BISMARCK, ND – With the score tied and time running down, Kai Huntsberry hit a clutch jumper in the key with 26 seconds left in the game to lift the University of Mary to a nail-biting 80-79 victory over visiting MSU Moorhead. The Northern Sun home opener for UMary, the Marauders have won both their conference games this season.
 
UMary is 3-4 on the year overall and 2-0 in the NSIC. MSU Moorhead is 6-5 and 1-1.
 
Knotted at 75-75 after UMary saw its double-digit lead evaporate on a 10-0 run by MSU Moorhead, Huntsberry pulled up at the free throw line and knocked down a basket to give UMary a 77-75 lead.
 
Seconds later Gavin Baumgartner drew a foul for the Dragons. In the double bonus, Baumgartner made his first free throw but missed an opportunity to tie the game when his second attempt went awry. Kam Warrens ripped down the rebound for UMary and was immediately fouled. Sent to the line for a pair of free throws, Warrens made both to push the UMary lead to 79-76 with 8 seconds on the clock.
 
Jacob Jackson then stepped forward to make the next big play for the Marauders, stealing the Dragons inbounds pass. Quickly fouled, Jackson made one free throw for an 80-76 UMary lead and three seconds left.
 
Stepping in next for UMary was Gertautas Urbonavicius, making a steal on a long downcourt pass by the Dragons. After intercepting the ball, Urbonavicius stumbled and turned the ball over to the Dragons on a travel call. Now needing a miracle with under two seconds on the clock, the Dragons hit a trey at the buzzer to come up a point short.
 
Down 10 late in the first half before entering intermission trailing 41-33, the Marauders used a 23-7 run to claim a 54-48 lead with just under 15 minutes to play in the game. Threes by Treyton Mattern, Warrens and Josh Sipes and three-point plays by Huntsberry and Urbonavicius keyed the UMary surge.
 
The Marauders, who never again trailed in the game, eventually built a 75-65 lead with 4:11 remaining in the game to set up a wild finish.
 
Huntsberry led the Marauders in scoring for a 6^th straight game, piling up 18 points. The junior from New Orleans, LA, making all five free throws in the game and added eight assists and five rebounds.
 
Warrens and Jackson both had double doubles. Warrens finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. He also hid 3-of-4 shots from behind the arc. Jackson came off the bench to post 11 points and ten rebounds. It was the third double double for Warrens and the second for Jackson this year.
 
Urbonavicius added 12 points and five rebounds. Overall nine Marauders scored in the game.
 
Bryce Irsfeld led all players with 21 points for the Dragons. Baumgartner added 19 points and five assists.
 
UMary shot an efficient 48.2% from the floor, including a 9-for-22 effort on treys while knocking down 17-of-22 free throws. MSUM shot 52.5% overall and hit 12-of-24 treys. The Marauders overcame the strong shooting night by the Dragons and a -7 deficit in turnovers behind a big edge in rebounds (40-27) and placing MSUM on the free throw line just nine times, where they made just three.
 
The Marauders next visit Northern State University on Saturday, Dec. 4. Game time is 4 pm at Wachs Arena.
 
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