow.tv for more information.
 
SENIOR DAY
The Marauders will honor seniors Tom Kubank and Dennis Austin III on Saturday, Feb. 23, immediately following the conclusion of the UMary women's game against MSU Moorhead.
 
Dennis Austin III (G, 6-3, 185, Sr., Minneapolis, MN)  
"We have really enjoyed coaching Dennis the season!" said University of Mary head coach Joe Kitell. "He brought a great energy and toughness to our team every night, whether it was on the practice floor or in the games. We are very humbled that we were able to be the final part of Dennis' college basketball and academic career. I pray that we helped guide Dennis not only to mature and grow as a player but as a man and that he can put the same dedication he has given to the game to the rest of his life from here on out. Thank you, Dennis, for your belief, commitment, and work ethic that you gave our program this season."
 
Dennis played one season with the Marauders and is currently 5th on the team in scoring (6.9 point per game), 2nd on the team in rebounding (5.5 per game), and is tied for 2nd on the team in steals with 25. On January 11 at Minnesota Duluth, Dennis reached 1,000 points in his collegiate career. Additional highlights from his season at UMary include an overtime buzzer-beating three-pointer to beat visiting Minnesota Duluth, a 22 point and nine-rebound performance in the win at Upper Iowa, and a 17 point and 10 rebound performance against Minnesota State University, Mankato at home in the MAC. Prior to transferring to the University of Mary as a graduate student, Dennis competed at Upper Iowa University where he graduated with a degree in psychology. Dennis is originally from Minneapolis, MN, where he graduated from Apple Valley High School.
 
 
Tom Kubank (F, 6-7, 200, Sr., Adelaide, South Australia)
 "We can't thank Tom enough for all he has done for the University of Mary Men's Basketball program," said Marauders head coach Joe Kittell. "He has been a young man of high character and we are going to greatly miss him. Personally I've had the great fortune to be around Tom for four of his five years of college basketball and we've had a great run. I will greatly miss his spirit and his loyalty. Tom is a great young man and I know he will do great things!"
 
Tom has played the last two seasons for the Marauders after redshirting his first season in 2016-17. As a junior in 2017-18, Tom averaged 7.2 points per game and started 27 games for the Marauders. Coming back even stronger for his senior season, he currently is third on the team in points (11.2 per game), third in rebounding (5.0 per game), and has made a team-leading 50 threes. Tom's highlights this season in include making five three-pointers and scoring 25 points in a home win against South Dakota Mines and Tech, 18 points in the triple overtime win at Minnesota Duluth, and a 16-point and 9-rebound night in the win at home against Minnesota Crookston. Tom also cracked the 1,000 collegiate career point mark in the win at MSU Moorhead on December 14. Prior to attending the University of Mary, Tom graduated from Lake Region State College where he was a two-year starter. As a sophomore for the Royals Tom averaged 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. In two seasons at Lake Region Tom's teams won 42 games. He graduates this spring with a degree in Business.
 
LAST TIME OUT
On their final regular season road trip of the season, the University of Mary suffered a pair of losses that finished the Marauders hopes for a home berth in the opening round of the NSIC tournament… The Marauders opened the weekend with a 70-47 loss at Bemidji State. UMary shot a season-low 28 percent from the floor and trailed 14-0 out of the shoot. Jaylan White led the Marauders with 11 points. Jacob Hoffman paced BSU with 12… Decided in the last six minutes of the opening half, UMary fell 72-60 at Minnesota Crookston. UMC used a 13-2 run to close out the first 20 minutes with a 12 point lead. While led the Marauders with 22 points and Matthew Kreklow added 17 points and three blocks. Harrison Cleary scored a game-high 23 points for UMC.
 
DEEEE-FENSE
The Marauders have posted impressive defensive figures this season. UMary is 4^th in the Northern Sun in both scoring defense (70.9 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.442) and third in steals (6.7).
 
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 70.9 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. The Marauders also have shown improvement on the boards.
 
LEGALIZED LARCENY
The Marauders are third in the NSIC in steals this season at 6.7/game. Jaylan White leads the way with 1.3 steals/game to rank 4^th in the NSIC. Dennis Austin III is 18^th in the NSIC in steals (1.1) and Tom Kubank and Connor Hellebust are tied for 23^rd 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 breaking even on the boards at -0.1/game after finishing last season at -4.7.
• After playing their last 8-of-12 games on the road - including their second of two four-game swings – the Marauders host Northern State and MSU Moorhead to close out the regular season finale
• 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 26 outings this season.
• In 26 games, the Marauders have forced more turnovers than they have committed 14 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
All season long the Marauders have found ways to get to the free throw line. UMary is shooting 72.8 percent (362-of-497) from the free throw line to their opponent's 71.6 percent (315-of-440)… The Marauders have made more free throws than the opposition 17 times and attempted more 17 times in 26 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 9-8 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 +0.96 in turnovers, the 7th-best mark in the NSIC. The Marauders broke even on turnovers last season.
 
