BISMARK, ND – In a hard-fought tussle between a pair of longtime instate rivals, the University of Mary men's basketball team made big plays at the end of regulation and in overtime to earn a narrow 75-72 win over visiting Minot State University. Led by Matthew Kreklow's fourth-straight double double, the Marauders earned a sweep of the two-game season series.
 
Kreklow scored a team-high 25 points for the Marauders and hauled down ten rebounds. The junior post also had five blocks in the game and is now second on the all-time career list at UMary with 100. He passed Eric Erdmann (99) and now trails only Marauders Hall of Famer Marc Hawley, who rejected 108 shots in his UMary career.
 
In a game that featured six ties and six lead changes, the largest lead held by the Marauders (7-5 overall, 2-4 Northern Sun) was nine points midway through the second half. UMary found itself trailing late in the game, though, as Minot State (6-6, 0-6) held its largest lead of the night at three points in the final minute of regulation.
 
Down 63-60, the Marauders needed a big basket and Wyatt Carr responded. With time running out and a defender on the floor at his feet, Carr drained a trey from the right wing with around 20 seconds remaining to knot the game and force overtime. It was the only 3-ball on the night for Carr, who scored four points in the game and grabbed six rebounds.
 
Jaylan White set the tone in overtime for the Marauders. Just four weeks earlier, White delivered the game-winning basket against the Beavers with 8.8 seconds left on the clock. Tonight he scored seven of his 13 points in overtime and turned the tide of the game towards UMary.
 
Down 69-67 after Kyle Beisch hit a trey for Minot State, White provided an immediate response for the Marauders. The junior guard connected for his lone 3-pointter of the game with less than two minutes remaining, pushing UMary back in front 70-69. The Marauders never trailed again.
 
After a Josh Sipes defensive rebound, Kreklow took a feed from White and hit a jumper just outside the paint for a 72-69 lead with around 40 seconds remaining. Following a Beavers basket by Kody Dwyer, White was fouled and made a pair of free throws to again rebuild the UMary advantage to three points at 74-71 and under 20 seconds on the clock.
 
The Marauders and the Beavers exchanged a single free throw each in the closing seconds and an aggressive UMary defense refused to give Minot State an open look behind the arc , allowing UMary to hold on for the sweep.
 
Both teams hit 28-of-67 shots with Minot State connecting better behind the arc (11-of-35) than the Marauders (6-of-29). UMary held a decisive edge at the line, making 13-of-21 free throws to MSU's 5-of-11 showing.
 
Trever Kaiser provided a big spark off the bench for the Marauders. The sophomore made 4-of-6 shots from the floor, including a couple treys. He also finished with four rebounds and finished a team-best +11. Justin Engg added six points and three assists in a reserve role. Josh Sipes scored nine points and had six rebounds. Fellow starter Connor Hellebust added seven rebounds and four points.
 
Beisch led all players with 27 points, hitting five treys in the game for the Beavers. Max Cody added 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. Dwyer added 11 points, five rebounds and five blocks.
 
With the victory, Marauders head coach Joe Kittell moved into fourth place on the all-time Marauders coaches wins list with 56. Hall of Famer Al Bortke leads with 335 career wins, followed by Jim Feeney (144) and Rod Jonas (69). Juno Pintar has 55 and moves into fifth.
 
With nearly two weeks off before their next game, the Marauders return to action at Concordia-St. Paul on January 3 before playing at Minnesota State on January 4.
 
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