THIS WEEKEND
Back at home for the second straight weekend, the University of Mary men's basketball team hosts a pair of teams from the Northern Sun South Division for the first time this season. The weekend tips off with a visit from the University of Sioux Falls on Friday, Jan. 17. Game time is 7:30 pm. On Saturday, Jan. 18, Southwest Minnesota State University stops by for a 5:30 pm start. Both games are on the UMary campus inside the McDowell Activity Center.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 8-8 overall and 3-7 in the Northern Sun (13^th in NSIC, 7^th in NSIC North)… Sioux Falls is  13-3 overall and 9-1 in the NSIC (1^st in NSIC, 1^st in NSIC South)… Southwest Minnesota State is 5-11 and 2-8 (15^th in NSIC, 8^th in NSIC South).
 
LAST WEEK
Back home for the first time in 2020, the Marauders gained a weekend split… the weekend opened with a 78-54 loss to #23 Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs broke open a close game with a 23-6 run in the second half. Matthew Kreklow led the Marauders with 10 points and seven rebounds. Josh Sipes added nine points on three treys. Logan Rohrscheib hit five treys and scored 19 points for UMD… The Marauders rebounded to defeat St. Cloud State 85-80 in UMary's best offensive game of the season. UMary shot 63.8 percent from the field and made 11-of-19 treys. Three Marauders scored 18 points – Josh Sipes, Wyatt Carr and Matthew Kreklow. The trio made 21-of-26 shots, including 7-of-10 behind the arc. Kreklow also had seven rebounds, three assists and four rejections, becoming the school's all-time leader in blocked shots in the game. Sipes hit three treys and scored a career-high 18. Carr nailed four treys. Jaylan White dropped eight assists to tie his career-best. Trevon Marshall posted 36 points for SCSU.
 
KREKLOW BREAKS UMARY CAREER REORD FOR BLOCKED SHOTS
Matthew Kreklow became the University of Mary all-time career leader in blocked shots with 109. After four blocks against St. Cloud State on Saturday, Jan. 11, the junior from Maple Plain, MN, passed UMary Hall of Famer and All-American Marc Hawley, who finished his career with 108 blocked shots (1995-97). Kreklow blocked 23 shots as a freshman, 53 last year as a sophomore and has 33 blocks this season, an average of 1.6 blocks per game.
 
920
Marauders senior guard Jaylan White cracked 900 career points earlier this season at Minnesota State and now has 920 career points. The native of St. Charles, IA, is the 26^th player in University of Mary men's basketball history to accomplish this feat. He now ranks 22^nd all-time with 920 points. The last UMary players to crack 900 career points was Bryan Jefferson and Damonta Henry in the 2016-17 season… Just ahead of White on the career scoring list is Anish Sharda (935) and Dave Alverson (947).  
 
800
In addition to setting the school record for career blocked shots, Matthew Kreklow reached 803 career points. He is the 33^rd UMary player to reach the 800 point club and the second this season, joining Jaylan White.
 
400
On top of setting the school blocked shot record and passing 800 career points in the win over St. Cloud State, Matthew Kreklow also reached 400 career rebounds in the Huskies game. He is the 20^th UMary player to reach that figure in his career.
 
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. 
 
