LANCASTER, Texas – Showing poise and maturity, the University of Mary men's basketball team started fast and closed strong to defeat Henderson State University 79-70 to open the season. Under the direction of Joe Kittell, who was making his Marauders coaching debut, four U-Mary players posted double figure point totals on the first day of the NSIC/GAC Crossover.
 
"I'm proud that our players worked hard the entire game and their efforts paid off," said Kittell. "When the game got tight we maintained our poise and extended our lead. We dug in defensively and gave up just one basket after the last media time out."
 
All five U-Mary starters scored at least nine points in the win.  Junior forward Bryan Jefferson (Aurora, Ill.) had a game-high 17 points in 22 minutes. He was 5-of-7 from the field and 7-of-9 at the free throw line and additionally grabbed five rebounds and two blocks. Isaac Lindquist (Milbank, S.D.) just missed a double double with 15 points and nine rebounds. He made 7-of-9 shots and had three blocks. Brendan Tyler (Oshkosh, Wis.) was perfect in seven free throw attempts and scored 12 points.
 
Marquealis Edwards (Minneapolis, Minn.) had a double double with 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The senior guard added four assists, connected on all four free throw attempts and missed just one of his five field goal attempts. The Marauders fifth starter, Devan Douglas, was also 4-of-5 from the floor and added nine points.
 
Lindquist and Jefferson got the Marauders off to a quick start. After an Edwards basket tied the game 2-2, Lindquist hit consecutive jumpers off assists from Jefferson. The two then switched roles as Lindquist fed Jefferson for a three point play to put U-Mary ahead 9-2.
 
An 11-4 run punctuated by a steal and dunk by Douglas pushed U-Mary to a 26-14 lead and the Marauders entered intermission up 38-28.
 
Up by as many as 16 in the second half, the Marauders advantage was eventually whittled to one point after a 19-5 HSU run that featured three treys by the Reddies.
 
After two Kevin Kozan free throws pulled Henderson State within 67-66 with 3:34 left in the game, the Marauders cranked up the defense. U-Mary forced two turnovers and limited Henderson State to one basket in four shots and two free throws to close out the game.
 
At the other end of the court, U-Mary closed the game by making eight straight free throws.
 
Efficient on offense all night, the Marauders shot 57.1 percent from the field and made 20-of-23 free throw attempts. Additionally U-Mary held a 36-28 edge in rebounding and limited HSU to 40.3 percent shooting for the game.
 
Henderson State kept itself in the game off 21 U-Mary turnovers, holding a 21-10 scoring edge in points off giveaways. The HSU bench also held a 33-14 edge in points.
 
Kevin Kozan led the Reddies with 16 points and Tavian Pomlee added 15.
 
The Marauders close out the NSIC/GAC Crossover against Southern Arkansas University on Saturday, November 14, at 5 p.m.
 
#marauders#