DULUTH, Minn. – While seemingly replaying the first meeting of the season between the University of Mary and the University of Minnesota Duluth, U-Mary was unable to prevent an alternate ending as this time the Bulldogs tipped the Marauders 63-60.
Four weeks ago at home, the Marauders (8-17 overall, 8-15 NSIC) held the lead much of the game before the Bulldogs (14-13, 11-10) moved ahead in the final minutes. Four weeks ago the Marauders rallied to snare a 75-71 win. This time, the Marauders once again led much of the game. This time, looking for the same result as before, it was the home team that again claimed the win. The twist was the Marauders were left on the short end of the score.
Behind a tremendous performance by
Germain Decoste, the Marauders snared an 11-9 lead and grew its advantage to as many as 11 points. It wasn't until the final minutes that U-Mary found itself trailing.
With 4:06 remaining, Brett Ervin converted a three-point play to push the Bulldogs in front 55-54. It was UMD's first lead in over 32 minutes.
The Ervin conversion started a 7-0 outburst for the Bulldogs. Taylor Lavery hit two free throws and Pierre Newton added a layup to push the Bulldogs advantage to 59-54 at the 2:38 mark.
The Marauders refused to fade. Behind a
Jaycob Velasco basket sandwiched by two Decoste layups, the second off an offensive rebound with 49 seconds remaining, the Marauders pulled within 61-60.
Soon fouled, Newton hit one of two free throws with 20 seconds to keep the door open for the Marauders but a
Marquealis Edwards 3-point attempt for the lead missed the mark. Newton, soon again fouled after grabbing the missed trey, again gave the Marauders chance. With four seconds left Newton made just the first of two free throws but a desperate three-point attempt at the buzzer by
Chris Mason failed to fall.
Decoste led the Marauders with 18 points and 14 rebounds, his first double double this season. The senior forward was 9-of-12 from the field, recorded another block and had a steal.
Velasco was the only other U-Mary player in double figures, coming off the bench to score 10 points. He also had four rebounds and three assists. Mason and Edwards both added eight points with Edwards also grabbing seven boards.
Ervin led all players with 24 points. Newton posted a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Both teams shot 40 percent on the night with U-Mary having a 38-35 edge in rebounds. UMD, though, hit four more treys and was 12-of-16 at the free throw line while U-Mary finished 9-of-13.
The Marauders close out the regular season at St. Cloud State on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m.
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