Box Score MANKATO, Minn. –
Bryan Jefferson posted a game-high 21 points but his efforts couldn't prevent the University of Mary men's basketball from an 82-71 loss at Minnesota State University in a contest significantly closer than score indicated.
The Marauders sophomore forward scored 16 of his 21 points in the first half. One of the most accurate shooters in the Northern Sun, Jefferson finished the night making 9-of-12 shots from the floor while converting 3-of-4 free throw attempts. He also had four rebounds.
U-Mary led by as many as seven points at one point in the first half and never trailed by more than five points until less than five minutes remained in the contest. Five straight points by
Marquealis Edwards, including a three-point play after he was fouled while making a layup, provided the Marauders a 55-54 lead with 8:57 left in the contest. It was the last time U-Mary led in the game.
Zach Monaghan soon crushed the Marauders hopes of an upset. The Mavericks guard scored eight points in a 10-2 Minnesota State run that pushed the home team's lead to 69-60. Soon regularly sent to the free throw line in the final 2:30, Minnesota State hit 7-of-8 free throws and grew its lead to as many as 15 points.
The two teams were tied six times and exchanged leads a combined 17 times.
Edwards posted 15 points for the Marauders. He was 6-of-10 from the field with three rebounds and three assists.
Jaycob Velasco chipped in 13 points off the bench and Chis Mason, 3-of-4 behind the arc, added 11 points.
Monaghan led MSU with 20 points and nine assists. Assem Marei posted a double double with 15 points and ten rebounds. He also had three blocks.
The Mavericks had two major advantages in the game, a 40-27 edge in rebounding with a 20-of-25 effort at the free throw line to the Marauders 5-of-6 effort at the charity stripe.
For Minnesota State, the win pushes the Mavericks into third place in the Northern Sun standings. Receiving votes for the nation's top 25, the Mavericks are 17-5 overall and 12-4 in the NSIC. The Marauders slip to 6-15 and 4-13.
The Marauders complete the weekend road trip with a visit to Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday, February 14.
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