DOWN UNDER
Sr. F Tom Kubank is 3^rd on the Marauders in scoring this season with much of his production from behind the arc. The Adelaide, South Australia, native averages 11.2 points/game and makes 1.9 treys/game, 20th in the NSIC… he is 49-of-138 behind the arc (36 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 1.8/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 Augie and three against Minnesota Duluth, Concordia-St. Paul and at Minnesota Crookston… 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 second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and first in rebounds (5.7 rebounds/game)… 4^th in assists at 1.3/game… The post player knocked down all ten of his free throw attempts in a win over Minnesota Duluth and is 76-of-93 at the line to rank 8^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage (.817)… 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… Scored 17 points with three blocks at UMC… 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 13.7 points per game… one of the top free throw shooters in the NSIC, the junior is 107-of-132 at the line to rank 12^th in the league with an .811 free throw percentage… White is 9th in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio (2.0) and 13^th in assists (3.3/game)… he has led the Marauders in scoring 11 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, against Augie and at UMC (22)… In win over Augie White posted 20 points and tied his career-high with eight assists.
 
BUSTING OUT
So. G Connor Hellebust is heating up. The Bismarck, ND, native posted double digit points in nine of his last 17 games… averaging 10.1 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 16 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 5.5/game, 2nd in steals (25), second in assists (1.7) and 5^th in scoring (6.9)... had season-high 12 rebounds against Minnesota State… Made at least 50 percent of his shots in 12 of last 17 games… and is shooting 50.4 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 has provided a spark offensively for the Marauders 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. Kaiser has scored in nine of his last 11 games and averages 3.5 ppg… 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 4.6 ppg and is shooting 36 percent from behind the arc (27-of-76). 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… Jr. F Richard Brown is beginning to find his scoring touch. The Houston, TX, native has scored in each of the Marauders last ten games and has hit a season-best eight at Upper Iowa two weeks ago and at Bemidji State last week.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY WOLVES
The NCAA Division II runner-up last year, the Wolves once again sit above the NSIC standings with a 20-6 mark overall and a 16-4 record in NSIC play… Northern State is up two games on St. Cloud State in the overall standings and holds a three-game lead over teams in the NSIC south. The Wolves had a 5-game win streak snapped last weekend by St. Cloud State. Ian Smith leads a balanced scoring attack (14.1 ppg) and shoots 48 percent from the field. Justin Decker scores 11.7 ppg, followed by Parker Fox (11.0 ppg), Gabe King (10.7 ppg) and Bo Fries (9.9 ppg). The 22nd head coach in Northern State history, Paul Sather is in his 9th season directing the Wolves and has a mark of 175-86. He was head coach at Black Hills State for five years before joining the Wolves for the 2010-11 season.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WOLVES
The Marauders trail the Wolves 27-13 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 2017-18 series… The Wolves have won the last four meetings - including a season sweep in 2017-18 – and the opening of two games this season… 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… Connor Hellebust scored 20 points and hit three treys but a fast start by the Wolves led the home team to a 76-59 victory. The Wolves hit eight of their first 11 trey attempts and shot 72 percent in the first half. Ian King and Gabe Smith both had 12 points for UMary on Dec. 15, 2018.
 
OPPO RESEARCH –MSU MOORHEAD DRAGONS
After opening the NSIC schedule with a record of 1-3, the Dragons reeled off eight straight wins and are now 18-10 overall and 12-8 in league games. MSUM struggled at home last weekend, falling at home to St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth and sit third in the NSIC North and fifth overall. MSUM ranks first in the league in scoring at 86.8 points/game but are 14^th in points allowed at 79.4 ppg. Five players average double digits in scoring, led by Addison Park at 16.1 ppg. Travaun Coad is at 15.2 ppg and leads the squad with 5.8 rebounds/game. Head coach Chad Walthall is in his ninth season leading the Dragons and is 183-85 at MSUM.                                  
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. DRAGONS
The Marauders trail the Dragons 19-14 in the all-time series… Since joining the NCAA and NSIC, UMary is 9-17 against MSUM… UMary snapped a 3-game win streak by MSUM in the last meeting between the two teams as Jaylan White scored 27 points and Trevor Zacher 23 in a 77-65 victory on the road Jan. 6, 2018… 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. It is also the last UMary home win… 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 Dragons have won six straight at the MAC… The Marauders doubled their win streak to two over the Dragons with a 78-73 win at MSU Moorhead on Dec. 14, 2018. Jaylan White has 19 points and was 11-for-12 at the free throw line. Tom Kubank had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Addison Park led MSUM with 26 points.
 
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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