LANCASTER, TX – The University of Mary men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss in their season opener. Facing Henderson State University in a Northern Sun – Great American Conference regional crossover conference challenge, the Marauders couldn't maintain a second half lead in a 66-63 loss to the Reddies.
 
Tom Kubank and Jaylan White both posted 14 points for the Marauders, who led by as many as nine points midway through the second half.


Down by as many as nine points in the first half, the Marauders used clutch shooting and solid defense to claim a 32-29 lead at intermission. UMary closed out the opening half on an 18-6 run that featured 3-pointers from Kubank, Wyatt Carr, Evan Anderson and White.
 
Continuing to force turnovers and hit shots from the outside, UMary built a 46-37 advantage after Ricard Brown made a pair of free throws.
 
As the Marauders efforts from outside soon cooled off, the Reddies made their move and pulled even at 53-53. After a couple lead changes, UMary charged back in front at 59-55 as Lucas Mayer and Connor Hellebust scored on consecutive possessions with over four minutes left in the game.
 
Using four straight free throws to pull even, the Reddies took the lead 61-59 on a Chris Parker jumper with just under three minutes remaining. Another Henderson State free throw increased the deficit to three points until White knocked down a pair of free throws to pull UMary within 62-61 and under a minute to play.
 
A big offensive rebound by the Reddies was followed by a free throw to push the lead to 63-61. The Marauders couldn't take advantage of a free throw miss on the back end as UMary grabbed the rebound but was unable to hit a free throw and forced to foul. Sent to the line with eight seconds on the clock, Parker made 1-of-2 for a three-point Reddies advantage. White hit a layup with two seconds left but HSU sealed the game on two Eric Dailey free throws.
 
Kubank hit two treys and added five rebounds. White made all four of his free throws, made a pair of threes and distributed four assists. Hellebust chipped in eight points. Carr posted six points on a pair of treys off the bench. All ten Marauders who played in the game scored.
 
Rel Johnson led HSU with 14 points. Mike Fofana had eight points and nine rebounds. Seven Reddies had at least seven points.
 
The Marauders shot 38.9 percent for the game and held a 25-15 edge in points off turnovers. The Reddies made 44 percent of their attempts and held a 38-33 edge in rebounding.
 
UMary concludes the two-game NSIC-GAC crossover against Southern Arkansas at 2 pm on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, TX.
 
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