Box Score Bismarck, ND – Facing the most improved team in the Northern Sun, the University of Mary fell just short as Upper Iowa University ground out a 67-63 win over the Marauders.
 
Down by as many as nine points in the second half, the Marauders steadily closed on the Peacocks. The Marauders pulled within a single point on consecutive baskets with 6:41 left in the game. Blake Maslonkowski hit a layup and freshman Brandon Tyler knocked down a three-pointer – both baskets assisted by Alex Dorr – and the Marauders trailed 55-54.
 
After two Joey Woods free throws, Jalen Jaspers followed with a layup at 4:17 to keep U-Mary within a point.
 
With the Marauders right on their heels, the Peacocks played nearly perfect basketball the rest of the night, making all three shots from the floor and hitting four of five free throws while committing no turnovers in the final three minutes of the game.
 
After a layup by Tucker Wentzien and two free throws by Jake Hughes, Dorr closed the gap to 61-58. Woods pushed Upper Iowa's advantage to five on a layup with 48 seconds remaining but Turner responded with a drive down the lane to pull U-Mary back within three.
 
With 30 seconds left Hughes made two more free throws but Tyler, making his first career start, knocked down his third trey of the game 10 seconds later to make the score 65-63.
 
Upper Iowa made their only mistake with 10 seconds left when Sam Elgin missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity. The Marauders grabbed the rebound with a chance to at least tie the game but Elgin stole the ball and drove in for a layup to seal the Peacocks win with five seconds left.
 
The Peacocks, who won just seven conference games last year and placed 11^th in the NSIC, are tied for second in the conference this season with an 11-4 record overall and a 7-2 mark in league play. The Marauders are 3-10 and 2-7.
 
Jaspers, one of five Marauders in double figures, led U-Mary with 13 points. He also pulled down five rebounds while making 6-of-10 shots from the floor.
 
Josh Turner and Marc Musungayi both scored 12 points. Turner hit two treys, made 5-of-8 shots overall and distributed six assists. Musungayi made 4-of-6 shots and blocked two shots.
 
Tyler connected for three three-pointers and scored 11 points to match his career-high. Dorr added 11 points, a game-high nine rebounds and dished three assists. Mike Johnson added five assists.
 
Wentzien led the Peacocks with 16 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Hughes had 13 points, Woods 11 points and five assists, and Grand Lang added 10 points.
 
The Marauders had a solid night shooting the ball, connecting on 49 per cent of their shots. Upper Iowa hit 43.1 per cent of its field goal attempts but went 11-of-13 at the free throw line to the 6-for-6 effort by U-Mary.
 
U-Mary also held a 31-29 advantage in rebounding. The Marauders committed just 13 turnovers but the Peacocks were even better, throwing the ball away just seven times.
 
The Marauders return to the road next week, playing at Minot State University on Tuesday, January 15, before heading to Augustana and Wayne State on January 18-19.
 
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