BISMARCK, ND – Behind one of their best defensive games of the season, the University of Mary men's basketball team narrowly missed upsetting the top team in the Northern Sun. The Marauders fell 59-53 to the visiting University of Sioux Falls on a night UMary held the Cougars to their fewest points USF has scored this season in a conference game.
 
UMary junior center Matthew Kreklow just missed a double double and led the Marauders (8-9 overall, 3-8 NSIC) with 12 points and nine rebounds. He made all six free throws and rejected two shots on a night he was honored as the school's all-time leader in blocked shots.
 
Connor Hellebust chipped in 11 points. Josh Sipes hit three treys and scored nine points. Wyatt Carr drained two 3s and had eight points while Jaylan White dished four assists.
 
Chase Grinde hit three treys and paced the NSIC-leading Cougars (14-3, 10-1) with 19 points. Jack Thompson knocked down four 3s and scored 14 points. Pal Teathloach added 10 points and nine rebounds.
 
In a matchup between the top two scoring defenses in the NSIC, the Marauders held the Cougars to a field goal percentage of 40.7 percent for the game, including a mark of 34.5 percent in the second half. UMary connected on 39 percent of its shots in the game.
 
Despite shooting a similar percentage, the Marauders took 18 fewer shots in the game and made eight less field goals. The Cougars held a 12-3 edge in offensive rebounds, posted a 36-29 rebounding advantage overall and was +7 in turnovers. UMary made up for those deficits at the line, hitting 14-of-17 free throws while USF was just 2-for-6.
 
Sioux Falls grabbed an early lead but could never shake UMary. Despite a 10-point deficit in the first half, the Marauders battled to within 34-30 at intermission. And in the second half UMary closed within a single point a couple times, including 47-46 on a trey by Carr.
 
On a night where points were difficult to come by, the Marauders pulled within a single possession at 54-51 on a pair of Kreklow free throws with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Unable to close the gap further, the Marauders didn't score on their next three possessions. A driving layup through traffic by White with 48 seconds left made the score 57-53, but it was the last points UMary would muster in the game.
 
The Marauders close out a four-game home stand when Southwest Minnesota State University visits on Saturday, Jan. 18. Tip off is set for 5:30 pm.
 
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