Box Score Bismarck, ND – In a defensive battle between two evenly matched squads, free throws proved the difference as visiting Wayne State College defeated the University of Mary 66-57 in Northern Sun men's basketball play. Both teams made the same number of baskets but the Wildcats hit nine more free throws than the Marauders to account for the final margin.
 
The two teams posted nearly identical shooting lines. The Marauders (2-11 overall, 0-8 NSIC) shot 38.5 per cent from the floor (20-of-52) and went 5-of-23 on three point attempts. At the line U-Mary finished 12-of-19. The Wildcats (6-6, 3-5) hit 39.2 percent of their field goal attempts (20-of-51) overall and sank 5-of-22 attempts behind the arc. Both teams committed 11 turnovers.
 
Wayne State won the game at the free throw line and on the glass. The Wildcats made 21-of-27 free throw attempts while the Marauders converted 12-of-19. The Wildcats also held a 39-29 rebounding advantage.
 
U-Mary jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead that included a pair of baskets by both Germain Decoste and Devan Douglas. Wayne State responded with a 15-3 run and grabbed the lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the opening half. 
 
Once the Wildcats took the lead, they never trailed again in the game. A 3-point play by Adol Aluong with 56 second left in the first half provided Wayne State a 28-18 lead at intermission.
 
Down by 14 early in the second half, a pair of treys by Mike Johnson pulled the Marauders with 36-30 before the Wildcats pushed their advantage back to double digits.
 
Another Johnson three pointer capped a final Marauders flurry, pulling U-Mary within 59-53 with 56 seconds remaining in the game. Led by Ty Bauschek, the Wildcats held off U-Mary at the free throw line. Bauschek was perfect in four attempts and Wayne State was 7-of-8. The Marauders missed two trey attempts and committed a turnover.
 
Douglas led the Marauders with 11 points, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the floor. The junior guard also added two steals. Marc Musungayi added 10 points off the bench and tied Chris Mason for the team lead in rebounds with seven. Johnson had three of U-Mary's five treys and scored nine points. He also posted three assists. Mason, who had the team's other two three-pointers, finished with seven points.
 
Aluong led all players with 16 points for Wayne State. Ryan Rolfzen hit three treys and scored 10.
 
After playing three straight games at home, the Marauders now take to the road to face Winona State University and Upper Iowa University on January 10-11.
 
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