THIS WEEK
The University of Mary men's basketball team opens a four-game home stand when the Wayne State College Wildcats and the #23 Augustana University Vikings visit the McDowell Activity Center. The weekend opens when the Marauders and the Wildcats tip off at 5:30 pm on Friday, Jan 14. The Marauders then host the Vikings on Saturday, Jan. 15. Tipoff is 3:30 pm.   
 
THE RECORDS
UMary is 5-9 overall and 4-5 in the Northern Sun (12^th NSIC / 5^th NSIC North)… Wayne State is 8-6 and 5-3 (4^th NSIC/3^rd NSIC South)… Augustana is 12-2 and 6-2 (3^rd NSIC/2^nd NSIC South).
 
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
As the Northern Sun season reaches its midpoint this weekend, 11 of the 16 teams have between three and five wins. The Marauders are one of seven teams with four wins.
 
ON/OFF
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented safety protocols, several Northern Sun games have been cancelled this season. The UMary-Sioux Falls contest last weekend was cancelled due to COVID safety protocols within the USF program, the lone NSIC game UMary has not been able to play. The Marauders have played nine games of ten NSIC games. Four of 16 teams have played all ten of its NSIC games this season (Upper Iowa, Northern State, Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston). St. Cloud State has played the fewest with seven.  
 
"WE GOT FIRST" GAME ORDER SWITCH STARTS JANUARY 21
The January 14-15 weekend is the final weekend with men's basketball playing the opening game of Northern Sun doubleheaders and the women playing the night cap. In a change from previous seasons, the men's game has led off NSIC doubleheaders for half the season with the women's game following.  The schedule flips on January 21 when the women resume playing the opening game of an NSIC doubleheader with the men playing second.
 
LAST WEEK
In the lone UMary game of the week after the Sioux Falls contest was cancelled due to COVID-19 safety protocols with the USF squad, the Marauders visited the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State. A career-high 26 points for Kai Huntsberry and another double double by Kam Warrens wasn't enough for UMary in a narrow 77-73 loss. The game featured ten lead changes and five ties with neither squad holding more than a two-possession lead the last 24 minutes of play. Huntsberry added six rebounds and five assists while making four treys. Warrens has 12 rebounds and 10 points. Gertautas Urbonavicius had 16 points and Jacob Jackson added 12. Dunwa Omot led SMSU with 24 and Kenny Byers added 22 points and nine rebounds.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
After playing eight of their first ten games on the road, the Marauders are in the midst of playing seven of eight games at home in the McDowell Activity Center. After last week's road trip to SMSU, UMary plays four straight at the MAC.  
 
 
 
 
IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Kai Huntsberry has had an immediate impact on the Marauders in his first year at UMary. The 5^th leading scorer in the NSIC had a run of five straight games with at least 22 points scored earlier this season and six with 18 or more… The transfer from San Diego City College has led the Marauders in scoring in ten of 14 games this season… he has scored 22 or more points eight times and 18 or more nine times… The point guard from New Orleans, LA, averages 18.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game and is shooting 47.8% from the field and 84% at the line. The team leader in scoring, assists and steals, he ranks 3^rd in the NSIC in assists and free throw percentage, 5^th in scoring, 24^th in steals and 17^th in shooting percentage.
 
SPARK
Until moving into the starting rotation the last three games, Jacob Jackson started the season providing a spark off the bench… Over the course of 14 games he has posted eight or more points 12 times and reached double digits eight times… He had two double doubles, in a 78-74 win at Minot State (12 points and 10 rebounds) and in an 80-79 home win over MSU Moorhead (11 and 10)… Jackson picked up his first start at UMary in the Marauders 65-60 win over Minnesota Crookston, hauling down 13 boards and scoring seven points… He tied his career high with 14 points – including the final six for UMary – in his second start, an 80-78 home win over Minot State… The junior guard from Sacramento, CA, also had 14 points in a win over Sioux Falls… For the season Jackson is averaging 9.7 points/game and 5.4 rebounds/game. He ranks second on the team rebounds and third in rebounds.
 
IN AND OUT IMPACT
A transfer from NCAA Division I University of North Dakota, Gertautas Urbonavicius has given the Marauders a hot scoring hand inside and out. The junior forward from Vilnius, Lithuania, has hit for double digits seven times in 13 games, including a high of 21 against the Bronchos. For the season Urbonavicius is 2^nd on the team in scoring (9.9 ppg) and 4^th in rebounding (4.2 rpg). He is making 48% of his shots overall – including 47% behind the arc – and makes 79% of his free throws.
 
