BISMARCK, ND – Matthew Kreklow scored 18 points in his first game of the season and Connor Hellebust and Wyatt Carr combined to hit nine treys to lead the University of Mary men's basketball team to a 90-60 victory in the Marauders home opener.
 
After missing the opening two games of the season while recovering from an illness, Kreklow looked in peak form as he dominated the lane against Presentation. The junior center hit 7-of-11 shots from the floor, connected on all four free throws and added seven rebounds in just 15 minutes of play. The Marauders finished the game outscoring the Saints 40-22 in the paint.
 
Hellebust scored 18 points for the second straight game. The junior guard made four of his six shots from behind the arc and was 6-of-10 overall.  The Bismarck, ND, native also made both free throws and dropped five assists. 
 
Carr was perfect behind the arc, knocking down all five of his three-point attempts on his way to 15 points. He also chipped in three assists.
 
Several times the Marauders looked like they would blow past the Saints, building four double digit leads in the first half. Each time Presentation climbed back within two possessions. The Marauder finally started to shake the Saints late in the first half, running off nine straight points. A pair of Kreklow baskets – including a three-point play – opened the run, followed by Regan Tollefson layup and a steal and fastbreak basket at the buzzer by Jaylen White built a 45-30 UMary lead at intermission.
 
The Marauders finally shook the Saints in the second half behind a barrage of treys. Bookmarked by a pair of Carr 3-pointers, UMary was a combined 5-of-6 behind the arc during a 21-7 run to push Marauders advantage to 72-45.
 
White added 10 points, six assists and four steals for the Marauders as ten out of 11 UMary players scored in the game. Trever Kaiser, Glenn Jordan and Kade Amundson each had six points as the Marauders shot 50 percent from the floor, made 12-of-23 trey attempts and connected on 12 of 14 free throws. UMary was +10 in both rebounds (37-27) and Turnovers (11-21).
 
Elijah Coleman led the Saints with 18 points. Sean Schuring hit four treys as he and Jackson Becker scored 12 points each for Presentation.
 
Now 2-1 on the season, the Marauders next host Dickinson State University on Monday, Nov. 18. Tip off is 6 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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