THIS WEEKEND
Following two straight weekends on the road, the University of Mary men's basketball team returns home to the McDowell Activity Center. The Marauders four-game home stand tips off against a pair of Northern Sun South Division foes. On Friday, Feb. 7, UMary hosts Upper Iowa University at 7:30 pm, followed up on Saturday, Feb. 8, with a tilt against Winona State University at 5:30 pm.   
 
RECORDS
The Marauders are 10-12 overall and 5-11 in the Northern Sun (12^th in NSIC, 6^h in NSIC North)… Upper Iowa is 14-8 overall and 11-5 in the NSIC South (3^rd in NSIC, 2^nd in NSIC South)… Winona State is 12-10 overall and 9-7 in the NSIC South (6^th in NSIC, 3^rd in NSIC South).
 
LAST WEEK
On the back end of a four-game road swing, the Marauders dropped a pair of games against the NSIC South… The weekend opened with a difficult 85-77 overtime loss at Wayne State College. Hoping to record a second straight win in the closing seconds, the Marauders missed a shot in closing seconds of regulation after fighting back from a 16-point deficit. Wyatt Carr, who scored 17 points in the game tied the game with 36 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. UMary scored first in overtime on a Jaylan White jumper but the Wildcats closed the game on an 11-2 run. Trever Kaiser scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half. Carr scored 11 of his 17 after intermission. Nick Ferrarini led WSC with 27 points… Trever Kaiser scored 15 points and Wyatt Carr added 13 in a 76-68 loss at Augustana. Connor Hellebust added 11 points. The Marauders led 38-36 at half but struggled to score in the second half. UMary closed within 57-54 with nine minutes remaining but could pull no closer.  
 
SOUTH SENDOFF
This is the last weekend of the regular season that the Marauders will face teams from the NSIC South as UMary will play teams from the NSIC North the final two weeks of the season. The next time UMary faces a team from the south division will be the opening round of the NSIC tournament.
 
NUMBERS TO KNOW
95, 96… UMary juniors Wyatt Carr and Connnor Hellebust are closing in on 100 made three-pointers. Carr has scored 96 in his career and Helllebust sits at 95. 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).  
 
313 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 313 in his career. The others are Tracy Porter (489), Scott Kleinjan (478), Jim Hughes (404), Rod Hubka (375) and Rusty Gillette (323).
 
971 Marauders senior guard Jaylan White cracked 900 career points earlier this season at Minnesota State and now has 971 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 20^th all-time with 960 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 Rich Lorenz (993). 
 
101 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 101. Kittell earned 42 wins at Lake Region State College from 2013-15. He has won 59 games at UMary since taking over the Marauders program in 2015-16.
 
117 After breaking the UMary team record for blocked shots, Matthew Kreklow's total continues to grow. After three more rejections last weekend, the junior forward now has 117 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 41 blocks this season, an average of 1.5 blocks per game.
 
860 The 33^rd UMary player to reach 800 career points, Matthew Kreklow ranks 31^st all-time with 860 career points… Kreklow is the second UMary player to crack 800 points this season, joining Jaylan White.
 
457 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 12^th, just behind Wayne Jacobs (469), Rich Lorenz (480) and Kevin Gettings and Maury Robinson (485 each).   
 
641 Connor Hellebust is making his way up the Marauders career scoring list and sits at 641 points.   
 
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 – UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY PEACOCKS
A balance, high-scoring offense has led the Peacocks to one of the top records in the NSIC this season as Upper Iowa sits 14-8 overall and 11-5 in the NSIC for 3^rd place overall. It's a dramatic turnaround for a team that was 7-22 last year and tied for last in the conference. Fresh off an upset last weekend of #23 Minnesota Duluth, Upper Iowa is 2^nd in the NSIC in scoring at 82.0 ppg. The Peacocks are also last in the NSIC in scoring defense (81.2 ppg). Seven players average at least 7.8 ppg, led by Jareese Williams at 14.1 ppg. Jake Hillmer chips in 12.6 ppg and Joe Smoldt 12.2 ppg.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. PEACOCKS
The Marauders are 7-10 all-time against the Peacocks… Upper Iowa is 6-3 at home in Dorman Gym… UMary is 4-4 at the McDowell Activity Center against UIU…The Peacocks have won six of the last eight meetings with the Marauders. LAST MEETING Returning to face his old teammates, UIU graduate Dennis Austin III led the Marauders to a 78-72 victory with a 22 point outburst. He hit 8-of-12 shots and grabbed nine rebounds. Connor Hellebust hit four treys to score 19 points, Matthew Kreklow added 12 and Jaylan White 10. Joe Smoldt hot five treys and scored 19 points.
 
