Box Score FAYETTE, IA – Returning to his alma mater,
Dennis Austin III exploded for a season-high 22 points to lead the University of Mary men's basketball team to a 78-72 win over Upper Iowa University.
One of four Marauders in double figures, Austin graduated from Upper Iowa after playing three seasons for the Peacocks, including the last two as a starter. He transferred to UMary last summer as a graduate transfer with one season of eligibility remaining. In his only scheduled game in his former gym, Austin looked right at home. The senior guard from Minneapolis, MN, hit 8-of-12 shots from the field, knocked down a pair of 3s and posted a team-high nine rebounds. Continuing to demonstrate his ability to contribute in multiple ways, Austin also had four assists and two steals and didn't commit a turnover.
For the second straight game,
Connor Hellebust was deadly from downtown with a 4-for-5 performance from behind the arc. The sophomore guard scored 19 points and finished the night 6-for-10 overall from the floor.
Matthew Kreklow added 12 points and six rebounds. Back in his home state,
Jaylan White produced ten points and made 2-of-3 trey attempts.
Richard Brown had a strong night off the bench with a career-best eight points.
Tom Kubank added five points and six rebounds as the Marauders won the battle on the boards 37-31.
Joe Smoldt led UIU with 19 points, making five treys but needing 12 attempts. One of the nation's leaders in made 3s, Jareese Williams was 0-for-5 behind the arc and was limited to nine points.
Effective on offense, the Marauders shot 48.3 percent from the floor and finished 9-of-22 on treys. After making over 80 percent of their free throws over the past six games, UMary was just 11-of-17 at the line. UIU made 44.1 percent of its shots, went 12-of-31 on treys, and hit 8-of-12 free throws.
Leading most of the first half, the Marauders used a 17-4 run to game a 28-19 lead with just over seven minutes left before intermission. Fouled finishing a fast break with a dunk, Brown finished a three-point play with a free throw to give the Marauders a 16-15 lead. UMary never trailed again in the game. Kubank completed the run with a 3-pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions. The Marauders soon entered the break leading 37-29.
Austin scored the opening basket of the second half to push the Marauders advantage to double digits but the Peacocks refused to fade away. Instead Upper Iowa fought back to within four points.
At one point keyed by eight straight UMary points scored by Hellebust on three straight possessions – a pair of treys sandwiched around a pair of free throws – UMary again led by 11 at 58-47.
Never able to get comfortable, the Marauders sealed the game by making 6-of-8 free throws during a stretch in the final 62 seconds of the game.
After winning game one of a four-game road trip, the victory improved the Marauders to 11-12 overall and 8-9 in the Northern Sun. The Peacocks slip to 6-17 and 3-14.
UMary closes the weekend at Winona State University on Saturday, Feb. 9. Tip off is set for 5:30 pm.
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