THIS WEEK
Back in the MAC for the first time in three weeks, the University of Mary men's basketball team hosts a pair of Northern Sun games on Friday and Saturday, January 24-24. The weekend opens on Friday when the Marauders host the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at 5:30 pm. On Saturday, the Marauders welcome the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears for a 3:30 pm game in the McDowell Activity Center.
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live video and stats are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage.
 
BACK IN THE MAC
After two straight weekends and four straight games on the road, the Marauders play four of their next five games at home in the McDowell Activity Center. Overall six of the Marauders last ten games of the regular season are scheduled at home in the MAC.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 4-17 overall and 2-10 (13^th place) in the Northern Sun… The Bulldogs are 12-5 overall and 7-4 in the NSIC (6^th)… Concordia-St. Paul is 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the NSIC (2^nd).
 
FLIP FLOP
After playing the second game of Northern Sun women's and men's basketball doubleheaders for the first half of the season, men's basketball is now the opening game. The switch started last weekend so the January 24-25 weekend games against UMD and CSP are the first time the Marauders men's team will play the opening game at home this season.
 
AFTER THE ACTION
Marauders fans should make plans to stop at Buffalo Wild Wings following all home men's basketball contests. With two convenient Bismarck locations and great food and drink specials, it's easy to see why Buffalo Wild Winds is the preferred post-game hangout of Marauders Basketball! 
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders wrapped up their four-game road trip with a pair of losses last weekend… Jeremiah Jones broke the UMary NCAA single game record for steals with eight and scored 15 points in the Marauders 80-74 loss at Sioux Falls. Kevin McGaskey scored 22 points UMary closed an 18 point gap to five in the final two minutes… UMary held a 33-29 lead in the first half and pulled within 46-44 in the second before #22 Southwest Minnesota State claimed an 81-55 win. Jones posted 15 points and McGaskey 13 to lead the Marauders.  
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. BULLDOGS
UMary trails Minnesota Duluth 11-21 in the all-time series… The Marauders first victory over the Bulldogs was an 80-77 overtime win on 1.16.09… The Marauders and the Bulldogs split their series in 2020-21 and 2021-22 before UMD swept in 2022-23… UMary last claimed a sweep in 2018-19 with a pair of memorable games. UMary defeated UMD 73-70 at home in overtime on Dec. 8, 2018, when Dennis Austin III hit a 3-pointer with .7 seconds left in the extra session. UMary rallied from an 8-point deficit with six minutes left in regulation. Jaylan White hit five treys and scored a career-high 29 points. Matthew Kreklow made all ten of his free throws and scored 18 points. Austin finished with ten points. Sean Burns had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Brandon Myer had 15 and 17… In another wild ballgame at UMD on Jan. 11, 2019, the Marauders closed the season series with a triple overtime 100-98 road victory on a Jaylan White basket with under two seconds remaining on the clock. White scored 12 of his 25 points in the overtime sessions. Connor Hellebust added 21 and Tom Kubank 18. Brandon Myer had 31 points and 11 rebounds for UMD… Davids Atelbauers drained a game-winning three-pointer with 23 seconds left in the contest as the University of Mary overcame a double-digit second half deficit to knock off the nation's 6th-ranked and Northern Sun North Division champion University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 75-71 on February 11, 2022 for UMary's last win. The Marauders scored the final eight points in the game in the final minute of play, with Atelbauers scoring the last five. The 6th ranked Bulldogs are the highest-ranked NCAA team the Marauders have beaten at the McDowell Activity Center (The previous mark was a 77-48 win over #8 St. Cloud State University on December 16, 2007). Kai Huntsberry had 19 points, Atelbauers 13, Gertautas Urbonavicius 11 and Kam Warrens 10… in the 2022 NSIC quarterfinals Kai Huntsberry tied a Marauders NCAA era scoring mark with 42 points while hitting an NSIC tournament record seven treys in an 84-73 loss to the Bulldogs in the NSIC tournament quarterfinals. Huntsberry also had nine rebounds.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS v. GOLDEN BEARS
UMary trails in the all-time series with Concordia-St. Paul 17-10… 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 4-7 at home against CSP and 6-10 on the road… LAST MEETING The Marauders overwhelmed the visiting Golden Bears 95-74 February 16, 2024. Zyon Smith led six Marauders in double figures with 18 points. UMary trailed 49-40 before taking the lead behind a 13-3 run and outscoring CSP 55-25.