OPPO RESEARCH – UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS
Ranked first in the D2SIDA Central Region poll and receiving votes in the NABC Top 25 poll, NSIC-leading Sioux Falls is 13-3 overall and 9-1 in NSIC play. The Cougars have won six straight games and lead the NSIC in scoring defense (68.1 ppg). They average 71.6 ppg. Seven players average 5.6 or more points per game. Jr. F Austin Slater leads USF in scoring (11.2 ppg) and hauls down 7.2 rebounds/game. Chase Grinde is shooting over 50 percent from the floor and averages 10.6 ppg. Fr. G Jack Thompson chips in 10.2 ppg and Jr. F Teathloach Pal averages 10.1 ppg and 9.0 rpg.  
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. COUGARS
The Cougars lead the series with the Marauders 6-2… USF won the first four games in the series before UMary claimed the next two… The Marauders first win was a 69-65 road win on Dec. 12, 2015… Mary is 1-2 at home and 1-4 at USF… The two former NAIA competitors first met as NCAA and NSIC foes on 2.9.13 with USF gaining a 75-70 home win. The Marauders joined the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season and the Cougars began NSIC play in 2012-13… USF has won the last two games… LAST MEETING USF held off a late UMary rally in a 77-72 home win for the Cougars. The teams combined to shoot 77 free throws and commit 57 fouls. Connor Hellebust and Tom Kubank both scored 15 points for UMary. Trevon Evans led USF with 26 points.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
After winning two NSIC South Division titles and appearing in three straight NSIC championship games the last three seasons, the Mustangs are struggling this season. SMSU is 5-11 overall and 2-8 to sit 15^th in the NSIC and 8^th in the NSIC South. One of the league's top defensive teams, the Mustangs allow just 69.9 points/game and are holding foes to a shooting percentage of .417. Offensively SMSU is scoring just 66.4 ppg. Kenny Byers paces the Mustangs in scoring at 17.9 ppg while also recording 8.1 rebounds/game. Nick Dufault is the other double digit scorer at 13.0 ppg.  
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. MUSTANGS
The Marauders trail the Mustangs in the series 15-3… UMary is 2-5 all-time at home in the MAC and 1-9 at SMSU's R/A Facility… SMSU has won the last four meetings… UMary's last win in Bismarck over SMSU was 74-65 February 14, 2014… The Marauders last win in Marshall, MN, was 91-82 on December 11, 2015... LAST MEETING Despite 21 points from Connor Hellebust, UMary dropped a 79-71 decision at SMSU on Jan. 19, 2019. Jaylan White added 13 points and five assists. Ryan Bruggeman had 29 points for the Mustangs.     
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders allow the fewest points in the NSIC this season. UMary is limiting the opposition to 68.1 points per game. Opponents are making just 43.4 percent of their field goal attempts against UMary, 8^th best in the NSIC.
 
DEFENSE PART II
UMary is 40^th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 68.1 ppg.
 
HANDS OFF APPROACH
The Marauders commit an average of 14.5 personal fouls/game, the fewest in the NSIC and 19^th fewest in NCAA Division II.
 
FREEBIES
Taking advantage of opportunities at the foul line, the Marauders are converting an impressing 76.2 percent of their free throw attempts (205-of-269). UMary ranks 4^th in the NSIC and 41^st in NCAA Division II... The Marauders have shot 71 more free throws than the opposition… UMary foes are making just 69.2 percent of its attempts, the second worst figure in the NSIC. 
 
LESS GIVING MORE TAKING
The Marauders are 8^th among NSIC teams this season in turnovers at +0.6/game.
 
HELPING HAND
The Marauders average 13.7 assists per game, 7^th in the NSIC. UMary is 15^th in the NSIC in scoring.
 
SWAT CITY
The Marauders are blocking 3.4 shots/game, 7^th in the NSIC. Much of the work is being done by junior Matthew Kreklow, who is 2^nd in the NSIC at 2.4 rejections/game.
 
WHITE HOT
When needed, Jaylan White has taken over a quartet 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… in a 75-72 home win over Minot State, White scored seven points in overtime… currently White is 5^th in the NSIC in steals (1.4)/game), 8^th in assists (3.8), and 8^th in assists to turnovers ratio (1.8). He is averaging 12.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game… 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 71 out of the Marauders last 72 games, including all 29 last year and 16 this season. He is averaging 9.1 points per game in 101 career games and has totaled 920 points while distributing 289 assists (6^th all-time). Next on the all-time assist is Rusty Gillette with 323.
 
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)… After cracking 900 career points last weekend, he is now one of only four Marauders in the 900/250 club with Porter, Kleinjan and Gillette.
 
