THIS WEEK
After spending the last two weekends at home and winning three out of four contests at the McDowell Activity Center, the University of Mary men's basketball team embarks on a four-game road trip, opening with a visit to Fayette, IA, and Winona, MN. The Marauders open this weekend at Upper Iowa University on Friday, Feb. 8. Tip off against the Peacocks is set for 7:30 pm at Dorman Gym. The weekend concludes against the Winona State University Warriors on Saturday, February 9, at 5:30 pm at McCown Gymnasium.  
 
THE RECORD
The Marauders are 10-12 overall, 7-9 in the Northern Sun overall (t-10^th place) and 6-4 in the Northern Sun North division (t-2^nd place).
 
WINDSHIELD TIME
For the second time this season the Marauders embark on a four-game NSIC road trip. UMary closes out its NSIC South schedule at Upper Iowa and Winona State before visiting NSIC North members Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston on Feb. 15-16. The Marauders wrap up the regular season hosting Northern State and MSU Moorhead on Feb. 22-23.
 
HOMECOMING
UMary Sr. G Dennis Austin III returns to his alma mater this weekend. Austin graduated from Upper Iowa last year. After redshirting his freshman season, Austin had one season of eligibility remaining and is a graduate transfer to UMary. In three seasons at UIU he scored 927 points and was a starter the last two years. He helped the Peacocks advance to the NCAA tournament in 2017.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders completed their four-game home stand with a split against NSIC South opponents Wayne State College and Augustana… Down four points at intermission, the Marauders couldn't solve the Wayne State College defense in the second half of a 67-48 loss involving two of the top defensive teams in the NSIC. The leader of the NSIC South and the conference's 2^nd place squad, the Wildcats shot just 42 percent and scored 13 fewer points than their average. UMary held a 33-27 edge in rebounding but was -11 in turnovers and shot 32.6 percent. Matthew Kreklow led UMary in scoring with 10 points. Trevin Joseph led WSC with 20 points… Setting a team record for points scored in an NSIC game, the Marauders snapped an 8-game losing streak to Augustana in a 101-87 win. UMary enjoyed its best offensive effort of the season, shooting 57.6 percent overall, hitting 14-of-28 trey attempts and 19-of-21 free throws. Fr. G Trever Kaiser hit four treys and scored 19 of his team-high and career-best 21 points in the first half. Jaylan White added 20 points and eight assists. Connor Hellebust was 4-for-5 behind the arc and had 18 points. Kreklow added 16 points, six rebounds and four blocks and Tom Kubank added 13 points. A.J. Plitzuweit had 23 points for Augie.
 
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)… The win snapped an 8-game losing streak to Augie. UMary's last win over the Vikings was a 90-81 home victory on February 11, 2011, when Anthony Moody exploded for 32 points and seven assists… that was also the last night both the Marauders men's and women's teams beat Augie in both games of a doubleheader.
 
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 (.438) and second in steals (7.4).
 
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 70 points per game after allowing the opposition 77 ppg last season… UMary has also held the opposition to a shooting percentage of 43.8 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. 
 
LEGALIZED LARCENY
The Marauders are second in the NSIC in steals this season at 7.4/game. Jaylan White leads the way with 1.4 steals/game to rank 3^rd in the NSIC. Connor Hellebust (17 in NSIC) and Tom Kubank (13^th) are at 1.1 steals/game, as is Dennis Austin III.
 
FAST BREAK

• The Marauders wrapped up a four-game home stand with a record of 3-1, including a weekend sweep of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State and UMary's first win over Augie since 2011
• The sweep of UMC and BSU was the first of the season for the Marauders and the first home weekend sweep since February 2017
• Last weekend the Marauders were a combined 31-of-34 (91.2%) against Wayne State and Augie
• 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 22 outings already this season.
• In 22 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 74.5 percent (312-of-419) from the free throw line to their opponent's 71.5 percent (273-of-382)… The Marauders have made more free throws than the opposition 13 times and attempted more 13 times in 22 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 8-5 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 five of their last six games and are a combined 115-of-139 (83 percent) during that stretch… Last weekend the Marauders were a combined 31-of-34 (91.2%) against Wayne State and Augie.
 
