BISMARCK, ND – Damonta Henry hit his first shot of the game to become just the 18^th University of Mary men's basketball player to reach 1,000 career points but the personal milestone was tempered by the Marauders 78-67 loss to visiting Bemidji State University. Unable to put a run together late in the second half, the Marauders saw their win streak end at three.
 
Needing three points to reach 1,000, Henry wasted no time. Seconds after entering the game for the first time, the senior guard from Chicago, IL, drained a 3-pointer from the left wing to give Mary a 9-5 lead less than five minutes into the game. Henry soon drained another trey for a 12-6 Mary advantage, its biggest lead of the day.
 
In an opening half that witnessed eight lead changes and six ties, the Marauders (8-12 overall, 6-8 Northern Sun) scored four straight points on a Henry layup and two Bryan Jefferson free throws to knot the game 29-29 at intermission.
 
Henry provided Mary its final lead of the night at 40-39 on a jumper with over 14 minutes remaining. Sharif Black followed with a layup and Peyton Dibble hit a trey for a 44-40 Beavers (7-12, 5-9) lead they never relinquished.
 
Three times Mary cut the deficit to three points, twice on 3-pointers by Henry and Isaac Lindquist, but each time the Beavers scored the next basket. Twice the Marauders had possession with a chance to tie the game but failed to produce points. In the last 5:40 of the game the Beavers hit 5-of-6 field goals and made seven out of eight free throws in the final 60 seconds to hold the Marauders at bay.
 
Henry finished with 19 points and now has 1,016 in his career, 16^th on the Marauders all-time scoring list. He hit half of his 16 shots and was 3-for-6 on treys. Henry also led all players with three steals.
 
Jefferson led all players with 20 points and nine rebounds. It is the sixth time this season he has missed a double double by a single rebound. The senior forward made 7-of-11 shots and added two assists. Earlier this season Jefferson became the 17^th Mary basketball player to reach 1,000 career points.
 
Lindquist hit 6-of-8 shots on his way to 13 points and added five rebounds. Rickey Suggs chipped in nine points and nine rebounds.
 
Black paced BSU with 18 points. Christian Pekarek added 12 points and Shane White had 10.
 
The Marauders next visit Upper Iowa and Winona State on Jan. 27-28.
 
#marauders#