BEMIDJI, Minn. – Tough defense, clutch play down the stretch and a tremendous performance by Marquealis Edwards led the University of Mary to its first Northern Sun win of the season, an 86-80 win at Bemidji State.
 
Leading by as many as 14 points in the second half, the Marauders (3-9 overall, 1-7 NSIC) held off a late Beavers (7-5, 3-5) rally to snap an eight game losing streak. After BSU closed within two points, the Marauders made 9-of-12 free throws, including five straight in the final 25 seconds.
 
Facing a Bemidji State team that owned six straight wins over U-Mary entering the night, the Marauders dominated scoring in the paint while Edwards posted 26 points and 11 rebounds, both career highs. The junior guard also had four assists and two steals and converted six free throws in eight attempts in the final 2:26 of the game.
 
As a team, the Marauders shot 53.3 percent from the floor, its second-best mark of the season. Struggling early at the free throw line, U-Mary finished 16-of-28. The Beavers shot just 37.7 percent overall, including a 10-of-34 effort on 3-pointers. BSU remained in the game by making 24-of-27 free throw attempts.
 
Controlling the interior, the Marauders held a 42-20 edge in points in the paint and had a 38-30 rebounding advantage over the Beavers.
 
A taunt first half featured eight ties and eight lead changes. Down 17-9 early, the Marauders fought back to take a 26-24 lead on a dunk by Chris Mason. U-Mary closed the half on a 10-2 run and entered intermission leading 43-37 as Edwards banked home a 3-pointer just before the buzzer. U-Mary remained in front the rest of the night.
 
A barrage of 3-pointers allowed the Marauders to break away from the Beavers midway through the second half. Leading by three, a Mason trey doubled the U-Mary advantage. A steal by Mason led to a three-ball by Jaycob Velasco. After a defensive rebound, Velasco sank another triple before an Edwards layup capped an 11-0 run for a 72-58 Marauders lead.
 
After BSU chipped the U-Mary lead to 75-73, a Velasco jumper with 3:50 remaining doubled the Marauders lead and preserved the team's advantage. It was the last basket of the night for the visitor.
 
Edwards converted two free throws at 2:26 to increase the U-Mary lead to 79-73. He would then go 2-of-4 at the line, the second make coming at 00:42 for an 81-76 lead.
 
BSU and U-Mary exchanged free throws with the make by Damonta Henry with 25 seconds left starting a string of five straight conversions for the Marauders. Following a 3-point play by DJ Anderson with 15 seconds left to cut the U-Mary advantage to 82-80, Mason hit two free throws with 12 seconds left. Brock Lutes then missed a three ball for BSU and Edwards hauled down the rebound. He capped his tremendous night by making two more free throws with one second left to guarantee the U-Mary win.
 
Edwards posted his first double double for the Marauders with 26 points and 11 rebounds. He was 8-of-12 from the field and at the free throw line and made two treys in four attempts.
 
In his best night at U-Mary, Velasco scored a season-high 18 points. The junior forward came off the bench to sink two treys and make 7-of-11 shot attempts.
 
Mason added 12 points and four rebounds. The senior also had four assists and two steals. Jefferson chipped in 12 points and five rebounds and Decoste had 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Lutes led BSU with 22 points and five assists. He was just 6-of-22 shooting.  The last time Lutes faced U-Mary the senior guard scored 43 points. Anderson chipped in 15 points.
 
The Marauders return home to host #14 MSU Moorhead and Northern State University on January 9-10.
 
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