BISMARCK, ND – Elation to misery took less than 14 seconds for the University of Mary men's basketball team in a heartbreaking 79-78 loss to MSU Moorhead. After Jaylan White hit a three-pointer with 20 seconds left in the game to give the Marauders a one-point lead, Gavin Baumgartner scored the winning basket for the Dragons with 6.4 seconds left in the game.
 
In a back-and-forth contest that featured 12 lead changes and six ties, the Marauders both tied the game and took the lead in the final minute of play while the Dragons claimed the lead twice in the final 60 seconds.
 
At one point leading by as many as six points in the second half, the Marauders regained their advantage at 73-72 on a Wyatt Carr 3-pointer with less than two minutes remaining in the game. A Baumgartner trey pushed the Dragons back in front before Matthew Kreklow hit a pair of free throws with 58 seconds left in the game to even the score at 75-75. Continuing to prove unstoppable for the Dragons down the stretch, Baumgartner soon pushed MSUM in front on a pair of free throws.
 
Using a screen from Kreklow, White knocked down a disputed 3-ball from on top of the key with 20 seconds left to give the Marauders a 78-77 lead in front of a raucous home crowd.
 
Once again the Dragons turned to Baumgartner but the Marauders defense was prepared and swarmed the sophomore guard, forcing him to misfire from the right baseline. Connor Hellebust skied to claim the rebound for the Marauders but tumbled hard to the ground and was cited for travelling. Given another chance, Baumgartner converted a layup with 6.4 seconds left in the game.
 
With the clock running down and a chance to take the lead, White split the Dragons defense but his heavily contested shot rolled off the iron and left the Marauders a point short.
 
Kreklow had a huge game for the Marauders inside the paint. The junior post player scored 25 points and hauled down ten rebounds, both game highs. It was his second double double of the season. He also had four steals and four assists. Kreklow made 9-of-12 shots from the floor and was 7-of-8 at the line.
 
Carr posted a career-high in points with 19. The junior forward was 3-for-4 behind the arc and 9-for-11 overall. He added seven rebounds and had two assists. White connected for three treys, scored 15 point and dished five assists. Johnnie Turner came off the bench to score seven points. Josh Sipes hit two treys and scored six points.
 
Baumgartner led MSUM with 22 points and five rebounds.
 
The Marauders (5-4 overall, 1-3 NSIC) outrebounded the Dragons (6-4, 2-2) 32-23 and had a 9-7 edge in three-pointers. MSUM held the edge in field goal shooting (57.7 percent to 50.8 percent) and at the free throw line, converting 12-of-16 to 7-of-8 for UMary. The only player who went to the free throw line for the Marauders was Kreklow.
 
UMary wraps up their weekend home stand against Northern State University on Saturday, Dec. 14. Game time is 5:30 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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