MARSHALL, Minn. – A dominant stretch in the first half combined with an efficient offense carried the University of Mary men's basketball team to a 91-82 road win at Southwest Minnesota State University. It was the Marauders first road win ever against the Mustangs in eight tries.
The Marauders earned their sixth win in eight outings, the best start for a U-Mary team during the school's NCAA era that began with the 2006-07 season. Additionally the Marauders improved to 3-1 in Northern Sun play, the best start for a U-Mary team during the school's NSIC era that also began in 2006-07.
In one of the team's best offensive performances of the season, the Marauders shot 52.5 percent from the floor, including a 9-of-17 effort behind the arc. Additionally U-Mary was 20-of-25 at the free throw line, with a 6-of-8 effort in the final two minutes to hold off a late SMSU charge. Defensively the Marauders limited the Mustangs to a 42.6 field goal percentage overall and a 7-for-27 effort on 3-pointers.
Trailing by as many a five points in the first half,
Marquealis Edwards sparked a 26-8 run to give the Marauders control of the contest. After a
Brenden Mann 3-pointer, Edwards converted a fast break layup into a three-point play to push U-Mary ahead 27-25, a lead the squad would never relinquish. Edwards scored 12 of his 16 points during the run.
Leading 49-35 at intermission, the Marauders grew their lead to 69-50 at the midway point after an 8-0 run featuring a
Michael Gorder layup, a 4-point play by Mann and a Devon Douglas layup off an
Erron Collins assist.
The Mustangs continued to battle, eventually pulling within six points at 87-81 on a Josh Weix dunk with 1:01 remaining in the game.
Damonta Henry stemmed the tide with a pair of free throws. After SMSU's Ryan Bruggeman made 1-of-2 at the line,
Brandon Tyler pushed U-Mary's advantage back to 90-82 by hitting the first of two free throws with 48 seconds left.
The Marauders defense then took over.
Bryan Jefferson blocked a Bruggeman trey attempt and Henry corralled the rebound. Quickly fouled, Henry hit one more free throw to complete the scoring. SMSU managed one more shot but
Rickey Suggs hauled down the final rebound of the game to secure the U-Mary victory.
Jefferson scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Marauders, making 8-of-13 shots and both free throw attempts. He also had five rebounds and two assists. In addition to his 16 points, Edwards posted nine rebounds and five assists while making all seven free throw attempts.
Tyler hit three treys and scored 14 points while dishing three assists. Henry came off the bench to score 14 points, making all three 3-point attempts. Mann finished 2-of-3 behind the arc and added seven points.
Joey Bartlett, Taylor Schafer and DJ Delmore all scored 12 points for SMSU and Bruggeman had 11.
The Marauders wrap up the weekend at the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday, Dec. 12.
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