BISMARCK, N.D. – Elation to devastation can happen quickly. Tonight the University of Mary men's basketball team felt the effect in just three seconds as the Marauders lost 77-75 on a buzzer-beater to Wayne State College.
 
With the game tied and time winding down, Marquealis Edwards drove the right baseline in search of a game-winning shot for the Marauders. His attempt in traffic with three seconds remaining failed to fall and the Wildcats won the scramble for the rebound. Jordan Cornelius hit a streaking Trae Vandeberg with an outlet pass just over halfcourt. The Wayne State freshman guard dribbled twice, pulled up just inside the top of the key and hit the wide-open jumper to stun the home crowd as the final buzzer echoed throughout the McDowell Activity Center.
 
The Marauders (6-14 overall, 4-12 Northern Sun) seemed to have the game well in control when Chris Mason hit two free throws with 50 seconds remaining to push the U-Mary lead to 74-67. Refusing to go away, the Wildcats (5-17, 2-14) outscored the Marauders 10-1 in the final 39 seconds.
 
A Scott Nagy layup closed the gap to 74-69 for the Wildcats with 39 seconds on the clock. Immediately Wayne State fouled Jaycob Velasco. The leading scorer in the game with 22 points, Velasco missed the front end of the bonus and Cornelius rebounded the ball. Cornelius then drained a trey with 23 seconds left and the deficit reduced to 74-72.
 
Edwards, who scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, was then fouled and hit the first free throw before missing the second. After WSC grabbed the board, VandeBerge knotted the game at 75-75 when he knocked down a three-pointer with just under ten seconds remaining, setting up the heartbreaking finish for the Marauders.   
 
U-Mary seemed to have the game in control much of the second half, leading by nine points on a Velasco jumper with 13:03 left. When Wayne State cut the lead to one at 53-53, U-Mary bumped its advantage up to seven at 5:29. After another Wildcats run, a basket by Velasco and an off-balance by Edwards with the shot clock expiring put U-Mary ahead 72-65 and setting up a wild final minute of play.
 
Velasco continued his outstanding play of a week ago, making 10-of-13 shots on his way to 22 points. The junior forward was 2-of-3 on treys and added five rebounds in just 21 minutes.
 
Germain Decoste scored 14 for U-Mary, including two dunks early in the game. He also added five rebounds and two steals. Edwards finished with 13 points and four assists after struggling in the opening half.
 
Cornelius led the Wildcats with 21 points and three others finished with 13. Nagy, VandeBerg and Patrick Kurth, who also had 11 rebounds.
 
The Marauders shot a solid 50 percent for the game and went 15-of-20 at the free throw line. The Wildcats hit 44.6 percent of their shots but finished with one more made basket (29 to 28) and had a 7-4 edge in 3-pointers made. Wayne State also had a slight 37-35 edge in total rebounds but a 16-10 advantage in offensive boards, leading to an 18-12 advantage in second chance points.
 
With the end of their four-game home stand, the Marauders next play #18 Minnesota State University and Concordia – St. Paul on the road on February 6-7.
 
#marauders#