BISMARCK, N.D. – A frenetically-paced home opener for the University of Mary men's basketball team kept the fans on the edge of their seat but the inside attack of the Marauders couldn't quite keep pace with the deep game displayed by Montana State University Billings in a 98-92 Yellowjackets overtime win.
 
The Marauders (3-1 overall) outscored the Yellowjackets (2-2 overall) 42-24 in the paint and held a 55-38 rebounding edge but MSUB held a 15-8 advantage in made three-pointers.
 
The Yellowjackets stung the Marauders repeatedly from behind the arc to start the game, knocking down 8-of-11 treys on the way to a 29-11 lead. Trailing by double digits most of the first half, the Marauders used consecutive traditional three-point plays by Isaac Lindquist and Bryan Jefferson to pull within ten. Brenden Mann then nailed a trey to get U-Mary within seven.
 
Just as they did to open the game, the Yellowjackets exploded offensively to start the second half, using a 16-2 run to grab a 62-41 lead with 16:04 left in the game.
 
The Marauders slowly worked their way back. Marquealis Edwards posted five of six U-Mary points at one stretch before another Jefferson three-point play pulled the Marauders within 66-52. Then it was the Rickey Suggs show.
 
Coming off the bench, Suggs scored the Marauders next four points and 14 of 19. The junior guard's fast break basket off an Edwards' defensive rebound and assist put U-Mary within 74-71.
 
Jefferson soon tied the game 77-77 on a layup and hit two free throws for a 79-77 lead with 1:32 remaining in regulation, the first time the Marauders grabbed a lead since the opening basket of the game. The Yellowjackets pulled even on a Christian Evans layup off a missed 3-pointer with 1:11 in the game.
 
Able to overcome a fast start by the Yellowjackets to start the first and second half, the Marauders couldn't respond to a 9-2 MSU Billings run at the beginning of overtime. U-Mary soon found some offensive traction but Jace Anderson finished off the Marauders hopes to rally by making 10-of-12 free throws in the final 58 seconds, including his final seven.
 
Suggs and Jefferson both posted double doubles for U-Mary. Jefferson had 18 points, 13 rebounds and dished four assists. Suggs made 8-of-12 shots on his way to 18 points. He also had 11 rebounds. Edwards and Brandon Tyler chipped in 14 points each and Lindquist had 13.
 
Anderson paced MSU Billings with 30 points. Evans had 29 on 6-of-9 shooting behind the arc and added 10 rebounds. Marc Matthews had 24 points.


The Marauders shot a season-low 38.8 percent from the floor overall but was 8-of-20 on trey attempts. The Yellowjackets connected on 47.9 percent of their shots overall and was 15-of-35 on 3-pointers.
 
U-Mary continues its two game home stand against Oglala Lakota College on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Game time is 7 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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