CROOKSTON, Minn. – Unable to overcome a second nine-point deficit, the University of Mary opened the 2015 calendar year with a 64-61 loss at the University of Minnesota Crookston. The loss snapped the Marauders five-game win streak over the Golden Eagles.
Marquealis Edwards led the Marauders with 13 points and
Bryan Jefferson added 10 points but U-Mary (2-9 overall, 0-7 Northern Sun) converted just 40.6 percent of its field goal attempts. Minnesota Crookston (6-5, 4-3), which went 0-for-3 at the free throw line, shot a highly-efficient 53.8 percent from the field and made eight treys to two for U-Mary.
Trailing by as many as nine points in the first half, the Marauders went on a 16-2 run to claim a 40-34 lead in the second half. Six straight points by
Germain Decoste twice tied the game for the Marauders before a
Bryan Jefferson gave U-Mary its first lead the night at 36-34.
Minnesota Crookston gained control of the game by scoring on 10 of 13 possessions to move ahead 60-51. During one key stretch of six possessions, the Golden Eagles were 4-for-4 on 3-point attempts.
The Marauders defense controlled the last five minutes of the game, allowing just two baskets and forcing two turnovers while holding the Golden Eagles to a 2-for-5 effort on field goals.
U-Mary couldn't take full advantage of its defensive work but managed to pull within two points. Following a layup by
Marquealis Edwards,
Luke Scott hit a layup, was fouled and finished a three-point play with a free throw. Following an Edwards rebound,
Chris Mason hit a layup to pull the Marauders within 60-58 with over four minutes left in the game.
Baskets by Tyler West and Derrick Reed pushed the UMC lead to 64-58 before a layup by Edwards at the 1:50 mark and a free throw with 58 seconds left allowed the Marauders to pull within 64-61 and one possession of tying the game. Neither team could score in the closing moments with U-Mary missing three shots, including a final attempt in the closing seconds.
Edwards had another stat-stuffing night for the Marauders. In addition to his 13 points, the junior guard had eight rebounds and five assists. Jefferson, 5-of-9 from the field, also had six rebounds. Mason and
Jaycob Velasco both scored nine points and Decoste added eight.
Kevin Larson led UMC with a game-high 14 points. Redd added 12 and West and John Hughes both chipped in 11.
U-Mary held a 36-30 advantage on rebounds and was 7-of-11 at the free throw line. UMC overcame its lack of a made free throw by making 8-of-20 three-point attempts and making 28 field goals to 26 for the Marauders.
The Marauders conclude the weekend at Bemidji State University on Saturday, January 3, at 6 p.m.
#marauders#