OPPO RESEARCH – WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY WARRIORS
Looking to secure a home playoff berth in the opening round of the NSIC tournament, Winona State rolled over #23 Minnesota Duluth 85-57 to earn a split in conference play last weekend. The Warriors are 12-10 overall and 9-7 in the NSIC (6^th overall, 3^rd NSIC South). Just 2-7 on the road, the Warriors are in the middle of the pack in the NSIC in scoring (8^th in NSIC at 76.4 ppg) and defense (9^th at 74 ppg).  The Warriors live on the arc, shooting treys at a 37 percent rate and hitting 10 or more in 21 of 22 games. WSU is fifth in the nation in treys attempted and sixth in makes. Kevion Taylor leads the team in scoring (19.9 ppg) and rebound (7.5 rpg). Caleb Wagner averages 19.8 ppg). WSU is second in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (9.2).
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WARRIORS
The Marauders are 1-19 all-time against the Warriors… WSU is 12-0 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 12 straight games over the Marauders…LAST MEETING The Warriors hit 10-of-11 trey attempts in the first half on the way to an 84-56 home win over the Marauders. Tom Kubank scored 14 points and Wyatt Carr had 11 to lead the Marauders. Mason Domask led Winona State with 16.
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders continue to to be one of the toughest teams in the nation to score on. The Marauders hold the opposition to 69 points per game, second in the Northern Sun. Opponents are making just 43.5 percent of their field goal attempts against UMary, 6^th best in the NSIC.
 
DEFENSE PART II
UMary is 42^nd in NCAA Division II in scoring defense, allowing 69 ppg.
 
HANDS OFF APPROACH
The Marauders commit an average of 14.5 personal fouls/game, the fewest in the NSIC and 18^th fewest in NCAA Division II.
 
FREEBIES
Taking advantage of opportunities at the foul line, the Marauders are converting an impressing 73.8 percent of their free throw attempts (281-of-381). UMary ranks 6^th in the NSIC and 96^th in NCAA Division II... The Marauders have shot 86 more free throws than the opposition… UMary foes are making just 68.1 percent of its attempts, the worst figure in the NSIC. 
 
LESS GIVING MORE TAKING
The Marauders are 9^th among NSIC teams this season in turnovers at +0.18/game.
 
HELPING HAND
The Marauders average 12.7 assists per game, 10^th in the NSIC. UMary is 15^th in the NSIC in scoring.
 
SWAT CITY
The Marauders are blocking 3.3 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 10^th in the NSIC in steals (1.2)/game), 9^th in assists (4.1), and 5^th in assists to turnovers ratio (2.3). He is averaging 11.3 points and 2.7 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 77 out of the Marauders last 78 games, including all 29 last year and 22 this season. He is averaging 9.1 points per game in 106 career games and has totaled 971 points while distributing 313 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. 
 
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 117. 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 (13.6 ppg), rebounding (8.4 rpg) and blocks (2.1) and field goal percentage (.540)… he is shooting 75.9 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 22^nd in the NSIC in scoring, 7^th in rebounding, 4^th in field goal percentage and 12^th in free throw percentage… In NCAA Division II rankings, Kreklow is 18^th in blocks/game, 72^nd in field goal percentage and 64^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 9.1 points per game and 3.2 rebounds. He is knocking down 31.5 percent of his 3-point attempts (29-of-92) and is making 75 percent of his free throw attempts (42-of-56)… Hellebust has hit for double digits in points in 11 games, with scoring highs of 22 against Bemidi 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 29 treys are third the team.
 
DOWNTOWN PART 2
The Marauders are making 8.4 treys per game (10^th in the NSIC) and are converting 33.9 percent of their attempts (9^th in NSIC)… Wyatt Carr is hitting a team-high 51.5 percent of his trey attempts, hitting 35-of-68 attempts behind the arc... Right behind Carr for made 3s is Josh Sipes. The redshirt freshman is 33-of-82 from behind the arc (40.2 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 6.5 ppg and is 2^nd on the team in treys (33)… Amundson has started two games and averages 4.9 ppg… Jordan has started nine straight games and is scoring 5.0 ppg… Tollefson has played in 14 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 (59) and Juno Pintar (55).
 
KITTELL AT 101
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 59 at UMary.
 
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