BISMARCK, N.D. – Despite a trio of scorers in double digits, the University of Mary continued its recent struggles against Minot State University. In front of a packed house, the Beavers knocked off the homestanding Marauders 66-61 in the Northern Sun opener for both teams.
 
The loss is the fourth straight for U-Mary (2-3 overall, 0-1 Northern Sun) against MSU (5-1, 1-0) and the ninth in ten games. The last time the Marauders defeated the Beavers at the McDowell Activity Center is December 2004.
 
Marquealis Edwards and Bryan Jefferson both scored 13 points for U-Mary and Jaycob Velasco added 12. The Marauders bench produced 25 points in the game, all by Jefferson and Velasco.
 
The Beavers scored the first eight points of the game and never trailed in the contest.  Down by 10 in the first half, a pair of baskets by Velasco sandwiched around a three ball from Damonta Henry allowed the Marauders to close within two points before trailing 28-23 at intermission.
 
U-Mary found its groove for a short time in the second half. Luke Scott capped a 13-4 run with two straight steals. The first resulted in a layup by Scott and the second with the sophomore guard drilling a three-pointer as the Marauders pulled to within 47-46 with nine minutes remaining in the game.
 
Minot State rebuilt its lead to as many as eight points as U-Mary struggled to find the basket. The Marauders went 6-of-19 from the field in the final nine minutes of the game until hitting a shot in the closing moments.
 
The Beavers, who attempted 20 free throws in the game to just six for the Marauders, hit just 7-of-12 at the line down the stretch. That minimal effort by Minot State proved enough to hold the Marauders at bay.
 
In addition to his 13 points, Edwards also had four rebounds and hit two treys. Jefferson tacked on four steals and three rebounds to his 13 points. Velasco paired a game-high seven rebounds with his 12 points.
 
Henry, who reached double digits in points in the first four games of the season, just missed extending his streak by finishing with nine. He was 3-of-8 behind the arc and added two assists. Scott had nine points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals.
 
Everett Robinson led the Beavers with 19 points. He was 8-of-10 from the field and added seven rebounds. Lamont Prosser had 11 points and five rebounds. Dominique McDonald posted six rebounds and six assists.
 
The Beavers shot 48 percent from the floor, including a 6-of-16 effort behind the arc. MSU also went 12-of-20 at the free throw line and held a 40-31 rebounding edge.
 
The Marauders connected on 40.6 percent of their field goal attempts, including a 6-of-20 effort on three-pointers. U-Mary was 26-of-64 overall compared to MSU's 24-of-50 mark. U-Mary attempted 14 more shots than MSU but was just 3-of-6 at the free throw line. The Marauders also committed just seven turnovers while forcing the Beavers into 14.
 
U-Mary next travels to Northern State University and MSU Moorhead on Dec. 5-6.
 
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