THIS WEEK
The University of Mary men's basketball team embarks on a four-game road trip with stops this weekend at Winona State University and #20 Upper Iowa University. The Marauders open the weekend against the Warriors on Friday, January 28. Tipoff is 7:30 pm at McGown Gymnasium in Winona, MN. On Saturday, January 28, the Marauders and the Peacocks commence play at 5:30 pm at the Dorman Memorial Gymnasium in Fayette, IA.  
 
THE RECORDS
UMary is 7-11 overall and 6-7 in the Northern Sun (11^th NSIC / 5^th NSIC North)… Winona State is 11-6 and 7-5 (4^th NSIC/6^th NSIC South)… #20 Upper Iowa is 17-3 and 11-3 (3^rd NSIC/2^nd NSIC South).
 
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
With eight of 22 games remaining in the NSIC schedule, eight of 16 teams are within two games of a .500 record. With a conference record of 6-7, the Marauders are one of those teams. UMary is also one of 12 teams who are at least within a game of .500 or better.
 
ON/OFF
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and implemented safety protocols, several Northern Sun games have been cancelled this season. The Marauders have played 13 of 14 NSIC games. Two of 16 teams have played all 14 of its NSIC games this season (Upper Iowa, Northern State). Three teams have been limited to ten games (Minot State, MSU Moorhead, Minnesota State).
 
LAST WEEK
The Marauders pulled out a pair of victories in the final minute of play last weekend… The Marauders rallied past Concordia-St. Paul 68-66 when the Marauders scored the last five points of the game. Treyton Mattern hit a 3 with 58 seconds left to tie the game and Lucas Mayer tapped in an offensive rebound with 4.9 seconds remaining to win the game. Gertautas Urbonavicius led UMary with 20 points. Kam Warrens had 14 points nine rebounds and four assists. Mayer posted 12 points and seven assists in his first start of the season. Elijah Ormiston had 28 for the Golden Bears. UMary outscored CSP 35-26 in the second half… UMary scored the final six points of the game in the final 50 seconds to rally past Minnesota State 65-60. Davids Atelbauers hit the game-winner on a floated off the glass with 50 seconds left and later added a free throw. Mayer added a free throw with 21 seconds left and Matthew Johnson closed the scoring with two more free throws with 12 seconds remaining. Mayer also added a defensive rebound and took a charging call in the final moments. Johnson posted 14 points and seven assists. Atelbauers added eight points. Urbonavicius had 13 points and eight rebounds. Warrens chipped in eight points and six boards. Shawn Hopkins led MSU with 17 points and nine rebounds.
 
ALUMNI TIES
The start to Alumni Weekend couldn't have been scripted any better. Trailing Concordia-St. Paul, Treyton Mattern hit a 3 with 58 seconds left in the game to tie the contest. Lucas Mayer then scored the winning basket with 4.9 seconds remaining when he tapped in an offensive rebound. Both Mattern and Mayer are the son's of former Marauders basketball players, Darin Mattern and Dave Mayer.
 
SWEEP
The Marauders weekend home sweep of Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State University was the first since UMary defeated both Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State on January 25-26, 2018-19.   
 
CLOSE OUT
The Marauders outscored last weekend's two opponents 11-0 in the final minute of play to claim a sweep. Trailing 66-63 entering the final minute of play against Concordia-St. Paul, UMary scored the last five points on a Treyton Matter 3 with 58 seconds left and a Lucas Mayer putback of an offensive rebound with 4.9 seconds on the clock… The next night UMary outscored Minnesota State 6-0 in the final minute. Davids Atelbauers hit the game-winner with 50 seconds remaining before hitting a free throw later. Mayer added one free throw and Michael Johnson two as the Marauders downed the Mavericks 65-60.
 
NEMESIS
For just the second time – and the first time in a decade – the Marauders defeated the Mavericks. UMary is 4-13 all-time against Minnesota State. The only other home win came in 2011, the Marauders only NCAA tournament team.  
 
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
UMary found a way to sweep Concordia-St. Paull and Minnesota State despite playing last weekend with four Marauders out of the lineup with injuries and illness who combined for nearly 40 points per game. With Kai Huntsberry (18.7 ppg), Jacob Jackson (9.8 ppg), Josh Sipes (5.5 ppg) and Kade Amundson (5.0 ppg) unable to play, the Marauders used their best defensive effort and timely scoring throughout the lineup to claim two wins.  
 
BENCH PLAY
The Marauders reserves outscored the opposition last weekend 52-28 to lead UMary to a pair of wins. The UMary bench outscored CSP 17-6 and outscored MSU 35-22. Nine Marauders scored against the Golden Bears and 10 against the Mavericks.
 
ALL HANDS ON DECK
Due to injuries and illnesses throughout the season, Head Coach Jack Nelson has started 11 different Marauders this season. No player has stated all 18 games. Gertautas Urbonavicius has 17 starts, Kam Warrens 16 and Kai Huntsberry 15 to lead the team.    
 
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 3^rd in the NSIC in assists and free throw percentage, 5^th in scoring 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 nine times in 17 games, including a high of 21 against the Bronchos. For the season Urbonavicius is 2^nd on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and 4^th in rebounding (4.4 rpg). He is making 48.9% of his shots overall – including 39% behind the arc – and converts 77% 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 6.5 rebounds/game leads UMary and is 14^th in the NSIC. Warrens is also averaging 8.7 points/game and is making 36% 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 8^th in the NSIC in free throw percentage at 75% (201-of-268) while the Marauders opponents are 190-of-255 (74.5%).
 
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. WARRIORS
The Marauders are 1-21 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 14 straight games over the Marauders.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS v. PEACOCKS
The Marauders are 8-11 all-time against the Peacocks… Upper Iowa is 7-3 at home in Dorman Gym… UMary is 5-4 at the McDowell Activity Center against UIU… The Peacocks have won seven of the last ten meetings with the Marauders.
 
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 15 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 starting lineup last weekend and hit the winning basket with 4.9 seconds left against the Golden Bears… All four played for former UMary men's basketball player Darin 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:   5-  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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