THIS WEEKEND
Following a scheduling shakeup due to a winter storm earlier this month, the University of Mary men's basketball team closes out the 2022 calendar year with a pair of Northern Sun games in Northwest Minnesota. The Marauders open the weekend at Bemidji State University on Friday, December 30. Tip off between the Marauders and the Beavers is slated for 3 pm at the BSU Gymnasium in Bemidji, MN. UMary then wraps up 2022 at the University of Minnesota Crookston with an afternoon contest on New Year's Eve. The Marauders and Golden Eagles tilt begins at 3 pm at Lysaker Gymnasium.
 
SCHEDULE SHAKEUP
Originally slated to play just one game at Minot State on the final weekend of 2022, a winter storm during the middle of December shuffled the Marauders schedule. The Marauders played at Minot State on December 17 instead of December 31. The Bemidji State – Minnesota Crookston weekend was shifted from December 16-17 to December 30-31.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Zyon Smith (22 points), Kam Warrens (20) and Treyton Mattern (17) combined for 59 points in an 82-76 loss at Minot State on December 17. Following a scheduling reshuffle just two days before the contest following a winter storm, the Marauders held a 35-34 lead at intermission in a game that featured 11 lead changes and six ties. UMary last held the lead at 52-50 before MSU used a 17-4 run to claim the lead. The Marauders were 15-of-17 at the line as UMary's 3-game win streak against the Beavers was snapped.
 
RECORDS
The Marauders enter the weekend 6-4 overall and 2-4 in the NSIC… Bemidji State is 6-5 overall and 2-4 in the NSIC… Minnesota Crookston is 1-11 overall and 0-6 in the NSIC.   
 
BACK IN ACTION
When UMary plays at Bemidji State on Friday, December 30, it will be the first game for the Marauders in nearly two weeks and only the second in three weeks. Since hosting Minnesota Duluth on December 10, UMary's only game was at Minot State on December 17, followed by a break for Christmas.
 
NSIC NORTH
When 2022 comes to a close this weekend, the Marauders will have played all eight of their games against NSIC North foes. UMary will have wrapped up their season series against Minot State and will have played the other six teams once with one game remaining against St. Cloud State, Minnesota Duluth, MSU Moorhead, Minnesota Crookston, Bemidji State and Northern State… The Marauders first games against NSIC South opposition comes January 6-7 when UMary hosts Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls… UMary plays fellow NSIC North teams twice each season (home and away) and the eight NSIC South teams once each.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS v. BEAVERS
Mary leads the series with BSU 19-14… 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 six years… UMary has won seven out of its last nine games in Bemidji… five of the last seven games were played in Bemidji (both games in the COVID19 season of 2020-21) | LAST MEETING A Lucas Mayer putback of an offensive rebound with two seconds remaining gave UMary a 55-53 win at BSU on February 4, 2022. The Marauders scored the last nine points in the game. Gertautas Urbonavicius led UMary with 18 points, hitting 4-of-6 treys. Davids Atelbauers added 10 points and Mayer had nine.   
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. GOLDEN EAGLES
Since joining the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season, the Marauders are 22-10 against the Golden Eagles… UMary is 14-3 at home and 8-7 away versus UMC… The Marauders are 14-7 in the last 21 outings against the Golden Eagles | LAST MEETING Homestanding Minnesota Crookston used a late surge to edge UMary 71-67 on February 4, 2022. Gertautas Urbonavicius led UMary with 16 points and Kai Huntsberry added 14.
 
ALL IN
The Marauders are getting production throughout their lineup this season. At least eight Marauders have found the scoresheet in every game but two. All 14 Marauders who played in the season-opening 91-60 win over the visiting Saints produced points for UMary. 12 Marauders scored in the Trevecca Nazarene win and nine found the basket in the PR-Bayamon victory.
 
BALANCE
The Marauders feature six players scoring between 12.6 ppg and 7.2 ppg, with four players averaging at least 8.7 ppg. Kam Warrens and Zyon Smith both average 12/6 ppg. Treyton Mattern is up to 111.3 ppg after five straight games scoring in double figures. Gertautas Urbonavicius checks in at 8.7 ppg with Jeremiah Jones at 7.6 ppg and Lucas Mayer at 7.2 ppg. 
 
BOARD GAMES
The Marauders have outrebounded their opponents in six of ten games this season, including four times by double digits (+12 against Minot State, +14 against Trevecca Nazarene, +24 against PR-Bayamon, +20 vs. St. Cloud State). UMary is 59^th in NCAA Division II in defensive rebounds at 27.5/game (290 teams ranked) and 80^th in rebounds/game (37.8).
 
DEFENSE
The Marauders have held five teams under 70 points this season and opponents are scoring just 70.2 ppg, the 6^th lowest mark in the NSIC this season. UMary is also holding teams to 42.2% shooting this season to rank 3^rd in the Northern Sun. 
 
HELPING HAND
The Marauders are averaging 15.9 assists per game to rank 48^th in the country and 2^nd in the NSIC.  
 
