BISMARCK, ND – Lucas Mayer provided an offensive spark off the bench for the University of Mary but a torrid offensive start for visiting University of Minnesota Crookston was too much for the Marauders to overcome. UMC made 58.1% of its first half shots and defeated UMary 72-58.
 
Mayer tied for team-high scoring honors with 11 points. The junior forward from Bismarck, ND, made all five of his field goal attempts in the game. The Marauders bench combined for 27 points in the game to eight for the Golden Eagles.
 
"We didn't come ready to play tonight and that's on me," said Marauders head coach Joe Kittell. "We missed some good looks but our energy effort was not where it needed to be. We'll get it fixed for tomorrow."
 
UMC scored first and never trailed in the game. With the Marauders struggling to hit shots, the Golden Eagles grew their lead to 48-26. UMary chipped away at the UMC advantage and closed within 54-47, energizing the crowd on a 7-0 run that featured a trey from Trever Kaiser and back-to-back baskets by Matthew Kreklow, one a rim-rocking dunk. That would be as close at the Marauders managed to come as the momentum soon switched back to the Golden Eagles.   
 
Kreklow finished with 11 points and three blocks on the night. Kaiser added nine points, a career-best seven assists and six rebounds while making all six of his free throw attempts. Wyatt Carr added eight points.
 
Kam Warrens had a big night off the bench, hauling down a career-best nine rebounds. He also had five points. Deven Franks also had five points and Matthew Johnson chipped in four points and six assists.
 
Leonard Dixon paired 23 points and 12 rebounds for UMC, hitting five 3s. Josh Dilling scored 27 points and Ibu Jassey-Demba registered 13 rebounds.
 
The Marauders (3-6 overall, 3-4 NSIC) and Golden Eagles (2-7, 1-6) close out the weekend with a second meeting at 4 pm on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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