Box Score Bismarck, ND – Behind a career-high scoring effort by Alex Dorr, tremendous long-range shooting and exceptional work at the free throw line, the University of Mary opened Northern Sun conference play with a 77-65 win over Minot State University.
 
The Marauders snapped a five-game losing streak to the Beavers, defeating their instate rival for the first time in almost eight years (Dec. 10, 2004). This was the first time U-Mary played Minot State in a conference game since January 22, 2005. This was also the first time the two schools played one another in an NSIC contest.
 
Dorr scored a game-high 23 points and also led all players with nine rebounds. The senior forward fell one board short of what would have been a fourth straight double double. The NSIC's leading rebounder and top free throw shooter knocked down all five of his attempts from the charity stripe. He is now 18-of-18 on free throws this season. The Norwalk, IA, native also was 4-of-8 behind the arc and added two assists.
 
U-Mary made 25 free throws in 31 attempts. In the second half, the Marauders went 17-of-19 to maintain a double digit lead the last nine minutes. The Beavers went to the line 14 times, making 10.
 
Behind numerous three pointers, the Marauders jumped out to a 23-11 lead with seven minutes left in the first half and Mike Johnson, Josh Turner and Dorr each knocked down two treys apiece. The Beavers wouldn't fold and finished the first half on a 17-5 run to even the game at 28-28.
 
Early in the second half the Marauders found themselves down by three, the first time the Beavers held a lead all evening. The deficit was short-lived as Dorr exploded for eight straight points. After converting a three-point play to even the game at 33-33, he hit a layup off a feed from Johnson and then drained a trey. Jalen Jaspers followed with a trey of his own and U-Mary forged ahead 41-33.
 
A three-pointer by Anthony Enriquez brought the Beavers back within 44-41 but that was as close as MSU would come. U-Mary scored nine of the next 10 points and another three by Turner gave the Marauders a double digit lead at 56-45 they would not surrender.  
 
Turner drained 4-of-6 three point attempts and scored 17 points for U-Mary. Jaspers had 12 points and a team-high five assists. Johnson added 10 points, four assists and three steals.
 
Noah Stewart gave the Marauders a spark off the bench, scoring all 11 of his points at the free throw line. He also had five rebounds and four assists.
 
Chris East scored 15 and grabbed eight rebounds in a reserve roll to pace the Beavers in both categories. Thomas Korf added 12 points and Kelvin Fraser had 10.
 
Playing in the Bismarck Civic Center for the first time since 1998 before a crowd of 2,810, the Marauders improved to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Northern Sun. The Beavers are 1-3 and 0-1.
 
U-Mary returns to campus next weekend, hosting Northern State University on Dec. 7.
 
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