ST. CLOUD, MN – Matched up against one of the region's top teams making a postseason push, the visiting University of Mary men's basketball team couldn't match firepower of St. Cloud State University in the Marauders 79-57 loss to the Huskies.
 
Freshman Matthew Kreklow led the Marauders with 13 points. The forward also added two blocks and five rebounds. He was 5-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-4 at the free throw line.
 
Keith Hunter and Wyatt Carr both added 11 points. Hunter chipped in six rebounds and two steals, both team highs. A freshman, Carr came off the bench and buried three treys in four chances. The rest of the Marauders finished 1-for-14 from behind the arc.
 
Brindley Theisen hit four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 24 points for SCSU. Jon Avenkamp added 17 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Sean Smith registered ten points, ten rebounds, five assists and five blocks.
 
The Marauder (5-18 overall, 3-16 NSIC) struggled out of the gate, missing their first five shots and committing a turnover in the initial three minutes as the Huskies scored the first ten points of the game. SCSU (19-6, 15-4) continued to find success and scored 24 of the first 30 points and led by as many as 23 before the Marauders closed the gap to 17 points at intermission.
 
Continuing to battle, the Marauders closed within 11 points multiple times in the second half – the last time 60-49 on a Carr layup – but UMary never managed to get the game to single digits.
 
SCSU had a slight 29-28 edge in rebounding and UMary held a 15-3 edge in attempted free throws but the Marauders couldn't match the Huskies offensive efficiency. The Huskies converted 57 percent of their field goal attempts and finished 9-of-21 behind the arc. The Marauders shot 44 percent and was -7 in turnovers, allowing SCSU a 16-9 edge in points off turnovers.
 
The Marauders conclude a four-game road swing at the University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, February 10, at 6 pm.
 
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