BISMARCK, N.D. – Running even most of the night against one of the top offensive teams in the Northern Sun, the University of Mary ran out of gas just short of the finish line in a wide-open 96-88 home loss to St. Cloud State University.
Despite holding a 41-30 rebounding edge and connecting for six more field goals, the Marauders (5-12 overall, 3-10 Northern Sun) were unable to keep pace with the Huskies. St. Cloud State (11-8, 7-7 NSIC) managed to hold a 13-8 edge in 3-pointers and converted 23-of-27 free throws to U-Mary's 8-of-14 effort.
Five Marauders reached double figures.
Marquealis Edwards led U-Mary 22 points and seven assists. He also hauled down eight rebounds.
Bryan Jefferson recorded his second double double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The sophomore forward hit 6-of-8 shots from the floor.
Germain Decoste chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Two of his baskets – a dunk off an offensive rebound and an acrobatic put-back – were a couple of the highlight plays of the night.
U-Mary held a 37-7 in bench points, primarily due to the efforts of
Jaycob Velasco and
Damonta Henry. Velasco chewed up the Huskies defense on the interior and outside. He knocked down three treys on four attempts and was 7-of-9 overall. Henry scored 14 points, dropping in two treys. The sophomore guard also had three steals, three rebounds and two assists.
Three Huskies scored over 25 points in the game. Scottie Stone led all players with 29 points, finishing 6-of-10 behind the arc and making all seven free throw attempts. He scored 14 of SCSU's first 19 points of the night. Jordan Poydras added 27 points behind an 11-of-14 effort at the free throw line. He also had six assists. Donnell Cegers scored 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting.
The Marauders remained in close proximity to the Huskies all evening but could never pull even or ahead after Stone drained a trey for a 13-10 Huskies lead. SCSU built its lead to as many as eight points before entering intermission leading 44-39.
SCSU used an 11-0 run to build its largest advantage of the night at 53-39. Fueled by treys from
Chris Mason, Henry and Velasco, U-Mary went on a 15-2 rampage to climb within 55-54.
Remaining within at least seven points, two layups by Jefferson and two Edwards free throws let U-Mary again pull within one point at 77-76 with just under four minutes remaining.
The Huskies pulled away for good with a 10-2 run as Cegars, Poydras and Stone combining for all the SCSU points. Free throws then sealed the win for the visitors as the Huskies made 12 of 13 free throw attempts in the final two minutes.
The Marauders conclude Alumni Weekend on Saturday, Jan. 24, when U-Mary hosts the University of Minnesota Duluth. Game time is 6 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center.
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