The University of Mary men's basketball team opens its 2026-27 season tonight, Monday, Nov. 9, against the University of Saint-Boniface at the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m., according to UMary Athletics' game preview and season schedule.
It is the first meeting between the Marauders and the Reds, per UMary, and the start of a three-game opening week that sends UMary to Spearfish, S.D., for the Dakota Challenge this weekend.
What's at Stake
UMary is looking to turn the page on a 5-23 season, including 3-19 in the Northern Sun, per the school's preview. The NSIC preseason coaches' poll, as reported in UMary's Oct. 16 release, picked the Marauders last in the conference and last in the NSIC North Division.
Saint-Boniface, the only French-language university in Western Canada according to UMary's notes, comes in 1-1 this season. The Reds compete in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference under coach Michael Francisco, per the preview.
Head coach Darren Tighe enters his second season with a roster UMary describes as young: seven returners and 11 newcomers. "We have a nice balance of skill and size across the board," Tighe said in the school's Oct. 16 release. "We are young but the guys are extremely coachable and have put a ton of work in this summer."
Who to Watch
- Jackson Ware, a 6-9 senior forward from Australia, was named UMary's NSIC Player to Watch. He started 26 of 28 games last season, averaging 6.9 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 37.9% from 3-point range, per UMary.
- Andre Austin, a sophomore guard from Bismarck, is the top returning scorer at 7.2 points per game and led the team with 63 assists, according to the school.
- Tamarrein Henderson, a junior guard, made 27 starts last season and averaged 6.1 points, with a season-best 24 against Winona State.
The newcomer list has a local thread, too: freshman guard Artie Carlow is a Bismarck High product, and freshman guard Colton Christenson comes from Dickinson Trinity, per the UMary roster notes. Six players on the roster are from outside the U.S., including three Australians.
The Season So Far
- UMary: 0-0, opening tonight (per UMary)
- Saint-Boniface: 1-1 (per UMary's preview)
Next Up
- Friday, Nov. 13: UMary vs. South Dakota Mines, 6 p.m. CT, Dakota Challenge at Black Hills State's Donald E. Young Center in Spearfish, S.D. UMary leads the all-time series 17-8 and has won the last three meetings, per the school.
- Saturday, Nov. 14: UMary at No. 6 Black Hills State, 7 p.m. CT. The Yellow Jackets reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last season; UMary leads the all-time series 23-21, though BHSU has won the last two meetings, according to UMary.
- Next home game: Saturday, Dec. 5, vs. Northern State at the McDowell Activity Center, 2 p.m., per the schedule.
Live stats and video links for tonight's game are posted at goumary.com/coverage.
Sources: UMary Athletics game preview, Nov. 8, 2026; UMary Athletics release on NSIC Player to Watch, Oct. 16, 2026; UMary 2026-27 men's basketball schedule; UMary live coverage page; UMary 2026-27 men's basketball roster
