Box Score Aberdeen, SD – This time the University of Mary found a way to win. Finding themselves in another close contest, a stingy defense and timely scoring by Damon Smith in the closing minutes of the game allowed the Marauders to pull off a 70-69 road win over Northern State University. Smith led the Marauders with 19 points and eight rebounds.
 
U-Mary (4-13 overall, 3-10 NSIC) had already played nine previous games this season that came down to the last minute of regulation. Seven times the Marauders ended up on the losing side, including the last six decided in the final moments.
 
Early on it appeared the Marauders would run away with the game as U-Mary jumped out to an early 16-6 lead that featured three pointers from Josh Turner, Alex Dorr and Darius Robinson. Up by as many as 12 points the Marauders entered intermission leading 39-28.
 
Dorr knocked down three treys in less than three minutes to open the second half and extend the Marauders lead to 49-35, the largest lead of the night for U-Mary. The Wolves (10-7, 6-7) would begin chipping away at their deficit and a 12-3 run eventually pulled NSU within a point with over eight minutes remaining in the game.
 
The Marauders maintained their lead until Trent Zomer evened the game at 65-65 with a three-pointer at the 3:59 mark. Smith pushed U-Mary back ahead with a free throw but Zomber responded with a layup at 3:07 for the first lead by the Wolves since they scored the first basket of the game.
 
A jumper in the lane by Smith with 2:48 on the clock gave U-Mary a 68-67 advantage the team would never relinquish.
 
The Wolves would miss three straight shots before the Marauders had a chance to extend their lead. Unfortunately Jalen Jasers would miss two free throws with 51 seconds. The Wolves were unable to take advantege, misfiring on another three-point attempt with Smith pulling down a crucial rebound. Fouled immediately, Smith made two free throws with 28 seconds left to extend the U-Mary lead to 70-67.
 
With time running short, Geoffrey Firmin scored in the paint to pull the Wolves within a point but only six seconds remained. Forced to foul, NSU sent Turner to the free throw line. He missed his first attempt but Michael Johnson grabbed a long rebound for the Marauders and ran out the remaining seconds to secure the U-Mary win.
 
Smith led the Marauders in scoring and rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes. In addition to the 19 points and eight boards, he also dished four assists.
 
Dorr nailed all four three point attempts for the Marauders and scored 12 points. Lamada Williams gave the Marauders a huge first half lift, scoring all 12 points prior to intermission. Jaspers chipped in nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Baley Johnson came off the bench to score five points, snare six rebounds and make two steals.
 
Zomer led the Wolves with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Firmin and Dustin Tetzlaff each scored 15 points.
 
Efficient on offense, the Marauders shot 47.3 per cent from the field, including an impressing 9-of-18 effort behind the arc. U-Mary was just 9-of-17 at the free throw line however.
 
The Marauders return home to next face Bemidji State University on Friday, January 27.
 
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