ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Playing their best half of the year, the University of Mary men's basketball team upset St. Cloud State University 87-82 on the road in the final game of the regular season. Featuring six players in double figures, the Marauders scored 52 points in the second half to overcome a double digit deficit and enter the Northern Sun tournament with wins in three of their last four games.
The Marauders (9-17 overall, 7-15 NSIC), who finished sixth in the NSIC North Division, visit Concordia University, St. Paul, on Wednesday, February 25. The Golden Bears (18-10, 14-8) claimed third in the NSIC South Division. Game time at the Ganglehoff Center is 7 p.m.
Trailing 64-54 with over 12 minutes remaining in the game, the Marauders scored 30 of the next 42 points against the Huskies (17-11, 13-9), who were ranked ninth in the NCAA Central Region rankings released earlier in the week. SCSU finished with the 3
rd seed in the NSIC North.
Back-to-back treys by
Jaycob Velasco and
Damonta Henry jumpstarted the U-Mary rally. Following a
Marquealis Edwards three-point play,
Luke Scott scored five straight points to give the Marauders their first lead since a 33-32 advantage in the first half.
Scott grabbed a rebound and hit a jumper to pull the Marauders within a point. After an SCSU turnover, Scott knocked down a 3-pointer for a 69-67 U-Mary lead that was never relinquished.
U-Mary eventually increased its advantage to eight points at 84-76 on a Velasco free throw with 35 seconds remaining. After a basket by Jordan Poydras and two Donnell Cegers free throws with four seconds left closed SCSU within 85-82, Velasco knocked down two more free throws with three second on the clock to seal the Marauders win.
The Marauders outscored the Huskies 52-38 in the second half. U-Mary shot 56.7 percent after intermission, including a 5-of-10 mark from behind the arc, while SCSU converted just 36.4 percent with a 3-of-14 conversion rate on 3-pointers. The Marauders finished the game with a field goal percentage of .517. The Huskies shot .410 for the night.
Velasco led a balanced Marauders attack with 16 points in just 17 minutes off the bench. He hit three treys and grabbed six rebounds.
Two other Marauders also reached double digits off the bench. Henry was 3-of-5 on trey attempts and scored 14 points. Scott scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and added four assists. The Marauders bench outscored the Huskies reserves 40-13.
Decoste continued his outstanding shooting, making 6-of-9 shots on his way to 14 points. Edwards hit all five of his free throws, dished six assists and scored 13 points.
Chris Mason chipped in 10 points.
Poydras led the Huskies with a game-high 27 points. Connor Niehaus had 14 points and Cegers 13.
The game only featured two lead changes and one tie.
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