Box Score BISMARCK, N.D. – A terrific tussle early took a downward spiral late in the first half as the University of Mary men's basketball team suffered a similar fate to most of Augustana's foes this season. The 5^th-ranked and Northern Sun-leading Vikings started a 23 point run just before intermission to break open a close contest on their way to an 89-55 win over the Marauders. 
 
U-Mary fell to 6-13 overall and 4-11 in the NSIC. Augie improved to 20-1 and 14-1.
 
Looking to knock off the nationally-ranked Vikings, the Marauders rallied from an early 11 point deficit to pull within 31-30 with just over two minutes left in the first half. Chris Mason spearheaded an eight point run for the Marauders by scoring six straight points before assisting on a Marquealis Edwards basket.
 
Daniel Jansen followed with a trey for the Vikings before Mason made another basket to keep the Marauders within 34-32 at 1:46.
 
Augie then seemingly hit another gear, starting a 23 point run that carried well into the second half. The Vikings scored the final six points of the first half to enter intermission leading 42-32. Augie then posted the first 15 points of the second half to take a 57-32 lead. Damonta Henry finally halted the run with a Marauders basket at 14:52. U-Mary, though, could get no closer than 21 points the rest of the night.
 
The Marauders hit half of their shots in the first half. U-Mary then struggled in the second half, making just 10-of-31 field goal attempts, and finished with a shooting percentage of just 40 percent for the game. The Vikings, after connecting on 45 percent of their attempts in the first half, shot a blistering 62 percent in the second half and finished at 53 percent.
 
Much of the damage from the Vikings came from behind the arc as Augie made 13-of-26 trey attempts. U-Mary hit just 1-of-17 3-point attempts. Facing one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, the Marauders held their own, trailing just 35-33 on the boards.
 
Henry led U-Mary in scoring with 14 points. Bryan Jefferson made 5-of-7 shots and scored 10 points. He also had six rebounds. Mason posted eight points and four rebounds while Isaac Lindquist scored seven points and hauled down six rebounds off the bench.
 
Alex Richter led the Vikings with 24 points, knocking down five treys in nine chances. Casey Schilling added 16 points and three steals and Jansen paired 15 points with for assists. He also made 3-of-4 trey attempts.
 
The Marauders close out Military Appreciation Weekend against Wayne State College on Saturday, January 31. Game time is 6 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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