THIS WEEKEND
The University of Mary men's basketball teams wrap up their 2019-20 home season when the Marauders host Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston at the McDowell Activity Center. The weekend kicks off with a visit from Bemidji State at 7:30 pm on Friday, Feb. 14. The Marauders then host the UMC Golden Eagles on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 5:30 pm.    
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 11-13 overall and 6-12 in the Northern Sun (12^th in NSIC, 6^h in NSIC North)… Bemidji State is 10-12 overall and 7-11 in the NSIC (10^th NSIC, 5^th NSIC North)… Minnesota Crookston is 9-15 overall and 5-13 in the NSIC (13^th NSIC, 7^th in NSIC North).
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders just missed a weekend sweep at home against two of the top teams in the NSIC South… The Marauders rolled past Upper Iowa University 85-71, the 3^rd place team in the NSIC. Jaylan White scored 21 points with five assists and five steals. He scored 10 of the Marauders first 15 points and had 17 at intermission on a night the Marauders led 45-33 at intermission. UMary shot 53 percent for the game, including a 10-for-18 effort behind the arc on a night eight different Marauders connected for 3s. UMary also made 17-of-20 free throws. UI shot 47 percent but was held to 11 fewer points than their average. Trever Kaiser had 13 points, Matthew Kreklow added 17 points, six rebounds and two blocks and Glenn Jordan scored ten points… Jaylan White passed 1,000 career points in the Marauders narrow 86-83 loss to visiting Winona State. Down 31-15 in the first half, the Marauders led 41-39 at half. A run late in the game pulled the Marauders from down by eight points to a single basket at 80-78 with under a minute remaining to play. Free throws by the Warriors with 20 seconds left put the tame out of reach. White had 13 points, three assists and two steals as he became the 19^th UMary player to crack 1,000 points. Matthew Kreklow matched his career high with 27 points, making 7-of-10 shots and all 13 free throws. He became the 27^th UMary player with 900 points. Trever Kaiser had 16 points and eight rebounds and Josh Sipes posted 13 points. Caleb Wagner had 27 points and eight rebounds for WSU.
 
NIP AND TUCK
The Marauders are in a fight with the Beavers and the Golden Eagles to finish from 5^th to 7^th in the NSIC North. Bemidji State is 5^th at 7-11 in conference play. UMary is sixth at 6-12 and UMC is seventh at 5-3 with only the next two weekends remaining.
 
SENIOR DAY
On the final home game of the season, UMary honors its three seniors: Evan Anderson, Johnnie Turner and Jaylan White. Here are comments on each player from Head Coach Joe Kittell:
Evan Anderson | Electrical Engineering major: "We have really enjoyed Evan over the last four years. He has been one of our hardest workers through his time here and one of our most fearless competitors. Evan constantly got bad luck with injuries but kept a positive attitude through it all and remained a team first guy. I'm very proud of the man he has become and I can't wait to see what he accomplishes in the future!"
 
Jaylan White | Sports Studies and Coaching major: "It's been a privilege to coach Jay he is for sure a University of Mary Men's Basketball ALL TIMER! His leadership in on the floor is relentless and his work ethic has been unmatched. I'm not sure I've ever been around a player that has put more time into becoming the player he always dreamed of being. Not only did Jay never take a game day off with and injury or illness, I don't remember him even taking a practice off either. There will never be another Jaylan White and our program will forever be grateful of his dedication, drive, and determination to make this place better because he was here."
 
Johnnie Turner | Biology major | Plans to attend medical school | Myles Brand Award recipient | "JT has been an absolute pleasure to Coach! He has been nothing but a positive addition to the team the last two seasons. He is one of my favorite young men I have ever been around and our program will desperately miss him in our locker room next year."
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
96, 99… UMary juniors Wyatt Carr and Connnor Hellebust are closing in on 100 made three-pointers. Carr has scored 99 in his career and Helllebust sits at 96. Only 18 Marauders have hit 100 3s in their career. Damonta Henry (2013-17) is the all-time leader with 200. Right in front of Carr and Hellebust on the all-time leader board are Darrell Oswald (102), Craig Steffan (104), Joel Welstad (106) and Leon Washington (108).  
 
