BISMARCK, ND – Trever Kaiser exploded for 25 points and just missed a double double in the 2020-21 season finale for the University of Mary. The junior guard led a late run that closed the Marauders within a single possession of Minot State University in the final minute of play before the visiting Beavers held off the Marauders at the line in a 71-65 road win.
 
The Marauders honored five senior scholar-athletes before the game. Wyatt Carr, Justin Engg, Glenn Jordan and Matthew Kreklow all competed this season for UMary. Connor Hellebust, who graduated last spring but didn't make the decision not to use his fourth year of eligibility, was also honored.  
 
Kaiser scored 17 of his 25 points in the second half. He knocked down 8-of-14 shots from the floor and made all eight of his free throws. Kaiser also hauled down nine rebounds and delivered three assists.
 
Josh Sipes knocked down three treys and scored 11 points for the Marauders. Matthew Johnson added 10 points and four assists.
 
Kreklow, who finishes his career 10^th all-time at UMary in scoring, fourth in rebounds and first in blocked shots, registered eight rebounds, six points, five assists and two blocks.
 
Lucas Mayer came off the bench to score five points, snare nine rebounds and made two blocks for UMary.
 
Max Cody poured in 24 points and distributed nine assists for the Beavers. He was 10-for-11 at the line and had six rebounds. Kody Dwyer added 16 points and Melvin Newbern paired 14 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Fighting from behind much of the game, the Marauders closed to within 33-29 at half as Kaiser scored four points in the final minute of play.
 
A Sipes trey to start the second half closed the Marauders within a point at 33-32. The Marauders again closed within a point at 46-45 on a Kaiser fast break layup after forcing a turnover. The Beavers scored the next six points and soon built a 9-point edge with under three minutes remaining in the game.
 
Continuing to battle, the Marauders used an 11-4 run to pull within 65-63 on a Kaiser three with 24 seconds left in the game. Kaiser scored seven of the points in the run with four coming at the line.
 
The Beavers held off the Marauders charge at the free throw line, making six straight to close out the game.
 
In a rugged defensive game, the Marauders (4-12 overall, 4-10 Northern Sun) made 37.1% of their shots overall and went 7-for-32 behind the arc. UMary finished 12-of-18 at the line. The Beavers made 43.3% of their shots with a 3-for-11 effort on treys while making 16-of-21 free throws.
 
While UMary held a 42-39 edge on the board, Minot State held a 13-8 edge in second chance points and a 42-24 advantage on points in the paint.
 
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