JONES BREAKS UMARY SINGLE GAME NCAA RECORD FOR STEALS
Jeremiah Jones recorded eight steals for the Marauders at Sioux Falls on January 17 to break UMary's NCAA record. Jones, the Northern Sun leader in steals, broke the old mark of seven set by Cameron Lee in the Marauders 63-49 win at Augustana on December 4, 2009… The eight steals are the 3^rd-most in NCAA D2 this season and the most by a player in the Northern Sun.
 
JONES CLOSING ON UMARY NCAA SINGLE SEASON STEAL RECORD
With 52 steals this season through 21 games, Jeremiah Jones is approaching the UMary NCAA single season record for steals. Marquealis Edwards owns the record with 57 over 31 games in 2015-16.   
 
STOP THIEF
Jeremiah Jones ranks 4^th in total steals (52) and 17^th in steals/game (2.5) in NCAA Division II. He leads the Northern Sun in both categories… UMary is 5^th in the NSIC with 7.0 steals/game.
 
SHARING THE LOAD
Three Marauders average at least 10.0 points/game this season:

• Jeremiah Jones leads UMary in scoring at 11.6 ppg. The sophomore guard, who missed last season due to injury, also leads the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and steals (52) and is 2^nd in blocks (11) and assists (47). Jones has reached double figures in scoring 12 times with a season-high 23 against Valley City State… He leads the NSIC in steals (2.5/game), is 19^th in rebounds (5.9/game) and 23^rd in assists (2.2/game).
•  Kevin McGaskey, in his first season at UMary as a graduate transfer from Prairie View A&M, is scoring 11.3 ppg and leads the squad in assists (64). Twelve times he has scored ten or more points with a season-best 22 points at Sioux Falls. McGaskey is making a team-high 80.8% of his free throws, 8^th in the NSIC.
• Junior forward Ty Rogers averages 10.4 ppg. He is making 45% of his shots overall and a team-best 37% on treys. Rogers also is pulling down 3.8 rpg.

 
DOUBLING DOWN
Jeremiah Jones produced the first UMary double double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the Marauders 86-75 win at Minnesota Crookston. The sophomore guard now has three career double doubles after positing two his freshman season in 2022-23.
 
DEBUTS
Eight Marauders made their UMary debuts this season. Kevin McGaskey has started 20 games at guard. Cayden Redfield, Ty Johnson and Tamerrein Henderson have played key minutes off the bench. Transfer Daniel Hong, redshirt freshman Alex Dvorak, and freshmen Wylee Delorme and Matija Otasevic also have seen their first action in the Blue & Orange this year.  
 
BLOCK PARTY
Rich Ashu led the Marauders in blocks last season with 1.0 per game and is off to a strong start this year with 16 rejections in 21 games (.7/game). The senior forward has also been efficient shooting the ball, making 49% of his shots this season.
 
HIGH EFFICIENCY
Ty Rogers is converting an impressive amount of his shots. The junior forward is connecting on 47% of his field goal attempts through 21 games and has reached double figures in scoring 11 times. He scored a career-best 22 points against Black Hills State… Junior forward Xavier Lewis is knocking down a team-leading 55% of his shot attempts as he is scoring 6.3 ppg.  
 
TRIAL BY FIRE
UMary faced an impressive list of opponents this season:

• Six teams in national polls (#RV MSU Billings, #RV St. Edward's, #RV Alaska-Anchorage, #7 MSU Moorhead, #13 Minot State, #22 Southwest Minnesota State)
• Seven teams who won at least 20 games last season (#RV MSU Billings, #RV St. Edward's, #RV Alaska-Anchorage, Central Oklahoma, #7 MSU Moorhead, #13 Minot State, Minnesota State)
• Four teams who made the 2024 NCAA tournament (MSU Billings, Alaska-Anchorage, MSU Moorhead, national champion Minnesota State University)

 
PRECIOUS COMMODITY
The Marauders committed just two turnovers against Winona State on January 4. It's the fewest turnovers committed by UMary in a single game during the program's NCAA era (beginning with the 2006-07 season), matching the Marauders total of two on February 23, 2008, in a 72-50 loss to #4 Northern State at the MAC. 
 
