BISMARCK, N.D. – A red-hot University of Mary men's basketball team overwhelmed Oglala Lakota College 144-60 and broke a Marauders single game scoring record which had lasted nearly four decades.
The previous U-Mary scoring record was 129 points on Feb. 12, 1976. The 64 field goals made in the game by the Marauders also established a new team record. Additionally the Marauders set new NCAA era (fall 2006 and on) highs for field goal percentage (.736), rebounds (59) and assists (30).
This was a matchup between teams playing on different levels. In its first foray against a non-NCAA Division II squad this season, U-Mary was crisp from the field, making 64-of-87 shots and committing just seven turnovers. All 11 Marauders scored at least nine points and ten reached double figures. U-Mary's starting five made 27-of-32 shots with each scoring at least 11 points while not playing any more than 17 minutes.
Defensively the Marauders held a 59-20 rebounding edge and held the Bravehearts to a miserly 28.8 field goal percentage.
Featuring a high-flying slam dunk by
Bryan Jefferson, the Marauders scored the first nine points of the game. Anthony Hopkins retaliated for the Bravehearts by connecting on back-to-back 3-pointers to close the gap to 9-6. That would be the closest Oglala Lakota would get as U-Mary rolled off 15 straight points to build a 24-6 lead.
Refusing to fade away the Bravehearts went on a 14-6 run behind eight more points from Hopkins and pulled within 36-25. The Marauders then took control of the game, reeling off 22 straight points before entering intermission with a 78-33 lead.
Jefferson recorded his third double double of the season, scoring 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting and recording 11 rebounds. The junior forward also had five assists. Fellow starter
Brandon Tyler hit all three of his trey attempts and was 6-of-6 overall from the field on the way to 15 points. The senior guard added a game-high seven assists.
Isaac Lindquist just missed a double double with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Devan Douglas scored 13 points with five rebounds and four assists. Rounding out the starting five,
Marquealis Edwards hit three treys, scored 11 points, dished five assists and had four rebounds.
Rickey Suggs scored a season-high 20 points off the bench for U-Mary, making 10-of-13 field goal attempts.
Damonta Henry,
Darius Sparks and
Brenden Mann all chipped in 14 points.
Erron Collins added 11 points and four assists and
Michael Gorder paired nine points and seven rebounds with two steals.
Hopkins was 8-of-19 on 3-point attempts for Oglala Lakota and scored a game-high 30 points. Tim Has No Horse added four treys and scored 20 points.
The Marauders improve to 8-2 with the win, the best start for U-Mary during its NCAA era. Oglala Lakota is still looking for its first win against a four-year college.
U-Mary finishes up four games in five days when the Marauders host Presentation College on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Game time is 7 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center.
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