Box Score BISMARCK, N.D. – Marc Musungayi scored 27 points and the University of Mary held the high octane offense of Bemidji State University well below its scoring average but neither was enough for the Marauders. A defensive battle much of the night, the Beavers eventually pulled away in the second half for a 68-59 win over homestanding U-Mary.
 
The reigning Northern Sun Player of the Week, Musungayi was unstoppable in the paint. The senior forward hit 12-of-15 shots from the field added three free throws in six attempts. His personal string of 27 straight free throws ended in the first half. Musungayi also had five rebounds and two blocks.
 
Jalen Jaspers, who scored his 800th career point in his 100th career game for the Marauders (4-14 overall, 2-11 NSIC), added 13 points, four rebounds and three assists.
 
Brock Lutes led all players with 17 points for the Beavers (13-4, 10-3), the NSIC North Division leader. Zach Noreen had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Jake Schalow added 14.
 
U-Mary ground out a 30-28 lead at intermission, shooting 52 per cent from the floor while holding BSU, the top shooting team in the league, to a 40 per cent conversion rate.
 
The Beavers returned to form in the second half, making a stunning 72.7 per cent of their field goal attempts (16-of-22) while the Marauders made just 41.4 per cent. Neither team shot well from behind the arc. U-Mary was 1-of-13 and BSU – the NSIC leader in 3-point percentage – finished the night 2-of-14. The Beavers also entered the night third in the conference in scoring, averaging 83.6 points per game.
 
Damanta Henry's lone basket of the game gave the Marauders its only lead of the second half, a 43-42 advantage with over 12 minutes remaining. Back to back layups by Lutes and a Schalow bucket in the paint pushed the Beavers lead to five points and BSU remained in front the rest of the contest.
 
The Marauders did make a late run, cutting the deficit from 11 to six points on a Jaspers jumper and a Chris Mason trey with 37 seconds left. U-Mary turned the ball over on its next possession with a chance to pull closer and was unable to complete the rally.
 
U-Mary completes a four-game home stand against the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 6 PM.
 
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