DOUBLING DOWN
Kam Warrens and Jacob Jackson have combined for six double doubles this season… Warrens has three double doubles (12 points/12 rebounds at Central Oklahoma, 10/11 vs Mayville State, 18/10 v MSU Moorhead, 10/12 at SMSU) and Jackson owns two (12/10 at Minot State, 11/10 vs. MSU Moorhead). Jackson accomplished the feat both times while coming off the bench.
 
BOARD PLAY
Kam Warrens has been a force for the Marauders on the boards and has provided scoring punch for UMary. The junior wing has hauled down double digit rebounds four times. His 6.8 rebounds/game leads UMary and is 16^th in the NSIC. Warrens is also averaging 8.8 points/game and is making 41% of his 3s in his second season with the Marauders. Warrens is second on the squad in 3-pointers (15).
 
LIVING LARGE AT THE LINE
The Marauders are running even in scoring at the free throw line with the opposition. UMary is 6^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage at 74.9% (155-of-207) while the Marauders opponents are 156-of-209 (74.6%).
 
BOARD PLAY
The Marauders are 9^th among NSIC teams with a rebounding margin of +2.8 rebounds/game.
 
I KNOW YOU
Marauders new head coach Jack Nelson picked up his first two UMary coaching wins against a pair of schools at which he had been an assistant coach. Nelson earned up his first win at Minot State, where he was an assistant coach from 2012-16. His second win came against Sioux Falls, where Nelson coached the previous three years in his second stint with the Cougars… Nelson earned his 5^th win against Minot State to claim a season sweep. 
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WILDCATS
The Wildcats hold a 16-6 series lead over the Marauders… The Wildcats have won the last four meetings… The two teams first met during UMary's transition season from NAIA to NCAA play in 2005-06 with the Marauders claiming a 70-65 win… Wayne State followed with six straight wins over Mary before the Marauders broke the streak with a 73-62 win at WSC on Dec. 5, 2009… The Wildcats are 8-2 in Bismarck and 8-4 at home against the Marauders… The Marauders last home win was an 85-78 victory 12.9.16 behind 19 points from Bryan Jefferson… The Marauders last road win was a 99-80 victory on January 31, 2016, behind 26 points from Bryan Jefferson. Six Marauders reached double figures… LAST MEETING The Wildcats defeated the Marauders 85-77 in overtime on Jan. 31, 2020, in Wayne, NE. UMary overcame a 16 point deficit to pull even 71-71 with 36 seconds left in regulation on a Wyatt Carr jumper. Trever Kaiser led the Marauders with 18 points and Carr had 17. Nick Ferrarini has 27 points for WSC.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS v. VIKINGS
UMary is 6-14 against Augustana… In their last appearance at the MAC, the Marauders snapped an 8-game losing streak to the Vikings with a 101-87 win on Feb. 2, 2019. The Marauders hot 57% for the game and hit 14 treys. Trever Kaiser posted 21 points, Jaylan White had 20 points and 8 assists, Connor Hellebust added 18 points and Matthew Kreklow 16… The series started in 1999-2000 with an 89-64 Vikings win… The first Marauders win was a 68-64 victory on January 18, 2006… Last Marauders road win over the Vikings was a 63-49 victory on December 4, 2009… LAST MEETING Trever Kaiser scored 15 points and Wyatt Carr added 13 in a 78-68 UMary loss at Augie on Feb. 1, 2020.  
 
CENTURY MARK
A trio of Bismarck Century High School graduates are playing key roles for the Marauders this season. Josh Sipes, the Marauders NSIC Player to Watch this year, is shooting a team-leading 48.1% from the floor and is 3^rd on the team in made treys (14). Sipes – who made his first start of the season in a 65-60 win over Minnesota Crookston and scored 10 points - averages 5.5 ppg… Kade Amundson started the first 12 games of the season for UMary at forward and averages 5.0 ppg and 3.4 rebounds per game and is 10-of-12 (83.3%) at the free throw line… Treyton Mattern has started 11 games and averages 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game… Additionally the Marauders look for Lucas Mayer to rejoin the lineup after he recovers from injury… All four played for former UMary men's basketball player Darrin Mattern (and Treyton's father) at Century.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW YOUR MARAUDERS LIVE ONLINE

• Links to live streaming video, game stats and radio streams are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage
• Live video also streamed at www.NSICNetwork.com/goumary
• Fox Sports 710 AM radio broadcasts available online at https://foxsports710.iheart.com/

 
MARAUDERS HOME BASKETBALL GAMES AIRING LIVE ON FOX SPORTS 710
All University of Mary men's and women's basketball home and Northern Sun games air live on Fox Sports 710 AM. Voice of the Marauders Jesse Rostvedt calls all the action this season from the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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:   8-7
2020-21:   2-6
2021-22:   3-2
 
The Marauders once won 27 straight home games for Coach Bortke at the MAC (February 19, 1976 thru November 11, 1978).
 
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