BISMARCK, ND – In a race to the finish line against the top team in the Northern Sun, the University of Mary men's basketball team came up just short in an exciting run-and-gun game against Minnesota State University.  The Marauders posted a season-best shooting percentage but couldn't hold off a late Mavericks rally in a 90-83 loss at home.
 
One of five Marauders (6-8 overall, 3-5 NSIC) in double figures, Connor Hellebust paced UMary with 19 points. The junior guard hit a pair of treys, was 7-of-12 overall from the field and added four rebounds.
 
Jaylan White and Tom Kubank both chipped in 17 points and both hit two 3s each. Kubank was 7-of-8 at the free throw line and had three rebounds. Matthew Kreklow posted 12 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Dennis Austin III snared a game-best 12 rebounds and added six points.
 
Wyatt Carr provided a spark off the bench. The sophomore forward nailed all three of his trey attempts and made all four of his shots overall on the way to 11 points. Carr also had two rebounds.
 
The Marauders shot a season-best field goal percentage of 54.9 percent, making 28-of-51 shots overall and 9-of-20 behind the arc. UMary was also 18-of-22 at the free throw line.
 
The Mavericks (11-3, 7-1 NSIC)  had four players in double figures, led by 20 points from Carlos Anderson. Cameron Kirksey added 19 and Juwan McCloud and Jamal Nixon both had 15. Minnesota State made 50 percent of its shots and was 11-of-23 on 3s. At the free throw line MSU finished 25-of-33.
 
In a wild first half, the lead changed hands 10 times and featured six ties as the Marauders entered intermission leading 42-40.
 
The second half played out much differently. Instead of lead changes, it was a sprint to the finish line with only one lead change.
 
Playing out in front, the Marauders built a trio of double digit advantages. A Carr three-ball provided the Marauders their first ten point advantage 62-52 at 13:34. After MSU closed within 67-63, UMary jumped back in front 76-66 on a White triple at the 6:45 mark, the last UMary double digit lead.
 
The Mavericks suddenly found another gear and scored 14 of the next 15 points, taking their first lead of the second half at 80-77 on a Ward trey with 2:29 remaining.
 
White responded for the Marauders with a jumper to close the gap to 80-79. MSU responded with a layup and a free throw before two Kreklow makes at the line got UMary within a possession at 83-81 at 1:12.
 
The Mavericks followed with a 3-ball from Karson Arrenholz, then proceeded to short-circuiting any Marauders rally by making four straight free throws in the last 30 seconds.
 
After a brief two-game home stand, the Marauders begin a four-game road swing at Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Jan. 11.
 
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