BISMARCK, ND – A shutdown defensive effort paired with an efficient offense carried the University of Mary men's basketball team to a dominant 68-52 win over South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. UMary's front court led the charge as Matthew Kreklow posted a double double to pace the effort inside while Tom Kubank drained five treys and scored a game-high 25 points to key the outside attack.
 
Posting their second straight win at home, the Marauders (2-3) nearly led wire to wire. After lead changes on five straight possessions, a Kreklow layup pushed the Marauders in front 7-6. Two possessions later Kubank hit a trey for a 10-6 UMary advantage and a lead that lasted the rest of the night.
 
Down by as many as 11 points in the first half, Mines cut the UMary deficit to four. A Kubank 3-pointer with just over two minutes remaining before half then sent the Marauders into intermission leading 29-22.
 
Jaylan White drilled a 3-pointer on the Marauders opening possession of the second half to create another double digit lead. Shortly after back-to-back baskets by Connor Hellebust – a driving layup and a 3-pointer -ratcheted the UMary advantage to 45-29.
 
Refusing to fade away, the Hardrockers went on a 12-4 run to close within single digits at 49-41 before Kubank again provided the response. The Adelaide, South Australia, native hit from behind the arc on the next two UMary possessions and the Marauders maintained a double-digit advantage the remainer of the game.
 
Kubank scored a career-high 25 points, making 5-of-7 3-point attempts and finishing 9-of-12 overall from the floor. He also made both his free throw attempts.
 
Kreklow finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds to tie his career-best for boards. He was perfect at the line on six free throw attempts and added two assists and two blocks.
 
Hellebust added 11 points and two assists. White had six points and three assists. Dennis Austin III pulled down six rebounds and distributed three assists. Wyatt Carr came off the bench to score six points, making two treys.
 
Troy Brady hit four treys and scored 13 points for Mines. He also had four steals.
 
UMary shot 46 percent from the field and hit 10-of-21 three-pointers. Mines made 45.5 percent of its shots and went 7-of-18 behind the arc. The Marauders held a 31-22 edge in boards, was +4 in turnovers (11 to 15) and went 12-for-15 at the line to a 5-for-11 effort for the Hardrockers.
 
The 52 points is the fewest allowed by the Marauders against an NCAA Division II team since holding the University of Minnesota Crookston to 50 points on February 14, 2015. Sixth nationally and first in the Northern Sun in scoring defense entering the game, UMary has held all five of its opponents to 66 or fewer points this season. Last year's total was four times.
 
The Marauders now go on hiatus until the Northern Sun opener on Saturday, December 1, when Minot State University visits the McDowell Activity Center. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
 
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