TURNOVER TOWN
The Marauders are +1.5 in turnovers, the 6th-best mark in the NSIC.
 
DOWN UNDER
Sr. F Tom Kubank is third on the Marauders in scoring this season with much of his production from behind the arc. The Adelaide, South Australia, native averages 11.9 points/game and makes 2.0 treys/game, 19th in the NSIC… he is 44-of-119 behind the arc (37 percent)… reached double figures in scoring in 12 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 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 (11.1 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 64-of-78 at the line to rank 12^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage (.821)… 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 14.0 points per game (24^th in the NSIC)… one of the top free throw shooters in the NSIC, the junior is 97-of-118 at the line to rank 11^th in the league with an .822 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 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 seven of his last 13 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… 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 14 games is averaging 3.8 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 5.7/game, 4^th in steals (21), second in assists (1.7) and 5^th in scoring (6.4)... had season-high 12 rebounds against Minnesota State… Made at least 50 percent of his shots in ten of last 13 games… and is shooting 50 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 three 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… 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.
 
OPPO RESEARCH: UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY PEACOCKS
The Peacocks are 6-16 overall and 3-13 in the NSIC and have suffered ten straight losses. Upper Iowa is tied for last in NSIC. One of the nation's leaders in 3s per game, UIU is averaging an NSIC-leading 11.8 makes per game from behind the arc. All six Peacocks wins have come when they have posted at least 80 points and they are 0-10 when scoring under 80 points. The Peacocks average 78 ppg with five players in double figures. Jareese Wiliams leads the way at 15.0 ppg with Joe Smoldt at 13.1 ppg. The pair have combined for 107 treys on the year (UMary has 165 as a team). UIU is last in the NSIC in points allowed at 86.3 ppg, field goal percentage defense (.477) and rebounding margin (-9.2).
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. PEACOCKS
The Marauders are 6-10 all-time against the Peacocks… Upper Iowa is 6-2 at home in Dorman Gym… UMary is 4-4 at the McDowell Activity Center against UIU…The Peacocks have won six of the last seven meetings with the Marauders... last season the Marauders overcame an 8-point deficit in the final two minutes of play to force overtime before losing 92-86 to the visiting Peacocks. Trevor Zacher had five treys for UM and scored 17 points. Carson Parker scored 20 for UIU.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – WINONA STATE UNIVERSTY WARRIORS
The Warriors have the identical record as the Marauders at 10-12 overall and 7-9 in the NSIC. Winona State sits 6^th in the NSIC South and 10^th overall. WSU is 2-4 against teams from the NSIC North. When hitting from the outside the Warriors have found success, owning a mark of 6-0 when hitting 13 treys in a game and going 8-2 when draining at least 11 from behind the arc. The Warriors are averaging 74.7 ppg while allowing 71.1, numbers similar to the Marauders. Kevion Taylor is the leading scorer at 16.8 ppg and is shooting 41 percent from behind the arc. Caleb Wagner averages 12.1 ppg.
                                 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WARRIORS
The Marauders are 1-18 all-time against the Warriors… WSU is 11-0 at home against UMary, including 3-0 in the NSIC tournament… The Marauders lost the first seven games of the series before winning 87-85 in overtime at home on 1.3.10 behind 29 points from Anthony Moody The All-American hit 5-of-6 3-point attempts and captured NSIC Player of the Week honors for his efforts… The Warriors have won 11 straight games over the Marauders… The visiting Warriors edged the Marauders 71-62 in their last meeting on 1.27.18. Keith Hunter hit six treys and scored 30 points for UMary and Trevor Zacher added four treys and had 14 points. Tommy Gathje led WSU with 18 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

 
 
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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