BISMARCK, ND – A dynamite defensive effort combined with an efficient offensive performance carried the University of Mary men's basketball team to a 67-59 victory over visiting Winona State University.
Gertautas Urbonavicius and
Kam Warrens both scored 19 points for the Marauders to earn UMary a weekend split in Northern Sun play.
Urbonavicius converted 3-of-4 shots from behind the arc and was 7-for-10 overall to lead the Marauders shooting efforts. After struggling from the field against Upper Iowa the night before, UMary shot 52.2% (24-of-46), including an 8-for-17 effort on 3s.
Defensively the Marauders (9-9 overall, 5-9 NSIC) contested seemingly every Warriors (11-8, 6-8) shot to hold Winona State to a shooting percentage of 37.3% (25-of-67) overall while hitting just 4-of-27 trey attempts.
A close contest throughout, neither team managed more than an 8-point advantage in the game.
Trailing much of the first half, the Marauders used a 10-2 run to gain their first lead of the game at 25-24 on a Warrens trey. Following a basket by the Warriors,
Zyon Smith responded with a floater in the paint to regain the lead for UMary. An Urbonavicius trey with 35 seconds in the first half sent the Marauders into intermission leading 30-26 and UMary never trailed again.
The Warriors pulled within one point early in the second half but could never catch the Marauders. UMary grew its advantage to as many as eight points three different times, including a 59-51 lead on an Urbonavicius dunk with just under nine minutes remaining.
The Marauders held off a late Warriors charge by sinking four straight free throws in the final 30 seconds, with both Urbonavicius and Warrens making two each.
Warrens just missed a double double with 19 points and nine rebounds. He also had a game-high six assists.
Treyton Mattern was 3-for-5 behind the arc and finished with 14 points. He also chipped in five rebounds and four assists.
Jeremiah Jones came off the bench to score six points and grab seven rebounds.
Connor Drew and Connor Dillon both scored 12 points for the Warriors. Own King added 11 with five assists.
The Marauders finished with a 35-33 rebounding edge and finished 11-for-18 at the line. The Warriors made 5-of-6 free throws.
The win was the second straight for UMary over Winona State. It was the Marauders first home win over the Warriors since January 3, 2010, and just the third for UMary in the 25-game series.
The Marauders are back on the road next weekend when UMary visits Minnesota State University on Friday, January 27.
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