MOORHEAD, MN – Unable to maintain their fast starts to both halves, the University of Mary men's basketball team dropped a 79-65 road contest to MSU Moorhead. Paced by 20 points from Kai Huntsberry, the Marauders jumped out to a double-digit lead early in the second half but couldn't match the scoring pace set by the Dragons down the stretch.
 
The loss eliminates the opportunity for the Marauders to host an opening round game in the Northern Sun tournament set to begin Wednesday, February 23. With a record of 10-15 overall and 9-11 in the NSIC, the Marauders are locked into 5^th place in the NSIC North Division and will visit the 4^th place finisher of the NSIC South to open the league tournament. Winona State, Wayne State and Southwest Minnesota State are all potential playoff opponents.
 
MSU Moorhead improves to 15-11 and 10-7. After gaining a season split with the Marauders the Dragons are now in 2^nd in the NSIC North and in position to earn a first round bye.
 
The NSIC regular season concludes Saturday, February 19, when UMary hosts Northern State University. Tip off on Senior Day is slated for 4 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
The Marauders opened fast behind a torrent of treys. The Marauders knocked down their first four attempts behind the arc – including two by Huntsberry – and UMary raced to a 18-9 lead. UMary finished the first half making 7-of-11 3s and led 31-28 with Huntsberry scoring 14 points.
 
The start of the second half followed the same format. Sandwiched between Lucas Mayer layups, Davids Atelbauers drained treys on back-to-back possessions and the Marauders led 41-30.
 
A 17-4 Dragons run provided the home team their first lead of the night at 47-45 before the teams began trading baskets and the lead. In the span of four minutes there were six lead changes and five ties.
 
UMary claimed its last lead at 55-54 on the last two of four straight free throws by Velko Radakovic. A three-point play by former Marauders player Trever Kaiser gave the lead back to the Dragons permanently and started a 22-8 run to secure a win for MSU Moorhead.
 
The 4^th leading scorer in the NSIC, Huntsberry reached the 20 point mark for the 13^th time this season. The junior guard made 4-of-6 treys in the game and was 7-for-12 from the field. He also added five assists.
 
Atelbauers hit three treys and posted 11 points and three assists. He has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games. Kam Warrens added 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. Mayer finished 4-of-5 from the floor and finished with eight points and three rebounds. Gertautas Urbonavicius had seven points and seven rebounds.
 
Kaiser came off the bench to score a team-leading 19 points for MSUM, on of five players in double figures for the Dragons. He made 8-of-9 shots.
 
The Marauders finished 9-of-19 behind the arc and shot 45% from the floor overall while making 12-of-16 free throws. The Dragons were just 4-of-18 on treys and 11-of-13 at the line but shot 48% overall. MSUM took 18 more shots than UMary after holding a 13-7 edge on offensive rebounds and finishing +9 in turnovers.
 
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