BISMARCK, ND – A career scoring night by Matthew Kreklow and a double double by Dennis Austin III ensured a weekend sweep for the University of Mary men's basketball team, the first of the season for the Marauders. After opening the weekend with a victory over the University of Minnesota Crookston, the Marauders defeated the visiting Bemidji State University Beavers 83-66.
 
 A hard-charging offensive attack paired with a relentless defensive effort earned the Marauders their sweep. UMary's offense clicked along at a 48 percent shooting pace while the Marauders defense limited Bemidji State to a 40 percent shooting effort that included a 5-for-22 effort behind the arc.
 
Kreklow dominated the paint offensively. The sophomore post player scored a career-high 27 points, knocking down 10-of-14 shots from the floor and sinking all seven free throw attempts. He also added six rebounds.
 
Austin paired a season-high 17 points with a team-high ten rebounds. The senior guard was an efficient 6-of-9 on field goal attempts and hit both his 3s. Austin also had four steals to give him nine in the last two games.
 
Two other Marauders cracked double digits in points. Justin Engg came off the bench to knock down a pair of 3s on his way to a career-high 12 points. Jaylan White added 11 points, four assists and three steals on a night nine of the ten Marauders in the game scored.
 
Ja Morgan led the Beavers with 22 points, six assists and three steals. Max Bjorklund added 15 points for BSU.
 
Scoring first on a White three-pointer, UMary held the lead the entire game. The Marauders started hot and buried the Beavers early, using runs of seven and 11 points to build an 18-3 advantage. Austin hit both of his 3s during the early surge and scored nine points during the run. BSU clawed back once within single digits before UMary entered halftime leading 38-28.  
 
Bemidji State made a run early in the second half to close within 42-35 but the Beavers efforts to reduce their deficit further was muzzled by a flurry of points by Engg. After a basket by Richard Brown, Engg drained a triple. On the Marauders next possession after a pair of offensive rebounds, Engg converted a three-point play as he was fouled making a layup. After Engg's free throw, UMary led 50-36 and maintained a double-digit lead the remainder of the game.
 
The Marauder improve to 9-11 overall and 6-8 in the NSIC, moving into a tie with Minnesota Crookston for sixth in the overall NSIC North standings. In NSIC North divisional games only, the Marauders are 6-4 and tied for second. The Beavers are 6-12 and 3-11.
 
UMary remains at home and hosts Augustana and Wayne State College on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2.
 
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