FOR THREE!
The Marauders are knocking down 36.8% of their 3-point attempts this season to rank 78^th in NCAA Division II. Opponents are connecting on just 33.6% of their attempts from behind the arc, the 6^th best defensive effort in the NSIC.   
 
TAKING TURNS
Five different Marauders have led UMary in scoring this season: Kam Warrens (3x), Treyton Mattern (2x), Lucas Mayer (2x), Zyon Smith (2x), and Gertautas Urbonavicius.
 
DOUBLING DOWN
Just nine games into his collegiate career, freshman Jeremiah Jones has two double doubles. He had 15 points and 16 rebounds against Minot State. In the Florida Tech Thanksgiving Tournament championship game Jones dropped 11 points and ten rebounds. The guard from South Holland, IL, has also been a tremendous distributor with eight assists against Presentation and seven against PR-Bayamon. For the season he is averaging 7.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists while shooting 43% from the floor and 88.9% at the line… Jones leads the Marauders in rebounding, assists and steals.  
 
CENTURY STANDOUTS
The Marauders start a pair of Bismarck Century High School graduates in forward Lucas Mayer and Treyton Mattern. Both are second generation Marauders as their fathers played for UMary. Mayer's father Dave played on the Marauders 1981-82 Men's Basketball Hall of Fame team that set a school record for wins. Mattern's mother (Gerene Saylor Mattern) is a member of the Marauders Hall of Fame for her exploits on the track. And Mattern's father, Darren, coached both Mayer and Mattern at Century HS.
 
DEBUTS
Seven Marauders made their UMary debuts in the season opener against Presentation. Zyon Smith (Highland CC) transferred to UMary before the start of the season. After redshirting last season for UMary, Gunner Swanson came off the bench for the Marauders. Freshmen Marquel Saleek, Jeremiah Jones, Xavier Lewis and Ty Rogers all made their collegiate debuts this season.
 
RETURNING
The Marauders have six players back who saw considerable action last season, including four from the starting rotation.

• Sr. F Gertautas Urbonavicius started all 27 games and was second on the team in scoring at 10.8 ppg… averaged 4.8 rebounds/game… shot 47%from the floor and 41% on treys.
• Sr. F Kam Warrens started 26 of 27 games… averaged 8.7 points/game and team-high 6.1 rebounds/game
• Sr. F Lucas Mayer started last 12 games of the season after returning from injury… averaged 6.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game… shot team-leading 68.8% from the floor
• Jr. G Treyton Mattern started 14 of the 18 games he played… averaged 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds/game… 3^rd on team with 1.7 assists/game.
• Sr. F Veljko Radakovic was a key reserve for the Marauders on the front line, playing in 19 games. He averaged 2.5 ppg.
• Jr. G Deven Franks saw significant minutes in the back court last season, playing in 18 games and starting three games… Averaged 2.4 ppg.
• Soph. F Liam Dougherty was limited to six games as a freshman.
• Fr. G Gunner Swanson redshirted last season at UMary

 
NEW
Zyon Smith lead a group of seven new players for the Marauders, six of whom are freshmen… Smith averaged 14.2 ppg and shot over 43% from the field for Highland Community College last season to earn 2^nd team Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference honors.
 
Freshmen for 2022-23 includes guards Colton Hall, Jeremiah Jones and Marquel Saleek and forwards Xavier Lewis, Payton Mogire and Ty Rogers.
 
YEAR TWO
Head coach Jack Nelson returns for his season with the Marauders after leading UMary to their best conference record since 2017. Nelson directed the Marauders to their first Northern Sun tournament road victory with an 82-70 win at Winona State to send UMary to the quarterfinals and a trip to the Sanford Pentagon. During the regular season the Marauders defeated #6 University of Minnesota Duluth 75-71, the highest ranked NCAA team UMary has beaten at home. Nelson recruited and coached Kai Huntsberry, the 2021-22 NSIC Newcomer of the Year and a 1^st team all-conference selection who broke the NSIC tournament record for 3s in a game with eight.
 
DIAL IN TO 710 AM FOX SPORTS
Listen to "Voice of the Marauders" Jesse Rostvedt call all Marauders Northern Sun games and select conference contests on 710 AM Fox Sports.
 
LIVE STATS AND WEBCASTS
Links to radio broadcasts, webstreams and live stats are found at www.GoUMary.com/coverage
 
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased at www.UMaryTickets.com. A tournament pass is available for both days. Also any ticket purchased for either Friday or Saturday provides admission for all four games that day.
 
Game tickets for Marauders athletics are available online at www.UMaryTickets.com and at the gate for all UMary athletics

• Adults | $10 + fees online and $15 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Seniors (65+) and youth 13-18 | $5 + fees online and $10 (CASH ONLY) at the gate
• Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult | Free
• Children 12 and under with no adult present| $5
• UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard and youth 12 and younger are admitted free

 
Please note that ticket sales at the gate are CASH ONLY purchases. Fans receive a discounted rate on tickets when purchased online at www.umarytickets.com than at the gate. Fans are also able to purchase tickets using credit and debit cards when ordering online while sales at the ticket booth are cash only.
 
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