BILLINGS, MT – From elation to deflation in the closing seconds of the game, the University of Mary men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss in their first road game of the season. Jaylan White scored a career-high 17 points and Tom Kubank added 16 in the Marauders narrow 75-73 loss at MSU Billings.
 
Down 74-73, UMary freshman Matthew Kreklow stole the ball and fed Kubank on a breakaway. Heading to the basket with one Yellowjackets defender in the way, Kubank was whistled for the charge with 17 seconds left in the game.
 
The Yellowjackets tacked on one free throw by Kendall Denham with six seconds left, but Denham missed the back end at the line and Kreklow snared the rebound, leaving a slight opening for the Marauders. Brody Sharkey launched a 3-pointer with time expiring for the win but couldn't get his shot to fall.
 
"I'm extremely proud of our effort and the heart we showed tonight," said Marauders head coach Joe Kittell. "Now we have to learn how to finish games and get the win."
 
Neither team managed to build a lead of more than seven points. Down 25-18 in the first half, Connor Hellebust's 3-pointer capped a 14-3 UMary run to take a 32-28 lead late in the first half before entering intermission leading 42-38.
 
In a tight second half, UMary took advantage of two straight turnovers to make a 6-0 run. Baskets by Michael Gorder, Wyatt Carr and White provided the Marauders a 68-62 lead with just under six minutes left in the game. Immediately the Yellowjackets responded with a 7-0 for a 69-68 lead.
 
A Kreklow basket restored the Marauders lead at 70-69 for what would be the last UMary advantage of the night. A Zharon Richmond trey and subsequent dunk swung the advantage to MSUB.
 
Kubank hit a 3-pointer with 42 seconds left, closing the gap to 74-73 and setting up a heartbreaking ending for the Marauders.
 
In his first career start, White made 6-of-10 shots from the field and 5-of-7 at the line. The sophomore guard also had two assists in 35 minutes.
 
Kubank added 16 points in his second career game for the Marauders. The junior forward made a pair of treys and made 7-of-12 shots overall while snaring five rebounds and making a pair of steals.
 
Two other Marauders also posted double digits in points. Sharkey struck for 12 points, making 5-of-5 free throws. Kreklow scored 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and hauled down a team-best eight rebounds. The freshman center also made two steals.
 
Tyler Green led all players with 24 points for MSU Billings. He hit an impressive 7-of-11 three point attempts and added six assists and two steals. Denham added 13 points and four assists.
 
Behind Kubank and Kreklow, the Marauders held a 40-20 edge in points in the paint. UMary also held a 26-11 edge in points off turnovers, forcing the Yellowjackets to commit 22 turnovers while committing just 14.
 
While UMary held a slight advantage in field goal percentage (44.6 percent to 43.1 percent), MSU Billings made 12-of-33 3-pointers while the Marauders managed to hit 4-of-15.
 
The Marauders return to action at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology on Tuesday, November 21.
 
#marauders#