THIS WEEK
In the final road trip of the regular season for the University of Mary men's basketball team, the Marauders visit Winona State University and Minnesota State University Friday and Saturday, February 14-15. The two-game set tips off when the Marauders face the Warriors on Friday at 5:30 pm in Winona, MN. The venue changes to Mankato, MN, on Saturday for a 3:30 pm contest between the Marauders and the defending national champion Mavericks.  
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live video and stats are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage.
 
THE RECORDS
The Marauders are 5-22 overall and 3-15 (14^th place) in the Northern Sun… The Warriors are 17-7 overall and 12-6 in the NSIC (3^rd place 5-way tie)… The Mavericks are 16-10 overall and 12-6 in the NSIC (3^rd place 5-way tie).
 
SENIOR DAY SET FOR FEBRUARY 22
Four Marauders will be honored on Senior Day on February 22. Rich Ashu, Liam Dougherty, Kevin McGaskey and Gunner Swanson are set to be recognized prior to UMary's final home game of the season against the University of Sioux Falls at 3:30 pm. The Olson Scholarship will also be presented at that time to a graduating senior.
 
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
Ty Rogers posted his first double double of the season and the third of his career in an 84-54 UMary loss to visiting St. Cloud State. Rogers scored 15 points and had 11 rebounds. Alex Mattes added 12 points and Keving McGaskey 10 for UMary. SCSU pulled away in the second half after hitting nine treys… Wylee Delorme scored 32 points to tie the program record for most points in an NCAA game by a freshman in UMary's 76-58 loss at MSU Moorhead. In 27 minutes he was 5-of-7 on treys, 8-of-13 overall and 11-for-11 at the free throw line.
 
HISTORY LESSON - MARAUDERS v. WARRIORS
The Marauders are 3-24 all-time against the Warriors… After UMary won two straight games against Winona State, the Warrior have claimed the Winona State claimed the last two games… The last three games between UMary and WSU were all played in Bismarck… UMary is 2-11 all-time at the MAC against Winona State… WSU is 13-1 at home against UMary, including 3-1 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.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS v. MAVERICKS
The Marauders are 5-15 all-time against the Mavericks… The Mavericks have won the last two meetings – both in Bismarck – following back-to-back wins by the Marauders… 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 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… UMary snapped a 5-game losing streak to Minnesota State with a 96-91 overtime win in the 2016 NSIC quarterfinals… The Marauders picked up their first of two wins at the Taylor Center 75-61 on January 14, 2017. UMary last won at MSU 69-67 January 27, 2023, as Treyton Mattern scored 20 points and the Marauders finished 10-of-21 on treys.
 
DELORME TIES UMARY NCAA FRESHMAN SCORING MARK
Wylee Delorme scored 32 points at MSU Moorhead on February 8, 2024, to tie UMary's NCAA freshman record for points in a game. Marauders Hall of Fame member Eric Erdmann scored 32 points at home against Wayne State College on December 9, 2006, during UMary's first season competing in NCAA Division II.
 
In 27 minutes of play, Delorme nailed 5-of-7 shots behind the arc and 8-of-13 shots overall. The freshman from Devils Lake, ND, converted all 11 of his free throw attempts.
 
Here are a few interesting nuggets from Delorme's outburst:

• Delorme scored 20 straight points for UMary during a 26-10 Marauders run
• He reeled off the first 11 points of a 13-0 UMary run. Delome hit a trey, followed by two free throws. Next fouled shooting a trey, Delorme converted all three free throws. He capped the run with another made trey.
• The 11 made free throws and 32 points was the most by a UMary player since Brock Heffner scored 36 points with 12 free throws against Valley City State University December 18, 2023
• The five treys matched Jeremiah Jones for an individual season high and the most since Gunner Swanson drained six against Augustana in the 2023-24 season finale
• The 32 points is the most points scored in an NSIC regular season game for UMary since Bryan Jefferson dropped 33 on Bemidji State February 12, 2016
• 13^th highest point total in an NSIC game this season
• One of nine players to score 32 or more points in an NSIC game this season
• Delorme's previous single game total was 10 at Wayne State College January 11

 
STOP THIEF – JEREMIAH JONES EDITION
Jeremiah Jones has caused chaos to opposing ball handlers all season. The Northern Sun leader in steals has set UMary NCAA single season and single game records this year. Among his accomplishments:

