ST. PAUL, MN – A big first half and clutch play down the stretch put the University of Mary back in the win column.
Rickey Suggs scored a career-high 19 points as the Marauders claimed an 87-75 road win at Concordia-St Paul to snap a six-game losing streak.
Making his fourth straight start, Suggs connected on 8-of-14 field goal attempts. He has posted double digit points in all five games since the Christmas break. Playing back close to home, the Woodbury, MN, native also had five rebounds and two assists.
Hot early from behind the arc, the Marauders connected on 8-of-11 3-pointers in the opening half and led by as many as 13 points before taking a 47-39 lead at intermission.
Twice the Golden Bears pulled within one point in the second half, including a slim 60-59 advantage with just under eight minutes left to play. Ignited by a
Damonta Henry jumper, the Marauders reeled off 13 straight points in response. After Henry's basket, Suggs scored on back-to-back possessions, the second on a slam dunk off a fast break.
Trevor Zacher followed with a 3-pointer, Henry hit a pair of free throws and
Pat Thomas closed the run with a layup.
Using four straight points by Diallo Powell, Concordia made a late run to close within six points with 1:28 left in the game. Mary responded by scoring the last six points of the game on another pair of free throws by Henry and layups by Suggs and
Bryan Jefferson.
Both teams shot well overall. Mary was 32-of-61 from the field and Concordia went 31-of-60. The big difference was behind the arc as the Marauders finished 9-of-16 on 3-pointers with the Golden Bears connecting on 4-of-18 attempts.
Henry added 18 points for Mary, hitting two treys and making 6-of-7 free throws. He also tied for the team lead with six rebounds and had three assists. Thomas chipped in 13 points, four assists and three steals. Jefferson scored nine points and produced six rebounds and three assists.
Bryndan Matthews led all players with 21 points and nine rebounds for Concordia-St. Paul. Powell finished with 15 points.
The Marauders conclude their weekend trip at Minnesota State University at 6 pm on Saturday, Jan. 14.
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