THIS WEEK
A four-game home stand for the University of Mary wraps up on January 21-22, 2022, during the annual Marauders Men's Basketball Alumni Weekend. The Marauders host the Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Paul at 7:30 pm on Friday, January 21.  On Saturday, January 22, Minnesota State University visits the McDowell Activity Center. Tip off is 7:30 pm.
 
THE RECORDS
UMary is 5-11 overall and 4-7 in the Northern Sun (13^th NSIC / 6^th NSIC North)… Concordia-St. Paul is 2-16 and 1-10 (16^th NSIC/8^th NSIC South)… Minnesota State is 10-4 and 4-4 (6^th NSIC/5^th NSIC South).
 
"WE GOT FIRST" GAME ORDER SWITCH STARTS JANUARY 21
Following 10 weeks of the men playing the opening game of Northern Sun doubleheaders, the men's game will now follow the women's game starting January 21.
 
FIRST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION ALUMNI WEEKEND GAME SPONSOR
Sponsored by First Community Credit Union, Marauders Basketball Alumni Weekend is Friday and Saturday, January 21-22. Fans can stop by First Community Credit Union in Bismarck to claim complimentary tickets.
 
BASKETBALL ALUMNI WEEKEND SET FOR JANUARY 21-22
All former University of Mary men's and women's basketball players and coaches are invited to attend this year's annual Marauders basketball alumni weekend on January 21-22, 2022. On January 22, women's basketball alumni will be introduced during the women's game against Minnesota State. Men's basketball alumni will be recognized at the UMary-Minnesota State men's game. For more information visit https://umary.wufoo.com/forms/basketball-alumni-weekend-2022/
 
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
With ten of 22 games remaining in the NSIC schedule, 11 of the 16 teams have between three and six wins. The Marauders are one of six 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 11 of 12 NSIC games. Two of 16 teams have played all 12 of its NSIC games this season (Upper Iowa, Northern State). Three teams have been limited to eight games.
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders opened their 4-game home stand with a 76-69 loss to Wayne State. Kai Huntsberry posted 24 points, six assists and four rebounds while committing just one turnover. Matthew Johnson added 12 points. Justin Eagins scored 22 points and hit four 3s for WSC… #23 Augustana jumped out to a quick lead in an 80-59 Vikings win over the Marauders. Jacob Jackson led UMary with 17 points and 10 rebounds for his 3^rd double double of the year. Huntsberry hit all six free throws and scored 15 points. Isaac Fink led Augie with 23 points and nine rebounds.  
 
HOME SWEET HOME
After playing eight of their first ten games on the road, the Marauders are wrapping up playing 7-of-8 games at home this weekend.
 
ALL HANDS ON DECK
Due to injuries and illnesses throughout the season, Head Coach Jack Nelson has started 10 different Marauders this season. No player has stated all 16 games but Kai Huntsberry and Gertautas Urbonavicius have both started 15 times and Kam Warrens owns 14 starts.   
 
WELCOME BACK
Lucas Mayer retuned from injury and saw action for the first time this season when he played both home games last weekend against the Wildcats and the Vikings. The junior forward from Bismarck, ND, provides a strong defensive presence in the frontcourt.
 
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 11 of 16 games this season… he has scored 22 or more points nine times and 18 or more 11 times… The point guard from New Orleans, LA, averages 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game and is shooting 47.8% from the field and 85.2% at the line. The team leader in scoring, assists and steals, he ranks 4^th in the NSIC in scoring and free throw percentage, 5^th in assists and 18^th in shooting percentage.
 
SPARK
Moved into the starting rotation the last five games after coming off the bench for the first 11, Jacob Jackson has provided a spark on offense and defense in his first season at UMary… Over the course of 16 games he has posted eight or more points 13 times and reached double digits nine times… He has three double doubles, in a 78-74 win at Minot State (12 points and 10 rebounds), an 80-79 home win over MSU Moorhead (11 and 10) and against #23 Augie (17 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… scored a career-high 17 against #23 Augie… The junior guard from Sacramento, CA, averages 9.8 points/game and 5.6 rebounds/game to rank second on the team in both categories.  
 
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 15 games, including a high of 21 against the Bronchos. For the season Urbonavicius is 3^rd on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg) and 4^th in rebounding (4.1 rpg). He is making 46% of his shots overall – including 40% behind the arc – and converts 74% of his free throws.
 
DOUBLING DOWN
Kam Warrens and Jacob Jackson have combined for seven double doubles this season… Warrens has four 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 three (12/10 at Minot State, 11/10 vs. MSU Moorhead, 17/10 vs. #23 Augie).  
 
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 6.3 rebounds/game leads UMary and is 18^th in the NSIC. Warrens is also averaging 8.4 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 outpace the opposition in scoring at the free throw line. UMary is 6^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage at 75.1% (184-of-245) while the Marauders opponents are 174-of-231 (75.3%).
 
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. GOLDEN BEARS
UMary trails in the all-time series with Concordia-St. Paul 15-8… The Marauders won the first two meetings between the schools in the 1980s when both were members of the NAIA… When UMary joined the NSIC in 2006-07, CSP won the next five meetings… The Marauders broke their losing streak to the Golden Bears with an 83-74 win at the NSIC Holiday HoopsFest on November 29, 2009, soon followed with a 75-68 win at the MAC on January 23, 2010, behind 24 points by Eric Erdmann. It was the first NSIC win for UMary over CSP… UMary is 2-7 at home against CSP and 6-8 on the road… The Marauders last home win was January 13, 2017, when Ricky Suggs had 19 points and Damonta Henry 18 in  an 87-75 win… LAST MEETING A big second half led CSP to a 79-65 home win over UMary on January 3, 2020. Matthew Kreklow had 16 points for UMary, Jaylan White added 11 and Connor Hellebust 10. Lee Higgins had a game-high 20 for CSP. It was the 3^rd straight win for the Golden Bears.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS v. MAVERICKS
The Marauders are 3-13 all-time against the Mavericks… MSU owns four straight wins… UMary snapped a 5-game losing streak to Minnesota State with a 96-91 overtime win in the 2016 NSIC quarterfinals… The two teams first met Dec. 12, 2008, in Bismarck with the Mavericks winning 83-61… After losing the first four games in the series, UMary claimed its first win 84-69 over MSU (and only home win) in Bismarck on January 15, 2011 as All-American Anthony Moody hit eight treys and scored 31 points and Jordan Wilhelm added five three-pointers and 17 points… The Marauders picked up their first – and only - win at the Taylor Center 75-61 on January 14, 2017… LAST MEETING The Marauders dropped a narrow 69-65 road loss to the Mavericks on January 4, 2020. Jaylan White had 21 points, Glen Jordan 15 and Matthew Kreklow 14 to pace UMary. Cameron Kirksey led MSU with 27 points and 11 rebounds.  
 
CENTURY MARK
A quartet 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 13 games and averages 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game… Lucas Mayer is back from injury and returned to the lineup last weekend… 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-  4
 
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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