321 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 321 in his career. The others are Tracy Porter (489), Scott Kleinjan (478), Jim Hughes (404), Rod Hubka (375) and Rusty Gillette (323).
 
1,005 Marauders senior guard Jaylan White cracked 1,000 career points last Saturday against Winona State University and now has 1,005 career points. The native of St. Charles, IA, is the 19^th player in University of Mary men's basketball history to accomplish this feat. He now ranks 18^th all-time. The last UMary players to crack 1,000 career points was Bryan Jefferson and Damonta Henry in the 2016-17 season… After passing Rich Lorenz (993) and Craig Steffan (1,004) on the career scoring list last weekend, White next has his sights on Tracy Porter (1,006) and Chuck Welch (1,031). 
 
102 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, and now has 102. Kittell earned 42 wins at Lake Region State College from 2013-15. He has won 60 games at UMary since taking over the Marauders program in 2015-16.
 
119 After breaking the UMary team record for blocked shots, Matthew Kreklow's total continues to grow. After two more rejections last weekend, the junior forward now has 119 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 43 blocks this season, an average of 1.5 blocks per game.
 
904 The 26^th UMary player to reach 900 career points, Matthew Kreklow ranks 25^th all-time with 904 career points… Kreklow is the second UMary player to crack 900 points this season, joining Jaylan White.
 
471 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 11^th, just behind Rich Lorenz (480) and Kevin Gettings and Maury Robinson (485 each).   
 
650 Connor Hellebust is making his way up the Marauders career scoring list and sits at 650 points.   
 
KAISER ROLL-ING
Trever Kaiser has been on a scoring run. He has hit for double digits in each of the last five games, averaging 14.6 points per game. He is 11-of-21 on 3s, 20-of-21 at the free throw line and 21-of-42 from the field. For the year he is averaging 7.0 ppg.
 
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 – BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY BEAVERS
The Beavers suffered a 7-game losing streak earlier this season, including three in overtime. BSU has rebounded with wins in two of their last three games. One of the top shooting teams in the country on 3-pointers, Bemidji State ranks 13th in the nation and leads the NSIC shooting 40.7 percent from beyond the arc, 28th nationally with 10.7 3-point field goals per game and 42nd nationally shooting 48.4 percent from the floor. Nick Wagner leads BSU in scoring at 15.4 ppg. Derek Thompson averages 13.4 ppg and 6.2 rebounds/game. Logan Bader chips in 11.7 ppg and 7.3 rpg and recently surpassed 1,000 career points. BSU is 5^th in the NSIC in scoring (79.1 ppg) and 12th in defense (75.4 ppg allowed). They are third in the NSIC in field goal percentage (.484) and 9th in field goal defense (.441).
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. BEAVERS
Mary leads the series with BSU 17-11… 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 A Matthew Kreklow slam dunk game-winning basket with 1.5 seconds left in the contest carried the Marauders to a 78-77 road win over the Beavers. The Marauders overcame a 77-73 deficit with 82 seconds left in the game. Connor Hellebust had a career-high 22 points and Trever Kaiser had 11.
 
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 9-15 overall and 5-13 in the Northern Sun. Sr. G Harrison Cleary is a dynamic presence for UMC, leading the NSIC in scoring at 27.5 ppg and ranking second in the country. He leads the nation in free throws and is the NSIC's all-time leading scorer. Malcolm Cohen is second in scoring at 10.10 ppg with Bryan Sitzmann right behind at 8.1 ppg. The Golden Eagles are 10th in the NSIC in scoring (74 ppg), 15th in scoring defense (79.6 ppg) and 1st in free throw percentage (.812).
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. GOLDEN EAGLES
Since joining the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season, the Marauders are 20-7 against the Golden Eagles… UMary is 12-1 at home and 8-6 away versus UMC… The Marauders are 12-4 in the last 16 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 Down by 18 in the first half, the Marauders missed a shot at the buzzer to force overtime in a 71-68 loss at UMC. The Golden Eagles hit 14 treys, led by Malcolm Cohen with eight 3s and 28 points. Harrison Cleary added 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Kreklow had 23 points and 12 rebounds and White scored 18 points, 12 in the second half.
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders continue to be one of the toughest teams in the nation to score on. The Marauders hold the opposition to 69.8 points per game, second in the Northern Sun. Opponents are making just 43.9 percent of their field goal attempts against UMary, 8^th best in the NSIC.
 
