THIS WEEKEND
After playing four straight games at home, the University of Mary embarks on a four-game road trip that starts in Northwest Minnesota against the only two Northern Sun North Division teams the Marauders have yet to face this season. On Friday, Jan. 24, the Marauders visit the University of Minnesota Crookston. Tip off is 7:30 pm at the Lysaker Gymnasium. The weekend concludes for UMary on Jan. 25 at Bemidji State University. The contest is set for 5:30 pm at the BSU Gymnasium.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 9-9 overall and 4-8 in the Northern Sun (11^th in NSIC, 6^h in NSIC North)… Minnesota Crookston is 8-10 overall and 4-8 in the NSIC North (11^th in NSIC, 6^th in NSIC North)… Bemidji State is 8-8 overall and 5-7 in the NSIC North (10^th in NSIC, 5^th in NSIC North).
 
LAST WEEK
At home for a second straight weekend, the University of Mary gained a split with a loss to NSIC-leading Sioux Falls before knocking off Southwest Minnesota State… Despite playing perhaps their best defensive game of the season, the Marauders dropped a 59-53 decision to Sioux Falls, the top team in the NSIC standings. The 59 points was the fewest scored by the Cougars in an NSIC game this season. Matthew Kreklow led the Marauders with 12 points and nine rebounds. He also blocked two shots. Connor Hellebust added 11 points. Chase Grinde scored 19 for USF. The Marauders, who pulled within a single point at 47-46, later closed to a single possession at 54-51 with over three minutes remaining but couldn't close the gap… The weekend concluded with a 75-60 home win over SMSU. Five players scored a dozen points for UMary, including Jaylan White. The senior point guard also had 12 assists, an NCAA-era school record. Glenn Jordan, Wyatt Carr, Josh Sipes and Kade Amundson also had 12 points apiece. The Marauders erupted from behind the arc, draining 15 treys. Eight different Marauders hit 3s in the game. Nick Dufault led SMSU with 16 point. Trailing by eight points in the first half, the Marauders used a 30-11 run to take the lead. UMary stayed in front the rest of the game.  
 
12
Jaylan White set the Marauders NCAA era record for assists in a single game with 12 against Southwest Minnesota State. The old record was 11 by Marquealis Edwards against Presentation College on Dec. 15, 2015.White's previous high was eight.
 
305
Jaylan White cracked 300 career assists when he dropped 12 in the Marauders win over Southwest Minnesota State. He is the sixth UMary player to accomplish that feat and has 305 in his career. The others are Tracy Porter (489), Scott Kleinjan (478), Jim Hughes (404), Rod Hubka (375) and Rusty Gillette (323).
 
936
Marauders senior guard Jaylan White cracked 900 career points earlier this season at Minnesota State and now has 936 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 21^st all-time with 936 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 Dave Alverson (947). 
 
100
Marauders head coach Joe Kittell earned his 100^th career win as a collegiate head coach in UMary's 75-60 win over Southwest Minnesota State on Jan. 18, 2020. Kittell earned 42 wins at Lake Region State College from 2013-15. He has won 58 games at UMary since taking over the Marauders program in 2015-16.
 
111
After breaking the UMary team record for blocked shots, Matthew Kreklows total continues to grow.  After two more rejections last weekend, the junior forward now has 111 in his career. He broke the career record in UMary's win over St. Cloud State on Jan. 11, 2020. The former record was established by 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 35 blocks this season, an average of 1.5 blocks per game.
 
817
The 33^rd UMary player to reach 800 career points, Matthew Kreklow ranks 32^nd all-time with 817 career points… Kreklow is the second UMary player to crack 800 points this season, joining Jaylan White.
 
 
420
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 and ranks 16^th, just behind Scott Harr (421) and Kurt Schwamp (431).
 
