FAYETTE, IA – Facing one their top challenges of the season, the visiting University of Mary men's basketball team battled #20 Upper Iowa University deep into their Northern Sun contest. Kai Huntsberry led the Marauders attack with 26 points and UMary connected on 11 treys for a second straight game in an 82-72 loss to the Peacocks.
 
The Marauders ran with the Peacocks most of the first half, claiming a 34-33 lead on a Hunstberry trey before entering intermission trailing 39-37. Soon facing a 13-point deficit, a 4-point play by Hunstberry keyed a 12-3 Marauders run that allowed UMary to climb within 59-55. Upper Iowa then scored 14 of the next 17 points to pull away from UMary to claim the NSIC win.
 
One of the leading scorers in the NSIC, Huntsberry was unstoppable offensively. The junior guard was 5-of-6 behind the arc and made 8-of-13 shots overall. He was also 5-of-7 at the line and added five assists and two steals on his way to 26 points.
 
Kam Warrens chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Davids Atelbauers scored a career-high 12 points as he hit a pair of treys in the game. Lucas Mayer added six points and six assists. Matthew Johnson knocked down both his trey attempts and paired six points and four rebounds.
 
The Marauders were dialed in from long range, making 11-of-21 treys for their best mark of the season. On Friday at Winona State, UMary connected on 11-of-22 shots from behind the arc.
 
Jake Hilmer scored 29 points to lead the Peacocks. He was 10-for-11 at the free throw line and added eight rebounds and four assists. While UIU was just 6-of-21 on treys, the Peacocks finished 14-of-18 at the line while UMary was 7-of-12. Upper Iowa also held a 41-33 rebounding edge.
 
The Marauders are 7-13 overall and 6-9 in the Northern Sun. The Peacocks are 19-3 and 13-3.
 
UMary continues its four-game road trip with a visit to the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University on Feb. 4-5.
 
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