THIS WEEK
Week two of facing Northern Sun South Division teams features the University of Mary men's basketball team on the road at the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday and Saturday, January 16-17. On Friday the Marauders play the Cougars at 5:30 pm at USF's Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, SD. The weekend wraps up Saturday at 5 pm in Marshall MN, when the Mustangs host the Marauders at the R/A Center.  
 
FOLLOW LIVE
Links to live stats and video are available at www.goumary.com/coverage
 
THE RECORDS
UMary enters the week with a record of 5-11 overall, 3-7 in the Northern Sun (T-12^th place) and 3-5 in the NSIC North (T-6^th)… Sioux Falls is 8-8 overall, 5-5 in the NSIC (T-8^th) and 3-5 in the NSIC South (5^th)… Southwest Minnesota State 10-5 overall, 8-2 in the NSIC (T-1^st) and 6-2 in the NSIC South (T-1^st).
 
MIDPOINT
The second half of the NSIC season starts Saturday. UMary plays its 11^th conference game of the season Friday at USF. Northern Sun teams play 22 league games.
 
FLIP FLOP
This is the last weekend that Northern Sun doubleheaders open with the men's game. Starting January 23 the women's games will serve as the opener with the men playing game two.
 
SOUTH TO NORTH
This is the second week of crossover play between the NSIC North and South divisions. In a 16-team league featuring two 8-team divisions, NSIC teams played their first eight conference games against teams in the same division. The next eight games are against teams in the opposite division. Schools close the season playing six intra-divisional games. (22-game NSIC schedule features two games against the other seven teams in your own division and one game against the eight teams in the other division). 
 
AFTER THE ACTION
Marauders fans should make plans to stop at Buffalo Wild Wings following all UMary home games. With two convenient Bismarck locations and great food and drink specials, it's easy to see why Buffalo Wild Wings is the preferred post-game hangout of Marauders Athletics!
 
LAST WEEK
In the first NSIC home games in 2026 and the first two contests against NSIC South squads, the Marauders dropped a pair of home games… On Friday the Marauders grabbed a lead with 62 seconds remaining on a Kelton Coleman layup but four free throws by Minnesota State in the final 40 seconds gave the Mavericks a 68-65 win. Coleman scored a game-high 21 points in a game that featured seven lead changes and six ties. He hit 9-of-11 shots. Noah Thomas added 12 points… NSIC-leading SCSU claimed a 72-60 win over UMary. Coleman scored 17 points and made four steals to pace the Marauders. Parker Brodina scored a career-high 11 points.
 
OPPO RESEARCH
Sioux Falls owns six straight wins, the longest streak in the NSIC. USF ranks second in the NSIC in scoring at 85.3 points per game, shoot nearly 27 free throws/game and are +6/game in rebounding.
Four Cougars are scoring in double figures: Brogan Madson (17.5 ppg), Taylen Ashley (16.9 ppg), Kyle Ingwerson (14.1 ppg) and Brandon Hrncir (13.9 ppg), who leads the Cougars in rebounding (5.4 rpg).
 
Southwest Minnesota State is tied with St. Cloud State for the NSIC lead at 8-2 and has wins in eight of its last nine games. Five Mustangs are averaging double figures for points: Jakob Braaten (16.7 ppg), Aeron Stevens (12.1 ppg), Mekhi Shaw (12 ppg), Micah Schlaak (11.6 ppg) and Mason Lund (10.6 ppg). SMSU is shooting 48% from the field (2^nd in the NSIC) and 41% on treys (1^st in NSIC). Defensively the Mustangs are second in the NSIC in points allowed (69.2 ppg).  
 
HISTORY LESSON – UMARY VS. SIOUX FALLS
The Cougars lead the series with the Marauders 13-3… USF won the first four games in the series before UMary claimed the next two… In the first meeting the Cougars beat the Marauders 75-63 on 11.20.99... The Marauders first win was a 69-65 road win on Dec. 12, 2015, as Damonta Henry scored 12 points in UMary's only victory at USF… Mary is 1-4 at home, 1-9 at USF and 1-0 in neutral site games… The two former NAIA competitors first met as NCAA and NSIC foes on 2.9.13 with USF gaining a 75-70 home win. The Marauders joined the Northern Sun for the 2006-07 season and the Cougars began NSIC play in 2012-13… UMary's only home win was an 81-72 decision on February 3, 2017. Damonta Henry scored 25 points and Bryan Jefferson tallied 21… The last UMary win was 83-74 in Moorhead, MN, on November 26, 2021, as Kai Huntsberry scored 26 points… USF has won four straight games overall and the last three in Bismarck.
 