• Broke the Marauders NCAA single season record for steals against Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, January 25. The sophomore guard owns 76 steals this season in 27 games. The previous record was 57 by Marquelis Edwards in the 2015-16 season.
• Jones broke the school's NCAA single game steals record with eight at Sioux Falls. The old mark was seven by Cameron Lee in the Marauders 63-49 win at Augustana on December 4, 2009
• The eight steals in a single game is the 4^th most in NCAA D2 this season and 2^nd most by a player in the Northern Sun
• One of only five players to post at least seven steals in a game twice this year
• 5^th in NCAA D2 and 1^st in the NSIC with 2.81 steals/game
• 2^nd in NCAA D2 and 1^st in the NSIC with 76 total steals
• Owns five or more steals in a game four times. Jones is one of only two NSIC players with 5 or more steals multiple times and the only one to do so 3+ times.

 
STOP THIEF – TEAM EDITION
UMary ranks 4^th in the NSIC in steals per game (7.41)
 
PRESSURE
The Marauders are forcing opponents into committing 12.9 turnovers per game, the third most in the Northern Sun.
 
SHARING THE LOAD
Three Marauders average at least 10.0 points/game this season:

• Jeremiah Jones leads UMary in scoring at 11.7 ppg. The sophomore guard, who missed last season due to injury, also leads the team in rebounding (6.3 rpg) and steals (76) and is 2^nd in blocks (15) and assists (65)… Jones has reached double figures in scoring 16 times with a season-high 23 against Valley City State… Jones just missed a pair of double doubles with eight points and nine rebounds against SCSU and eight points and 11 rebounds at MSUM in back to back games… He leads the NSIC in steals (2.8/game), is 13^th in rebounds (6.3/game), 22^nd in assists (2.4/game) and 25^th in blocks (0.6).  
•  Kevin McGaskey, in his first season at UMary as a graduate transfer from Prairie View A&M, is scoring 10.9 ppg and leads the squad in assists (76). Fourteen times he has scored ten or more points with a season-best 22 points at Sioux Falls. McGaskey is making a team-high 79.5% of his free throws.
• Junior forward Ty Rogers averages 10.8 ppg. He is making 43% of his shots overall and a team-best 36% on treys. Rogers also is pulling down 3.9 rpg. The junior forward has reached double digits in scoring 16 times this year.

 
STAYING ALIVE
The Marauders are 4^th in the NSIC in offensive rebounds with 10.4.
 
BENCH PLAY
The Marauders are 4^th in the NSIC in bench scoring with 19.4 points/game.
 
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.
• Ty Rogers combined 15 points and 11 rebounds against SCSU for his 1^st double double of the season and third of his career.

 
DEBUTS
Eight Marauders made their UMary debuts this season. Kevin McGaskey has started 24 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. He again leads UMary in blocks this season with 17 rejections in 27 games (.6/game) and ranks 20^th in the NSIC. The senior forward has also been efficient shooting the ball, making 51% of his shots this season.
 
HIGH EFFICIENCY
Junior forward Xavier Lewis is knocking down a team-leading 54% of his shot attempts as he is scoring 6.0 ppg.   
 
MATTES ON THE MARK
Alex Mattes has found his range from deep. In the last ten games the sophomore guard is 12-for-23 on 3-pointers. Additionally he has found his way to the free throw line, attempting 27 in the last three games and making 18. Mattes has reached double figures in points in three of the last four games, averaging 12.5 points/game the last two weeks.    
 
TRIAL BY FIRE
UMary faced an impressive list of opponents this season:

• Seven games against teams in national polls (#RV MSU Billings, #RV St. Edward's, #RV Alaska-Anchorage, #7 MSU Moorhead, #13 Minot State, #22 Southwest Minnesota State, #RV Concordia-St. Paul)
• Nine games against teams who won at least 20 games last season (#RV MSU Billings, #RV St. Edward's, #RV Alaska-Anchorage, Central Oklahoma, #7 MSU Moorhead (2x), #13 Minot State, Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth)
• Six games against teams who made the 2024 NCAA tournament (MSU Billings, Alaska-Anchorage, MSU Moorhead (2x), national champion Minnesota State University, Minnesota Duluth)

 
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… in the last 16 games UMary is averaging 10.7 turnovers, below the season average of 12.6.
 
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 eight 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 assistant 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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