BISMARCK, ND – Lucas Mayer poured in a career-best 21 points to lead the University of Mary men's basketball team to an 83-64 non-conference win over visiting Dickinson State University. Zyon Smith and Treyon Mattern also hit double digits as the Marauders blew the game open with a big second half effort on both ends of the court.
 
In a throwback to old NDCAC and DAC10 matchups between the two programs, neither team could take control of the game in the first half as there were six lead changes and four ties. Down 30-22 with under 7:00 to play, a steal by Jeremiah Jones led to a trey by Zyon Smith, igniting a 19-10 run for the Marauders. Smith followed with a jumper and later added a second three-ball to post eight points during a run that sent UMary into intermission with a 41-40 advantage.
 
UMary finally shook free of Dickinson State just after the first media break of the second half. Highlighted by a slam from Jones following a steal, the Marauders reeled off 11 straight points to grab a 60-46 lead. UMary held a double digit advantage the remainder of the ballgame.
 
After outscoring the Blue Hawks by a single point in the first half, the Marauders (5-2 overall, 1-2 Northern Sun) ran past the Blue Hawks 42-24 in the second.
 
Mayer proved to be a tough matchup for the Blue Hawks in the paint. The senior forward hit 7-of-13 shots from the floor and was 7-for-9 at the line. He also had four rebounds and two steals and was a game-leading +25 in the +/- column. The efforts of the Bismarck, ND, native helped the Marauders outscore the Blue Hawks 42-22 in the paint and generate a 39-34 rebounding edge.
 
Smith drained three of the Marauders five treys in the game and finished with 16 points.
 
Mattern posted 11 points and had five assists and five rebounds on the night. Kam Warrens added nine points and Gertautas Urbonavicius picked up eight.
 
Jones provided eight points off the bench. The freshman guard also had four steals in the game as UMary finished +5 in turnovers and held a 24-14 edge in points off turnovers and a 23-7 advantage in fast break points.
 
Gus Wright led the Blue Hawks with 13 points behind a 3-for-5 effort on treys. DSU finished 9-for-23 behind the arc while UMary was 5-for-12.
 
UMary limited DSU to a 37.9% shooting performance for the game, including a second half mark of 28.6%. The Marauders finished at 49.2% for the game.
 
A four-game home stand continues this weekend for UMary when the Marauders host a pair of Northern Sun games. St. Cloud State University visits the McDowell Activity Center at 7:30 pm Friday, December 9. Defending Northern Sun champion comes to town to face UMary at 5:30 pm on Saturday, December 10.
 
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