MCGASKEY NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH
 New arrival Kevin McGaskey is the preseason UMary Northern Sun Player to Watch for the Marauders in the 2024-25 season. A graduate transfer from NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M, McGaskey joins the Marauders after competing for two seasons for the Panthers. He played in 24 games in 2023-24, including 13 starts, for SWAC member PVAM. The 6-0 point guard averaged 4.0 points, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds while making 35 steals and hitting 71.0% of his free throw attempts in 25.5 minutes of play per game. The native of Missouri City, Texas, and graduate of Hightower High School posted season highs of 12 points and six rebounds against Alcorn State.    McGaskey played with former Marauders guard Zyon Smith at Highland Community College in Highland, KS, from 2020-22. 
 
BACK IN THE BLUE & ORANGE
The Marauders have a strong returning. Ten players return from last season, including five who started ten or more games in 2023-24 and a 6^th player returning from injury:  

• Junior forward Xavier Lewis - the Marauders leading returning scorer (6.7 ppg) and rebounder (5.5 rpg) – started 16 out of 27 games
• Sophomore guard Alex Mattes, who started 13 games last season as a true freshman, chipped in 6.2 points per game
• Junior forward Ty Rogers averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg while starting 10 games
• Junior guard Gunner Swanson hit 29 treys last season, tops among returners, while starting 18 games
• Senior forward Rich Ashu started 11 games for UMary and led the team in blocks (25 in 26 games)
• Junior guard Marquel Saleek played over 14 minutes per game and averaged 4.3 ppg and delivered 30 assists while starting one out of 27games
• Sophomore guard Nick Harrell averaged over 11 minutes per game in 19 outings while senior forward Liam Dougherty was limited to eight games by injury
• Guard Jeremiah Jones was a key reserve as a freshman in 2022-23 before missing all of last season due to injury. Jones averaged 6.7 ppg and 5.7 rpg while playing 24.2 minutes per game, the fourth most on the team. He led the team in steals (29) and was second in assists (64).
• Redshirt freshman guard Alex Dvorak looks to make his UMary debut this season.

 
FRESH FACES
The Marauders have added eight new faces for the 2024-25 season:

• Graduate transfer guard Kevin McGaskey joins the Marauders from NCAA Division I Prairie View A&M
• Other transfers include junior guard Daniel Hong (North Dakota), junior guard Ty Johnson (Highland (IL) CC), and junior guard/forward Cayden Redfield (United Tribes)
• Incoming freshmen are guard Wylee Delorme (Devils Lake, ND), Tamarrein Henderson (West Salem, WI), guard Ryan Larson (Jamestown, ND) and forward Matija Otasevic (Herceg Novi, Montenegro).

 
JONES NAMED TO TIPOFF CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Seeing his first action since February 2023 after missing all of the 2023-24 season due to injury, Jeremiah Jones returned to the court for the Marauders in impressive fashion. After averaging 12.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while adding eight assists and sight steals in three games, Jones was named to the 2024 D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead all-tournament team. Jones opened with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting – including a 2-for-3 effort on treys – while grabbing four rebounds and making three steals against host team MSU Billings. Jones hit three treys and scored 11 points against St. Edwards, adding seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. The sophomore guard finished the weekend with eight points, ten rebounds and three steals in a 73-72 win over Alaska Anchorage. He grabbed a key offensive rebound and was fouled trying to shoot with 1.7 seconds left in a tie game. After sinking the winning free throw, he protected the victory by knocking away a long inbound pass from the Seawolves. 
 
STAFF ADDITIONS
Marauders head coach Jack Nelson has several new faces on the bench alongside him this season. Bryan Forbes joins UMary as the lead assistant men's coach after serving as the head assistant coach at Briar Cliff the last five seasons following two years as the graduate assist at East Tennessee State University. Also joining the staff this season are DJ Sanchez, Nate Symens and former UMary player Zyon Smith.
 
YEAR FOUR
Head coach Jack Nelson enters year four with the Marauders. In his first season in 2020-21, the native of Dillon, CO, led UMary to its best conference record in four years. 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 1st team all-conference selection who broke the NSIC tournament record for 3s in a game with eight. Prior to joining the Marauders Nelson was an assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls (2018-21) and Minot State University (2012-16) in the Northern Sun and the head coach at Central Wyoming College (2016-18) for two seasons in between… In his first three seasons at UMary, Nelson has had scholar-athletes earn NSIC Newcomer of the Year honors (1), NSIC Player of the Week accolades (1), All-NSIC 1^st team recognition (1) and NSIC All-Academic Team honors (13).  
 
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