CROOKSTON, MN – Matthew Kreklow posted his sixth double double of the season and Jaylan White scored 18 points for the University of Mary in a 71-68 loss at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Unable to match the deep game of the Golden Eagles as UMC hit 14 treys, the Marauders pounded the ball inside and nearly overcame a double digit deficit to force overtime when a shot at the buzzer just failed to connect.
 
Kreklow scored 23 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the Marauders in both categories. The junior center hit 9-of-14 shots and blocked two shots in the game.
 
Doing much of his damage late in the contest, White scored 12 of his 18 points in the second half. The senior guard also had four rebounds on the night.
 
Connor Hellebust and Trever Kaiser both added nine points for UMary. Hellebust also had five rebounds and two steals.
 
Malcolm Cohen led UMC with 28 points, making 8-of-13 trey attempts. Harrison Cleary, the nation's third-leading scorer, was limited to 19 points but delivered eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds. Ibu Jassey-Demba had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Fresh off knocking down 15 treys in a win over Southwest Minnesota State, UMary struggled from behind the arc. The Marauders (9-10 overall, 4-9 NSIC) finished 2-for-13 on treys while the Golden Eagles (9-10, 5-8) sank 14-of-34. Overall UMary connected on 46.6 percent of its shots while limiting UMC to 38.2 percent shooting overall. At the free throw line, UMary was just 12-of-20 while UMC was 5-of-8. The Marauders outscored the Golden Eagles inside 36-12 but it was UMC's effort behind the arc that gave the home team the win.
 
Down as any as 18 points in the first half, the Marauders fought to get to within 48-42 in the second. Another UMC run soon found UMary trailing by 18 with just over five minutes remaining in the game. 
 
UMary then turned the game over to Kreklow and White. The pair ran off ten straight points for the Marauders, cutting the deficit to 66-58. After a Cleary trey pushed the UMC advantage to 69-58, Kreklow made three straight free throws before White hit back-to-back baskets in the paint to pull UMary within 71-67. Another free throw by Kreklow and a defensive stop by the Marauders gave UMary one last opportunity to force overtime. With time quickly expiring, White was forced to fire up a heavily contested three-pointer that missed its mark, allowing UMC to take a game lead on UMary in the NSIC North standings.
 
The Marauders conclude their weekend road trip with a visit to Bemidji State University on Saturday, Jan. 25. Game time is 5:30 pm.
 
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