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 MINNESOTA CROOKSTON GOLDEN EAGLES
Coming off a 15-win season and their first NSIC playoff victory in 2019, the Golden Eagles are 8-10 overall and 4-8 in the Northern Sun. Sr. G Harrison Cleary is a dynamic presence for UMC, leading the NSIC in scoring at 28.2 ppg and ranking third in the country. He also leads the nation in free throws and is 75 points from becoming the NSIC's all-time leading scorer. Malcolm Cohen is second in scoring at 8.8 ppg with Bryan Sitzmann right behind at 8.7 ppg. The Golden Eagles are 11^th in the NSIC in scoring (74.4), 15^th in scoring defense (78.4 ppg) and 1^st in free throw percentage (.812). UMC is 4-2 at home this season but has lost six of their last seven games overall.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. GOLDEN EAGLES
Since joining the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season, the Marauders are 20-6 against the Golden Eagles… UMary is 12-1 at home and 8-5 away versus UMC… The Marauders are 12-3 in the last 15 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… LAST MEETING In the final regular season game of 2018-19, the Marauders dropped a 72-60 decision at UMC. Jaylan White scored 22 points for UMary, Matthew Kreklow added 17 and Connor Hellebust had 11. Harrison Cleary had 23 for UMC. The win kept the Golden Eagles one spot ahead of the Marauders in the final NSIC North Division standings.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY
Despite four straight losses in league play – including three straight in overtime - Bemidji State is 8-8 overall and 5-7 in the NSIC with a 5-2 mark at home. BSU ranks 6^th in the nation in defensive rebounds, 11^th in the country in 3-point shooting percentage (.419) and 17^th nationally in 3s/game at 11.4. Nick Wagner leads BSU in scoring at 17.76 ppg. Derek Thompson averages 14.0 ppg and 6,3 rebounds/game. Logan Bader chips in 11.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg. BSU is third in the NSIC in scoring (82.6 ppg) and 12^th in defense (75.6 ppg allowed). They are second in the NSIC in field goal percentage (.488) and 4^th in field goal defense (.426).
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. BEAVERS
Mary leads the series with BSU 16-11… 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… The two teams have split their season series the last three years… LAST MEETING The Marauders opened the final weekend of the 2018-19 regular season with a 70-47 road loss to the Beavers. Jaylan White led UMary with 11 points and Dennis Austin III added nine. Jacob Hoffman led BSU with 12 points. UMary shot a season-low 28.1 percent from the floor and was outrebounded 49-35.
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders allow the fewest points in the NSIC this season. UMary is limiting the opposition to 67.1 points per game. Opponents are making just 43.3 percent of their field goal attempts against UMary, 7^th best in the NSIC.
 
DEFENSE PART II
UMary is 29^th in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 67.1 ppg.
 
HANDS OFF APPROACH
The Marauders commit an average of 14.1 personal fouls/game, the fewest in the NSIC and 14^th fewest in NCAA Division II.
 
FREEBIES
Taking advantage of opportunities at the foul line, the Marauders are converting an impressing 75.7 percent of their free throw attempts (231-of-305). UMary ranks 5^th in the NSIC and 54^th in NCAA Division II... The Marauders have shot 91 more free throws than the opposition… UMary foes are making just 69.2 percent of its attempts, the third-worst figure in the NSIC. 
 
LESS GIVING MORE TAKING
The Marauders are 8^th among NSIC teams this season in turnovers at +0.5/game.
 
HELPING HAND
The Marauders average 13.6 assists per game, 8^th in the NSIC. UMary is 15^th in the NSIC in scoring.
 
SWAT CITY
The Marauders are blocking 3.2 shots/game, 7^th in the NSIC. Much of the work is being done by junior Matthew Kreklow, who is 3^rd in the NSIC at 2.2 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 6^th in the NSIC in steals (1.3)/game), 6^th in assists (4.2), and 6^th in assists to turnovers ratio (2.2). He is averaging 11.8 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 73 out of the Marauders last 74 games, including all 29 last year and 18 this season. He is averaging 9.1 points per game in 103 career games and has totaled 936 points while distributing 305 assists (6^th all-time). Next on the all-time assist list is Rusty Gillette with 323.
 
900/300
Jaylan White is one of just four Marauders who have scored 900 points and made 300 assists in their careers. The others are Tracy Porter (1,006 points/489 assists), Scott Kleinjan (2,268/478) and Rusty Gillette (1,167/323).
 
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 the Marauders all-time career leader in blocked shots with 111. 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 (14.3 ppg), rebounding (8.1 rpg), field goal percentage (.544) and blocks (2.2)… he is shooting 78.6 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 17^th in the NSIC in scoring, 7^th in rebounding, 4^th in field goal percentage and 13^th in free throw percentage… In NCAA Division II rankings, Kreklow is 17^th in blocks/game, 58^th in field goal percentage and 72^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 8.5 points per game and 3.5 rebounds. He is knocking down 30 percent of his 3-point attempts (24-of-80) and is making 78.6 percent of his free throw attempts (33-of-42)… Hellebust has hit for double digits in points in nine 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 24 treys are third the team.
 
DOWNTOWN PART 2
The Marauders sank 15 treys against Southwest Minnesota State, the second most UMary has hit in an NCAA-era game (record is 17 against Saint Martin's in the 2008-09 season)… The Marauders are making 8.7 treys per game (7^th in the NSIC) and are converting 34.1 percent of their attempts… Wyatt Carr is hitting a team-high 50 percent of his trey attempts, hitting 29-of-58 attempts behind the arc... Second behind Carr in made 3s is Josh Sipes with 27 (38.6 percent)
 
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 6.7 ppg. He is second on the team in treys (27)… Amundson has started two games and averages 5.3 ppg… Jordan has started five straight games and is scoring 5.2 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:   7-4
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 (58) and Juno Pintar (55).
 
KITTELL AT 100
Marauders head coach Joe Kittell, in his fifth season at UMary, won his 1000^th career game as a collegiate coach against Southwest Minnesota State. Kittell earned 42 wins in two seasons at Lake Region State College and owns 58 at UMary.
 
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