HISTORY LESSON – MARAUDERS VS. MUSTANGS
The Marauders trail the Mustangs in the series 19-5… UMary is 4-6 all-time at home in the MAC and 1-13 at SMSU's R/A Facility… The Marauders lone win in Marshall, MN, was 91-82 on December 11, 2015, as Bryan Jefferson had 18 points and Marquealis Edwards had 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists… The Marauders last win was a 62-57 home victory January 6, 2023. Gertautas Urbonavicius had 16 points and 10 rebounds for UMary. Treyton Mattern and Zyon Smith both scored 11 points.
 
BENCH BOOST
The Marauders bench is scoring 35.6 points/game, the 13^th most ppg in NCAA D2 and the most in the NSIC.
 
FOR THREE!
UMary is leading the NSIC in treys made/game at 9.9 and ranks 27^th in the country… UMary averages an NSIC-leading 29.1 3-point attempts/game (18^th in nation)… UMary hit a season-high 16 against Bismarck State. The 16 treys is the most UMary has made in a game since dropping 17 in a game at Saint Martin's University on November 19, 2008.   
 
STOP THIEF
Leading a high-pressure Marauders defense, Kelton Coleman is second in the Northern Sun in steals and is 22^nd in NCAA Division II with 2.5 steals/game. Coleman had a career-best six steals against Jamestown… As a team the Marauders average 8.8 steals/game to rank 2^nd in the NSIC. UMary is also 2^nd in the NSIC in turnovers forced/game (13.8).
 
BALANCE
Through 16 games, nine Marauders are averaging at least 5.7 points per game. Kelton Coleman leads UMary in scoring at 13.5 ppg. Next on the scoring list are Cayden Redfield (9.6 ppg), Tshawn Bois (8.4 ppg), Jackson Ware (7.3 ppg), Tamarrein Henderson (7.3), Andre Austin (6.8), Noah Thomas (7.3), Amare Jackson (6.1) and Relja Nagulic (5.7). Bois, Redfield, Thomas and Jackson are primarily doing their damage off the bench. 
 
GET ON BOARD
Tshawn Bois posted the Marauders first double double this season with 19 points and ten rebounds in a win over Bismarck State. The junior guard from Quebec leads UMary in rebounding with 5.8 per game to rank 13^th in the NSIC. He is also third on the team in scoring at 8.4 ppg. 
 
SWAT CITY
Jackson Ware is providing a block-shot presence for the Marauders this season. The junior forward is averaging .8 blocks per game, 10^th in the NSIC. He had five blocks in a win over South Dakota Mines.
 
 
MINUTES
10 Marauders average at least 16.2 minutes per game, with no one averaging over 25.6 minutes/game. Freshman Andre Austin has played the most minutes (410), just ahead of Kelton Coleman (384), Tamarrein Henderson (347) and Jackson Ware (341). 
 
COLEMAN TAKES THE LEAD
Kelton Coleman, a junior from Fort Worth, TX, has led UMary in scoring seven times in 16 games and has reached double figures 12 times. In his first year at UMary after playing at Augustana last season, the guard posted a season-best 22 points at Jamestown. He averages 13.5 ppg and 3.7 rebounds/game. He has gone to the free throw line 80 times, 29 more times than anyone else on the team. Coleman also leads UMary with 40 steals.
 
AUSTIN POWER PLAY
Freshman Andre Austin is off to a strong start in his collegiate career. The Bismarck, ND, native leads the team in minutes played (410) and assists (45). The guard averages 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He scored 14 points in his first college game against Northwestern Oklahoma State University and set a season-high with 15 in a win over MSU Moorhead. Austin graduated from Bismarck High School, where he played for Jordan Wilhelm, a four-year starter for the Marauders from 2007-11 and a member of UMary's 2011 NCAA tournament team.
 
BOARD GAMES
Aggressive on the offensive boards, the Marauders are 43^rd nationally in offensive rebounds (13.4/game) and 3^rd in the NSIC.
 
FIRST
UMary head coach Darren Tighe earned his first win at the helm of the Marauders in a 78-73 home win over Minot State University to open NSIC play. The Marauders rallied from 20 points down to get the win… Three days later Tighe gained his second win as UMary downed South Dakota Mines. 
 
TOURNEY TOPPERS
The Marauders have beaten two teams who qualified for the 2025 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament, downing Minot State 78-73 and MSU Moorhead 96-90. MSU Moorhead was also the NSIC tournament champion.
 
THREE
With the victory over MSU Moorhead, the Marauders equaled their NSIC win total from the 2024-25 conference season with three. 
 
NEAR AND FAR
The Marauders 2025-26 roster features two players from Bismarck, ND, and five from North Dakota: Andre Austin (Bismarck), Wyatt Westin (Bismarck), Alex Dvorak (Dickinson), Parker Brodina (Devils Lake) and Ryan Larson (Jamestown)… UMary also features five international scholar-athletes: Tyresse Poku Mensah (London, England), Tshawn Bois (Quebec, Canada), Sini Tuakoi (Auckland, New Zealand), Relja Nagulic (Subotica, Serbia) and Jackson Ware (Northern Rivers, NSW, Australia).
 
