BISMARCK, N.D. – Despite four players scoring in double figures, the University of Mary men's basketball team was unable to match the hot shooting of Dickinson State University as the Marauders lost their home opener to the Blue Hawks 81-75.
 
A back-and-forth game that featured 21 lead changes and 12 ties, it was the first meeting between the two schools since February 2006.
 
Trailing in the second half, the Marauders (1-1 overall) erased an 11-point deficit with a 16-5 run to tie the game at 66-66 with 6:20 remaining. The U-Mary run ended with a trey by Marquealis Edwards and a long jumper by Jaycob Velasco.
 
Minutes later, a Brenden Mann three-pointer provided the Marauders a 69-68 advantage, their final lead of the night, with just under five minutes left in the game.
 
Trailing again after three DSU (3-5 overall) free throws, a pair of freebies by Edwards deadlocked the contest at 71-71.
 
Curtis Redd then put the Blue Hawks in front for good with a three-point play at 1:35. From there Dickinson State won the game at the line, making 7-of-8 free throws to stay in front of the pressing Marauders. U-Mary committed two turnovers in the final minute and made just 1-of-4 shots.
 
Edwards led U-Mary with 19 points and six assists. He also had two steals, was 6-of-6 at the line, 3-of-7 on treys, and snared five rebounds.
 
Damonta Henry and Devan Douglas both added 14 points. Henry hit all five of his free throws and had two assists. Douglas had a team-high seven rebounds and four steals. Velasco added 12 points off the bench, connecting on two three-pointers. Mann also hit two treys and scored six points in a reserve role.
 
Tevin Russell paced the Blue Hawks with 21 points, scoring 13 in the second half. He was 7-of-10 from the floor and made all five free throw attempts before fouling out. Jordan Gondrezick, who made four three-pointers, and Mackenson Odenier both had 18 points.
 
The Marauders shot just 42.9 percent for the game, including a 9-of-22 effort behind the arc. Solid at the line, U-Mary was 18-of-21 on free throw attempts. U-Mary also held a 31-27 rebounding advantage.
 
The Blue Hawks made 56.3 percent of their shots, including 8-of-18 three point attempts. DSU went 19-of-22 at the free throw line.
 
U-Mary continues its non-conference slate with a pair of games in California on Nov. 21-22, playing at Saint Katherine College and Point Loma Nazarene University.
 
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