SIOUX FALLS, SD – A battle between two of the top defensive teams in the Northern Sun turned into a slugfest featuring 77 free throw attempts and 57 combined fouls as the University of Sioux Falls edged the visiting University of Mary basketball team 77-72. Connor Hellebust and Tom Kubank both scored 15 points to lead a quartet of Marauders in double figures.
 
Tied 30-30 at halftime, both teams put more points on the board in the second half than the first but much of the scoring came at the line. Sixteen of the Marauders 42 points came at the free throw line while the Cougars scored 22 on free throws and 25 on field goals.
 
Behind five points by Matthew Kreklow, the Marauders grabbed a 39-35 lead on a 9-0 run early in the second half. The advantage later grew to 46-41 on a jumper by Kubank with just over 13 minutes to play.
 
In the blink of an eye the game changed for the Marauders (7-10 overall, 4-7 NSIC). In less than two minutes the Cougars (13-4, 8-3) ran off ten straight points to take a 51-46 lead behind both a conventional 3-point play and a trey from Chase Grinde and never again relinquished their advantage. Just as devastating as the lead change was a pair of fouls whistled on Kreklow to send the Marauders interior defensive presence to the bench with four fouls.
 
Continuing to battle, the Marauders chopped what was an 11 point deficit down to three points in the final minute of play. With Hellebust and Kreklow fouled out, Trever Kaiser started the late rally with a trey with 48 seconds left to close the gap to 73-66. After both squads exchanged a free throw each, Kaiser hit a layup with 19 seconds for a 74-69 deficit.
 
A subsequent foul sent Grinde to the line to make 1-of-2 free throws before Wyatt Carr nailed a 3-pointer with six seconds left, making the contest a one possession game at 75-72. Immediately fouled, Aaron Rothermund closed off the Marauders rally attempt by making a pair of free throws to steal the USF victory and lift the Cougars into a three-way tie for first place in the NSIC South.
 
Hellebust hit three treys in the game and added six rebounds to his 15 points. In addition to scoring 15 points, Kubank added seven rebounds, two assists and three steals. White finished 8-of-10 at the line and scored 12 points while chipping in two assists and two steals Kaiser scored a career-high 10 points off the bench as the freshman hit a pair of treys in the game. Kreklow went 7-of-8 at the free throw line, scored nine points and had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Trevon Evans scored a game-high 26 points for USF, making four treys and 12-of-14 free throws. Grinde chipped in 13 points and eight boards.
 
Both defenses made finding an offensive flow difficult. The Marauders shot 32 percent for the game with a 7-for-24 effort behind the arc while making 29-of-36 free throws. The Cougars shot 38 percent for the night (8-of-19 on 3s) and finished 31-of-41 at the line.
 
Facing the top rebounding team in the NSIC, the Marauders were just -3 in rebounds (38-41) while finishing +2 in turnovers (18-20).
 
The Marauders conclude a four-game road trip with a visit to Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday, January 19. Game time is 6 pm.
 
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