BISMARCK, ND – Davids Atelbauers drained a game-winning three-pointer with 23 seconds left in the contest as the University of Mary overcame a double-digit second half deficit to knock off the nation's 6^th-ranked and Northern Sun North Division champion University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 75-71. The Marauders scored the final eight points in the game in the final minute of play, with Atelbauers scoring the last five.
 
The 6^th ranked Bulldogs are the highest-ranked NCAA team the Marauders have beaten at the McDowell Activity Center. The previous mark was a 77-48 win over #8 St. Cloud State University on December 16, 2007.
 
The last time the Marauders had beaten a nationally-ranked team at the MAC was a 72-51 win over #19 MSU Moorhead on January 7, 2012. The last UMary win over a nationally-ranked team was a 77-73 road win at #3 MSUM on January 8, 2016. That win over the Dragons is also the highest-ranked NCAA team the Marauders have beaten.
 
At home for the first time following four straight road games over the last two weekends, the Marauders (9-14 overall, 8-10 Northern Sun) exploded in the first half. Three-pointers on four straight possessions – including the last three by Gertautas Urbonavicius – followed by an Atelbauers basket keyed a 14-0 run and gave UMary a 27-16 lead. After leading by as many as 15 points while shooting 54% from the floor to 33% for the Bulldogs, the Marauders carried a 45-32 advantage into intermission.
 
The Bulldogs (21-3, 14-3) came out of halftime on fire and scored the first ten points of the second half. A 27-4 run for UMD pushed the visitor's lead to 59-49 with just under 12 minutes left in the game.
 
Keyed by treys from Huntsberry and Josh Sipes, the Marauders regained the momentum and pulled even at 65-65 as Atlelbauers closed a 16-6 run with one of his two makes from behind the arc.
 
The Bulldogs claimed a 71-67 lead with 66 seconds remaining on an Austin Andrews layup off a Marauders turnover.
 
The rest of the game belonged to the Marauders. Huntsberry provided the spark as he drove the lane and scored through heavy traffic. Fouled on the play, the junior guard converted the free throw to pull UMary within 71-70 with 51 seconds left.
 
Forcing a miss on a three-point attempt by UMD's Drew Blair, Lucas Mayer hauled down the rebound and started a fast break opportunity for UMary. Huntsberry spotted Atelbauers spotting up in front of the Marauders bench and delivered a perfect pass. Without hesitation, Atelbauers rose up and nailed the long-distance 3 with 23 seconds left for a UMary 73-71 lead.
 
The Bulldogs then turned the ball over without getting a shot, leading to a pair of made free throws by Atelbauers to close out the scoring with eight seconds left. 
 
Huntsberry led the Marauders with 19 points. He hit three 3s in the game and added seven rebounds and three assists.
 
Atelbauers scored a career-high 13 points, going 2-for-3 behind the arc and 4-of-6 overall. He also hit both his free throws and added four rebounds and two assists.
 
Urbonavicius was 3-for-5 on treys and paired 11 points with five rebounds. Kam Warrens scored 10 points, ked the team with four assists and added five rebounds. Mayer had nine points and seven boards.
 
Sipes gave the Marauders a big boost off the bench, scoring nine points while nailing 3-of-4 trey attempts as UMary's reserves outscored UMD's bench 14-0.
 
Austin Andrews led five Bulldogs in double figures with 16 points and eight rebounds. Jack Middleton added 15 points.
 
The Marauders held a 39-32 edge in rebounds. UMary also had advantages in field goal percentage (48.3% to 40.6%) and in three-point shoot. UMary was 12-of-27 behind the arc while UMD finished 9-of-33.
 
UMary closes out their last full home weekend of the season on Saturday, February 12, when the Marauders host St. Cloud State. Game time is 5:30 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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