BISMARCK, ND – Brock Heffner exploded for 36 points to ensure a University of Mary men's basketball win in the Marauders final outing of the 2023 calendar year. UMary pulled ahead late in the first half before fending off a late second half charge by visiting Valley City State University in an 81-74 non-conference win for the Marauders.
 
Heffner was virtually unstoppable. The sophomore forward relentlessly attacked the basket and made 14-of-19 shots from the floor. The native of Grafton, WI, also hit 7-of-10 free throw attempts as he was fouled seven times in the game while only committing one foul. Heffner also added five rebounds.
 
The transfer from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay was particularly potent in the second half, scoring 26 of his 36 points after intermission while hitting 9-of-11 field goal attempts – including his lone trey – and all seven free throws.
 
Zyon Smith added on 16 points for UMary (6-6 overall) after hitting for exactly 15 in each of his two previous games. The senior guard was 3-for-7 from behind the arc and made 6-of-13 shots overall.
 
Gerald Gittens just missed a triple double, finishing an amazing game with nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He finished 4-of-5 at the line.
 
The 36 points were the most since Kai Huntsberry scored 42 against the University of Minnesota Duluth in the Northern Sun quarterfinals on February 26, 2022. The last UMary player to have more than nine assists in a game was Jaylan White with 12 against Southwest Minnesota State on January 18, 2020.
 
Cayden Rickard and Cleveland Bedgood both had 18 points for Valley City State.
 
The Vikings had a strong showing from the field, making 53.6% of their shots from the floor overall and 8-of-19 behind the arc. UMary was +5 in turnovers, resulting in a 19-11 edge in points off turnovers.
 
Down five late in the first half, the Marauders used a 15-6 run before intermission to gain a 35-31 lead and never trailed again.
 
Valley City State did fight back from an 11 point deficit to pull even at 63-63. Heffner then took command of the game. During a 17-9 UMary run Heffner scored 11 points, including his only trey of the night to give UMary an 80-72 lead with 1:53 to play.
 
After a break for Christmas, the Marauders return to action January 5, 2024, at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
 
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