SIOUX FALLS, SD – Facing one of the nation's toughest teams for a second straight day to open the season, the visiting University of Mary men's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking 71-68 overtime loss to the University of Sioux Falls. Eight different players scored for the Marauders with Matthew Kreklow and Trever Kaiser combing for 36 points.   
 
The Marauders opened the season on Saturday with a narrow 64-60 loss to the Cougars, who were ranked as high as 22^nd nationally this season. Kreklow and Kaiser totaled 41 points in the opening game.
 
"We battled against one of the Northern Sun's and the nation's best this weekend and came up a little short both nights," said Marauders head coach Joe Kittell. "Sioux Falls is a big team that forces turnovers and attack the offensive glass. We learned a lot about our team and I know we will build off of this weekend."
 
Behind a barrage of seven treys in the opening half, the Marauders built a 15-point lead with less than a minute remaining to intermission before going into the locker room leading 37-25. The Cougars soon found their footing and ran off 18 straight points to start the second half and move in front.
 
Down as many as 11 points with under five minutes remaining, the Marauders regained their footing. Keyed by Kreklow and Kaiser, UMary went on a 14-3 run to close out regulation. Kreklow, who become the 20^th Marauders player to score 1,000 points in a career in the opener, scored the first five points before Kaiser tallied the next nine. Kaiser forced overtime when he connected on a jumper in the paint with 21 seconds left on the clock.   
 
Kreklow was a force in overtime. He scored the Marauders first seven points, including a 3-pointer to give UMary its first lead in the extra session at 64-63. The All-NSIC player then made two more free throws for a 66-65 lead, the last time the Marauders held an advantage in the game.
 
USF won then game at the line, connecting on five straight to regain the lead and making 7-of-9 in the final minute of play to hold off UMary and sweep the weekend.
 
Kreklow led all players with 21 points, making 9-of-10 free throws and hitting 2-of-3 trey attempts. He also had seven rebounds and two blocks.
 
Kaiser scored 15 points and added two points and two steals. Glenn Jordan, Josh Sipes and Kade Amundson all had seven points.
 
Jack Thompson led USF with 18 points. Pal Teathloach had 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Marauders finished the game 10-of-22 behind the arc and shot 41.7% overall for the game. UMary finished 18-of-24 at the line. USF shot only 33.3% overall and 4-of-14 on 3s while making 25-of-33 free throws.
 
UMary makes its home debut this weekend when the Marauders host St. Cloud State University on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 8-9, at the McDowell Activity Center. The games are not open to the general public but fans are encouraged to follow all the action live online at www.GoUMary.com and on Fox Sports 710 AM.
 
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