BISMARCK, ND – Behind the scoring of Jaylan White and the defense of Matthew Kreklow, the University of Mary held off a late charge by Dickinson State University in a 76-67 victory over the visiting Blue Hawks.
 
In the first meeting in five years and the second in over 13 years between two schools that used to compete annually since the early 1970s, White scored 28 points on the night, missing his career high by a single point. The senior guard also had five rebounds, three assists and two steals. White connected on 10-of-15 shots from the floor and hit 6-of-7 free throws.
 
Kreklow posted four blocked shots in the game, including two in the final five minutes He added ten points and six rebounds. The junior center now has 81 blocks in his career, third all-time at UMary behind 2019 Marauders Hall of Fame inductee Marc Hawley (108 blocks) and Eric Erdmann (99).
 
A closely contested first half featured ten lead changes and two ties. The Marauders used a 9-0 run late I the half to build their largest lead of the game at 38-30. A three-point play by Dickinson State's Travon Hamilton in the closing seconds cut UMary's advantage to five points at intermission.
 
The Marauders grabbed control early in the second half. After DSU pulled within three points on a Malcom Hill layup, Josh Sipes knocked down a pair of treys to key an 11-0 run, building UMary's lead to 49-35. Eventually the Marauders advantage grew to 17 points with just over 13 minutes left in the game on a 3-pointer from Kade Amundson.
 
Continuing to battle, the Blue Hawks clawed back to within five points in the final minute of play after Montel Carow hit a trey to pull DSU within 72-67. White then took over and sealed the Marauders victory. The All-Northern Sun player scored the final four points of the game to keep the Blue Hawks at bay, hitting a layup and a pair of free throws in the last 30 seconds of regulation.
 
Amundson scored nine points off the bench for the Marauders. Sipes added eight and Connor Hellebust posted seven. In total nine Marauders scored in the game.
 
One of three Blue Hawks with three treys in the game, Grant Kohlus scored 16 points for DSU. Carlow added 11.
 
UMary shot 46.4 percent for the game from the floor, including an 8-for-20 effort behind the arc, and made 16-of-17 free throws. DSU made just 36.4 percent of its shots but his 12 -of-30 trey attempts. The Marauders held a 41-34 edge in rebounds.
 
The Marauders, now 3-1 on the season, return to action on Friday, Nov. 22, when UMary hosts Yellowstone Christian College at 7:30 pm.
 
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