ALVA, OK – In a game in which points were hard to come by, the University of Mary dominated the overtime session and walked away with a 64-56 victory over the University of Central Oklahoma on day one of the GAC/MIAA/NSIC Crossover and the season opener for the Marauders.
Jaylan White paced the Marauders in scoring with 18 points. Held scoreless in the first half, the senior guard scored nine points in the second half and another nine in overtime. White also had five rebounds, three assists and three steals while making all but one of his eight free throw attempts.
Connor Hellebust posted a double double with 12 points and a team-best ten rebounds. He also had three treys.
Wyatt Carr gave the Marauders a third player in double figures with 14 points, hitting a pair of treys and all six free throws.
Playing without starting forwards
Matthew Kreklow and
Lucas Mayer due to illness and injury, the Marauders shut down the Bronchos attack. UMary built a 9-0 lead and holding UCO without a point for over the first eight minutes of the game. The Marauders entered intermission leading 19-18.
The Marauders found their offensive flow in the second half, building a 10 point lead on treys by
Josh Sipes and Hellebust. The Bronchos soon found their footing also, slowly chipping away at the Marauders lead, eventually pulling even at 49-49 on a layup by Cam Givens with 32 seconds left in the game to force overtime.
Just as they did to start both the first and second halves, the Marauders entered overtime on fire. After a free throw by Hellebust and a trey by Carr, White hit a layup before hitting a pair of free throws on UMary's next possession to give the Marauders an insurmountable 57-49 lead.
Kade Amundson posted six points and seven rebounds for UMary.
Regan Tollefson had five points, six rebounds and three blocks. It was the first collegiate game for both Amundson and Tollefson.
The Marauders shot just 30 percent from the field (18-of-60) but finished 19-of-24 at the line. The Bronchos made 34.6 percent of their shots (18-of-52) and finished 15-of-17 in free throws.
UMary wraps up its appearance at the GAC/MIAA/NSIC Crossover on Saturday, Nov. 9, against Northeastern State University. Game time is 2:15 pm.
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