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. 
 
REJECTION LETTERS
Matthew Kreklow is now the Marauders all-time career leader in blocked shots with 109. He surpassed  UMary Hall of Famer and All-American forward Marc Hawley (108 rejections in 1995-97) when he blocked four shots in the Marauders win over St. Cloud State on Saturday...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 leads the Marauders in scoring (15.2 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg), field goal percentage (.569) and blocks (2.4)… he is shooting 78.7 percent at the free throw line and averages 1.3 steals and 1.6 assists… he has five double doubles this season and eight in his career (see note below)… Kreklow is 14^th in the NSIC in scoring, 7^th in rebounding, 3^rd in field goal percentage and 10^th in free throw percentage… In NCAA Division II rankings, Kreklow is 13^th in blocks/game, 48^th in field goal percentage and 82^nd in rebounding.
 
DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE
Matthew Kreklow owns five double doubles this season, including a run of four straight games. For his career Kreklow has eight double doubles. Here's the list:
12/21/19 v. Minot State | 25 points and 10 rebounds
12/17/19 vs. Maine-Fort Kent | 16 points and 12 rebounds
12/14/19 vs. Northern State | 18 points and 13 rebounds
12/13/19 vs. MSU Moorhead | 25 points and 10 rebounds
11/30/19 at Minot State | 12 points and 10 rebounds
1/25/19 vs. Minnesota Crookston | 14 points and 10 rebounds
11/20/18 vs. South Dakota Mines | 14 points and 10 rebounds
11.28.17 vs. Yellowstone Christian | 11 points and 10 rebounds
 
KREKLOW EARNS SECOND CAREER NSIC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
Matthew Kreklow became just the third UMary player to earn Northern Sun Player of the Week honors multiple times. Eric Erdmann and All-American Anthony Moody both captured the award three times in their Marauders careers… Kreklow first won the honor in January 2019 after leading the Marauders to a weekend sweep of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State… This season he captured the award for his efforts in the final week of the 2019 schedule after leading the Marauders to a home sweep of the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Minot State University. Kreklow posted 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks while making 8-of-11 field goals in a 77-33 win over the Bengals. The junior then scorched Minot State for 25 points, ten rebounds and five blocks in a 75-72 overtime win against the Beavers.
 
DOWNTOWN
Connor Hellebust is one of the Marauders top threat from behind the arc. The junior guard averages 8.9 points per game and 3.5 rebounds. He is knocking down 32 percent of his 3-point attempts (23-of-73) and is making 81.6 percent of his free throw attempts (31-of-38)… Hellebust has hit for double digits in points in 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... his 23 treys is second o the team.
 
DOWNTOWN PART 2
The Marauders are making 8.4 treys per game (8^th in the NSIC) and are converting 33 percent of their attempts… Wyatt Carr is hitting a team-high 48 percent of his trey attempts, hitting 24-of-50 attempts behind the arc.
 
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 6.3 ppg. He is third on the team in treys (22)… Amundson has started two games and averages 4.6 ppg… Jordan has started three straight games and is scoring 5.1 ppg… Tollefson has played in nine games and averages 3.5 ppg.
 
UPWARD MOBILITY
The Marauders improved by six wins overall and five wins in the NSIC in 2018-19.
 
FOR THREE
The Marauders return three starters from the 2018-19 season, senior G Jaylan White (13.8 ppg/3.3 apg/2.5 rpg), junior center Matthew Kreklow (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 in 2018-19: 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:   6-3
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
NIFTY 50 | #4
After winning his 50^th game at UMary in the season opener, Joe Kittell moved to 4^th in all-time Marauders men's basketball coaching wins in a home win over Minot State. Legendary Hall of Famer Al Bortke tops the list with 335, followed by Jim Feeney (144), Rod Jonas (69), Kittell (57) and Juno Pintar (55).
 
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 99. Kittell earned 42 wins in two seasons at Lake Region State College and owns 57 at UMary.
 
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