DEFENSE PART II
UMary is 42^nd in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 69.8 ppg.
 
HANDS OFF APPROACH
The Marauders commit an average of 14.5 personal fouls/game, the fewest in the NSIC and 16^th fewest in NCAA Division II.
 
FREEBIES
Taking advantage of opportunities at the foul line, the Marauders are converting an impressing 74.6 percent of their free throw attempts (318-of-426). UMary ranks 6^th in the NSIC and 78^th in NCAA Division II... The Marauders have shot 100 more free throws than the opposition… UMary foes are making just 68.4 percent of its attempts, the worst figure in the NSIC. 
 
LESS GIVING MORE TAKING
The Marauders are 10^th among NSIC teams this season in turnovers at +0.18/game.
 
HELPING HAND
The Marauders average 12.6 assists per game, 10^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 2.1 rejections/game.
 
WHITE HOT
In his 3^rd season as a starter, Jaylan White is having another outstanding season for the Marauders and continues to climb the career charts…. The senior point guard is 5^th in the NSIC in steals (1.4)/game), 8^th in assists (3.8), and 5^th in assists to turnovers ratio (2.1). He is averaging 11.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game… When needed, 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… 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 79 out of the Marauders last 80 games, including all 29 last year and 24 this season. He is averaging 9.2 points per game in 108 career games and has totaled 1,005 points while distributing 321 assists (6^th all-time). Next on the all-time assist list is Rusty Gillette with 323.
 
1,000/300
Jaylan White is one of just four Marauders who have scored 1,000 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. 
 
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.
 
REJECTION LETTERS
Matthew Kreklow is the Marauders all-time career leader in blocked shots with 119. 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 (14.4 ppg), rebounding (8.2 rpg) and blocks (2.0) and field goal percentage (.550)… he is shooting 78.5 percent at the free throw line and averages 1.0 steals and 1.3 assists… he has six double doubles this season and nine in his career (see note below)… Kreklow is 19^th in the NSIC in scoring, 7^th in rebounding, 5^th in field goal percentage and 11^th in free throw percentage… In NCAA Division II rankings, Kreklow is 22^nd in blocks/game, 53^rd in field goal percentage and 70^th in rebounding… Kreklow is just the 3^rd UMary player to win NSIC Player of the Week multiple times (Eric Erdmann and All-American Anthony Moody were both honored three times). 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 scoring 16 points on 8-of-11 shotting with 12 rebounds and three blocks in a win over the University of Maine, followed by 25 points, ten rebounds and five blocks in an overtime win over Minot State.
 
DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE
Matthew Kreklow owns six double doubles this season, including a run of four straight games. For his career Kreklow has eight double doubles. Here's the list:
1/24/20 at Minnesota Crookston | 23 points and 12 rebounds
12/21/19 vs. 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
 
DOWNTOWN
Connor Hellebust is one of the Marauders top threat from behind the arc. The junior guard averages 8.8 points per game and 3.0 rebounds. He is knocking down 31 percent of his 3-point attempts (30-of-98) and is making 71.2 percent of his free throw attempts (42-of-59)… Hellebust has hit for double digits in points in 11 games, with scoring highs of 22 against Bemidji State and 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 30 treys are third the team.
 
DOWNTOWN PART 2
The Marauders are making 8.6 treys per game (7^th in the NSIC) and are converting 35 percent of their attempts (11^th in NSIC)… Wyatt Carr is hitting a team-high 51.4 percent of his trey attempts, hitting 38-of74 attempts behind the arc... Right behind Carr for made 3s is Josh Sipes. The redshirt freshman is 37-of-89 from behind the arc (41.6 percent)… 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).
 
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 was in the Marauders starting lineup early in the season before becoming a scoring threat off the bench. He averages 6.7 ppg and is 2^nd on the team in treys (38)… Amundson has started two games and averages 4.7 ppg… Jordan has started 11 straight games and is scoring 5.1 ppg… Tollefson has played in 15 games and averages 3.3 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:   8-5
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 (60) and Juno Pintar (55).
 
KITTELL AT 102
Marauders head coach Joe Kittell, in his fifth season at UMary, won his 100^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 60 at UMary.
 
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