Box Score Crookston, MN – Now seemingly automatic in posting big numbers nearly every night, a dominating Damon Smith posted another double double and led the University of Mary men's basketball team to a 76-52 road rout at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
 
Smith poured in 23 points while making an impressive 9-of-13 shots from the floor. The senior center also went 5-of-6 at the free throw line. One of the Northern Sun's top defenders, the Milwaukee, WI, native added 11 rebounds, two blocks and a steal to his strong offensive numbers. The leading shot blocker in the NSIC now had three double doubles this season and has scored 19 or more points in six of his last eight outings.
 
Following an emphatic dunk from Jalen Jaspers with just seconds left in the opening half, the Marauders entered intermission leading 35-27. Jaspers would score the first basket of the second half to push the U-Mary (5-15 overall, 4-12 NSIC) lead to 10 points but UMC (6-13, 2-13) refused to fade away.
 
After UMC cut the U-Mary lead to three points, Josh Turner hit a jumper and followed with a three pointer on consecutive possessions. The Marauders lead quickly jumped to 10 points after a Baley Johnson layup off a feed from Smith.
 
The closest the Golden Eagles would get the rest of the game was 47-40 but consecutive baskets by Darius Robinson and Johnson gave the Marauders an 11 point advantage. U-Mary then maintained a double digit lead the rest of the night with the squad's largest lead coming at the final buzzer.
 
Three other Marauders joined Smith in double figures. Robinson had 13 points off the bench, making three treys on the night. Additionally he chipped in four boards, three assists and two steals. Turner also hit three three-pointers and scored 12 points. Jaspers contributed 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
 
Johnson had a big night in reserve, making 4-of-5 shots and scoring eight points to go with four rebounds.
 
Akeem Cubie led the Golden Eagles with 17 points. Jacolby Anderson had 11 points and four assists and Broderick Schmidt paired nine rebounds and nine assists.
 
The Marauders played well on both ends of the floor, shooting 52.6 per cent to 37.5 per cent for the Golden Eagles while also holding a 40-26 edge in rebounding.
 
U-Mary closed the weekend at MSU Moorhead on Saturday, February 4. Tip off is set for 6 PM.
 
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