BISMARCK, ND –Evan Anderson provided a spark off the bench and led a balanced University of Mary men's basketball team offensive attack in an 81-71 victory over visiting Mayville State University. The nonconference win is the fourth straight win for the Marauders, all coming at home in the McDowell Activity Center.
 
Anderson scored a career-high 14 points that included a 12-point outburst in the first half. The junior guard knocked down 6-of-9 shots in the game, hit a 3-pointer and made his lone free throw. Anderson also applied immense pressure on the Comets ballhandlers, making four steals.
 
Four other Marauders joined Anderson by reaching double digits and another fell just short. Matthew Kreklow and Jaylan White both had 13 points. White added four assists to his point total while Kreklow had four blocks, six rebounds and two assist. Dennis Austin III scored 11 with four rebounds and Lucas Mayer 10 chipped in ten for season-high scoring totals for both players.
 
Tom Kubank just missed a double double with nine points and nine rebounds. The senior forward also had four assists.
 
The Marauders had a solid shooting night, making 47.7 percent of their shots overall and 6-of-14 from behind the arc. Defensively UMary held Mayville State to a 35.2 percent shooting performance, including a 13-for-35 night behind the arc.
 
Keyed by the efforts of Kreklow and Mayer along the baseline on both ends of the floor, the Marauders held a 34-18 edge in scoring in the paint. The two players combined for six blocks and Mayer had three streals.
 
Gorg Alhag led the Comets with 16 points behind a 4-for-5 effort behind the arc. Creighton Pfau added 11 points off the bench.
 
Down as many as seven points in the first half, the Marauders used a 9-0 run that was started by a 3-point play by Mayer and capped by a fast break basket by Anderson after he stole the ball.
 
UMary used a 16-0 run late in the first half to build a 13 point lead. Six different players scored during the Marauders outburst with White tacking on the final two baskets. As the buzzer sounded for half, Anderson made a long three to send the Marauders into intermission leading 45-32.
 
The Marauders eventually built a 19 point advantage before the Comets fought back within three points with just over four minutes left in the game. Regaining focus, and keyed by plays by Mayer on both ends of the court, the Marauders ripped off six straight points in response. Mayer started the run with a baseline jumper before he added a free throw after he was fouled grabbing a defensive rebound. Anderson hit a big layup in traffic and Kubank and White free throws pushed the Marauders advantage up to 78-68 to secure the win.
 
UMary (4-3 overall, 1-0 NSIC) returns to Northern Sun play this weekend when the Marauders host St. Cloud State University on Friday, Dec. 7, and the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Dec. 8.
 
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