BISMARCK, N.D. – Finally things broke right for the home team. After a string of difficult losses on their home court, the ball bounced the University of Mary's way in a victory that clinched the school's first home playoff game in five years.
The Marauders defeated visiting University of Minnesota Duluth 68-67 as the Bulldogs game-winning shot and a couple tip-in attempts in the closing seconds rolled off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
Tied for second in the Northern Sun North Division with just one regular season game remaining, U-Mary is guaranteed to host an opening round league playoff game on Wednesday, February 24. While the 7 p.m. game time at the McDowell Activity Center is set, the opponent won't be determined until the end of action on Saturday. Should U-Mary defeat St. Cloud State University, the Marauders are expected to be the second seed. A U-Mary loss and a Northern State University victory may push the Marauders to the third seed.
For much of the night, the thought this game would come down to the final seconds was far from most people's minds. The Marauders used a 15-2 run in the first half to build a 27-16 lead. U-Mary maintained a double digit lead well into the second half, growing the Marauders advantage to 47-32 on an
Isaac Lindquist free throw with 15:20 remaining.
The Bulldogs then came alive, rattling off 11 straight points to close within 47-43. Using a three-point play by
Bryan Jefferson, the Marauders rebuilt their lead to 57-47 at the halfway point of the second half.
Refusing to go away, UMD made another surge as Pierre Newton completed a 7-0 run with four straight free throws.
Jefferson grabbed the momentum back, blocking a shot on the defensive end and running the floor to score a fast-break basket off a feed from Damota Henry. Fouled on the play, the junior forward knocked down the free throw for a 63-56 Marauders lead with 5:04 on the clock.
A Kyle Schalow 3-pointer and two more Newton free throws closed the gap to two points at 63-61, the closest Minnesota Duluth had been to U-Mary since halfway through the first half.
Needing to rebuild their advantage, the Marauders looked to senior guard
Marquealis Edwards. Edwards scored the next four points of the game, first hitting a layup with 2:50 remaining before connecting on a jumper at 1:50.
It was then Tyler Lavery's turn to score for the Bulldogs. He hit four straight free throws, the second set after he stole the ball and was fouled with 1:20 on the clock.
Needing points to stay in front, Edwards made one of two free throw attempts with 65 seconds remaining to give U-Mary a 68-65 lead.
Minnesota Duluth responded immediately on a layup by Lavery with 54 seconds remaining and then turned the game over to their defense. Refusing to give the Marauders a good look, U-Mary took a long 3-pointer just before the shot clock expired and the rebound went to the Bulldogs with 22 seconds left in the game.
Facing the possibility of losing a fourth straight home game after holding a late lead, the Marauders forced Brendon Pineda to shoot a difficult layup attempt as the clock ground down to four seconds. Two tip-in attempts also rolled off the rim to extend the Marauders win streak to three games and clinch one more home game.
Jefferson led the Marauders with 16 points and seven rebounds. He also added three assists and three steals.
Rickey Suggs came off the bench and scored 10 points. It was the seventh time in eight games he has reached double figures. The junior forward also had two blocks and two steals.
Douglas hit both his trey attempts and added 10 points. The senior guard also had five assists. Edwards added nine points, six rebounds and three assists.
Newton led UMD with 24 points and four assists. He was 13-of-14 at the free throw line. Lavery and Pineda both added ten points.
U-Mary improved to 17-10 overall and 12-9 in the NSIC. UMD is 15-12 and 11-10.
The Marauders close out the regular season when St. Cloud State visits on Saturday, Feb. 20. Game time is 6 p.m.
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