BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary owned the final minute of play for the second straight night to earn a second straight win. Scoring the final six points of the game in the final 50 seconds of play, the Marauders knocked off Minnesota State University 65-60 to complete a weekend sweep.
 
On Friday, the Marauders rallied past Concordia-St. Paul 68-66, scoring the final five points in the game in the final 58 seconds on baskets by Treyton Mattern and Lucas Mayer, with the winning putback by Mayer falling with 4.9 seconds left in the game.
 
On Saturday, Davids Atelbauers and Matthew Johnson provided the big baskets with Mayer making the big stops.
 
In a defensive slugfest between the Marauders and the visiting Mavericks on a night that featured no lead larger than six points, 16 lead changes and seven ties, UMary trailed 60-59 after a steal and a layup by Minnesota State's Shawn Hopkins with 1:11 left in the game.
 
With under a minute remaining, Attelbauers drove the left side of the lane and shook himself free of his defender with a pass fake before banking a soft shot off the glass for a 61-60 Marauders lead with 50 seconds remaining.
 
Defense then took center stage for the Marauders as Kam Warrens tied up Hopkins for a steal, leading to an Attelbauers free throw with 29 seconds on the clock. Mayer then followed with another free throw for a 63-60 lead with 21 seconds showing after he hauled down a defensive rebound and was fouled.
 
Mayer again made his presence felt on the defensive end, taking a charge with 14 seconds left to stop another scoring opportunity for the Mavericks.
 
Fouled quickly by the Mavericks, Johnson sealed the UMary win with a pair of free throws with 12 seconds remaining.
 
Johnson and Attelbauers led an impressive performance by the Marauders bench as UMary played a second straight game without their two leading scorers and two other starters as illness and injuries kept Kai Huntsberry, Jacob Jackson, Josh Sipes and Kade Amundson out of the lineup, a loss of nearly 40 points per game.
 
Johnson posted 14 points and seven assists, both season-highs. He hit two of the Marauders four treys in the game and added six rebounds and two steals. Johnson also drew seven fouls.
 
Attelbauers posted eight points with two assists and two rebounds. The Marauders were a team-leading +14 with him on the court.
 
The Marauders outscored the Mavericks bench 35-22. Regan Tollefson added seven points and four rebounds while making 3-of-4 shots. Veljko Radakovic six points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Gertautas Urbonavicius had another strong night for the Marauders. The junior forward combined 13 points, a team-best eight rebounds and three assists. Warrens added eight points, six rebounds and two assists.
 
Hopkins led Minnesota State with 17 points and nine rebounds. Tyrell Stuttley added 11points and five rebounds.
 
Down three at intermission at 29-26, the Marauders outscored the Mavericks 39-31 in the second half.
 
Despite turning the ball over 17 times to 12 for Minnesota State, the Marauders used a 40-32 edge in rebounds plus a more efficient offense to claim the win. Just 4-of-18 behind the arc, the Marauders shot 44.6% from the floor (25-of-56) overall while holding the Mavericks to a shooting percentage of 36.7% (22-of-60). MSU also struggled from deep, making 3-of-14 treys.
 
This was just the Marauders fourth win all-time against the Mavericks in 17 meetings and only the second at home.   
 
UMary improves to 7-11 overall and 6-7 in the Northern Sun. MSU is 10-6 and 4-6.
 
After playing the last four games at home, the Marauders open a four-game road trip at Winona State University on Friday, Jan. 28.
 
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