DARREN TIGHE TAKES MARAUDERS HELM
Darren Tighe (pronounced TIE) is in his first season at UMary and earned his first two wins leading the Marauders in the first two home games of the season over Thanksgiving week. Running the show is not a new experience for Tighe. In ten years as a college head coach prior to UMary Tighe has a record of 169-112. In three seasons at Ridgewater (MN) Community College (2014-17), he led the Warriors to a mark of 48-34 that included a 20-win season to break a 50 year old school record for victories... In five seasons at Mayville (ND) State University (2017-22), the Comets went 92-42, won a league title and advanced to three national tournaments. Twice he earned coach of the year honors. The first season with the Comets, Mayville State went from nine wins the previous year to 18 wins… Tighe coached the previous two years at Dakota (SD) State University. In his first season the Trojans won 17 games and posted their first winning season in eight seasons.
 
ALL IN
Fifteen Marauders have played this season, including 11 who have played at least 10 games and eight who have competed in all 16 games. Three played for the Marauders last season (Cayden Redfield, Tamerrein Henderson and Alex Dvorak) with 12 others making their debut in the Blue & Orange this season: Kelton Coleman, Amare Jackson, Andre Austin, Kenny Gonzalez, Relja Nagulic, Tshawn Bois, Noah Thomas, Jackson Ware, Parker Brodina, Ryan Larson, Tyresse Poku Mensah and Wyatt Westin.
 
FAMILIAR FACES
The Marauders return four players from 2024-25. Sr. G Cayden Redfield is the leading returning scorer. Last year in his first season at UMary after transferring from United Tribes, Redfield averaged 4.7 ppg in 21 games. Three times he reached double digits, including 18 points against Minnesota State… Sophomore guard Tamerrein Henderson saw action in 27 games in his first collegiate season. He scored a season-best nine points against Central Oklahoma… Sophomore guard Alex Dvorak saw action in eight games as a redshirt freshman and hit 3-of-4 trey attempts… Ryan Larson is a redshirt freshman guard who did not play last season due to injury.
 
GET TO KNOW 'EM
In addition to new head coach Darren Tighe and new assistant coach Jacob Leier, the Marauders have 12 new players on the roster… Jr. G Kenny Gonzalez is the Marauders Northern Sun Player to Watch this season. He joins the Marauders after two seasons at San Diego City College, where he averaged 12.1 points/game and earned all-conference first team honors… Jr. guard Amare Jackson averaged 16.6 ppg last year at Skagit Valley College and received All-American, All-Region and all-academic honors… Fr. G Andre Austin is a 2-time all-state player from Bismarck, ND, and played for former Marauders player Jordan Wilhelm at Bismarck High School… Jr. G Kelton Coleman played 25 games last season for NSIC rival Augustana… Tshawn Bois is a junior guard from Quebec, Canada, and transferred to UMary from Lamar (CO) Community College after scoring 13.2 ppg last year… Fr. G Tyrese Poku Mensah comes to UMary from London, England… Wyatt Westin is a Fr. G from Shiloh Christian HS in Bismarck, ND… Parker Brodina is a freshman guard from Devils Lake, ND, where he was named the 2025 North Dakota Class A Senior Athlete of the Year… New Zealand native Sini Tuakoi is a junior forward who played at the New Mexico Military Institute last year after a season at Clarendon College… Relja Nagulic, a native of Serbia, is a sophomore forward who played at Coffeyville Community College last season… A native of Australia, Jackson Ware is a junior forward joining the Marauders after playing two seasons at Purdue Northwest… Noah Thomas is a senior guard joining the Marauders from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he started 17 games last season after previously playing at Chabot College and Oregon Institute of Technology.
 
MARAUDERS BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Single game and season tickets are available at www.UMaryTickets.com and via the HomeTown Fan App for iOS and Android mobile devices. Fans who purchase tickets online at www.UMaryTickets.com and on the HomeTown Fan App receive a discount over tickets purchased at the gate.
 
Basketball Ticket Prices – Online

• Adult tickets $10 plus fees
• Seniors and Youth (ages 13-18) $5 plus fees
• Children 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children ticket prices are $5 plus fees

 
Basketball Ticket Prices – At the gate

• Adults tickets $15 cash | $15 + fees with credit card
• Seniors and Youth (aged 13-18) $10 cash | $10 + fees with credit card
• Children 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult. Unaccompanied children ticket prices are $5 cash | $5 + fees with credit card.

 
Note

• Both cash and credit card payments will be accepted at the UMary ticket gate.
• UMary students and faculty and staff with their MCard are admitted FREE. Children ages 12 and younger with an adult are admitted FREE. If children 12 and under unaccompanied by an adult the admission fee is $5 cash | $5 + fees with credit card.

 
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