BISMARCK, ND – Dynamic efforts by the frontcourt pairing of Xavier Lewis and Brock Heffner sparked the University of Mary men's basketball team to a 70-65 Northern Sun win over visiting University of Minnesota Crookston.  Providing clutch play on both ends of the court, Lewis and Heffner combined for 29 points and 22 rebounds.
 
Lewis posted his second double double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. He was 5-for-8 from the floor and had two assists, two blocks and two steals.
 
Heffner scored a team-high 17 points and fell one rebound short of a double double. The sophomore also dished two assists.
 
Two more Marauders also cracked double digits. Zyon Smith attacked the basket and scored 15 points. Additionally he added five rebounds. Gerald Gittens contributed 10 points and four assists. Gunner Swanson chipped in eight points, making 2-of-3 trey attempts.
 
Down 18 in the first half, the Marauders dug in defensively and went on a 20-3 run headlined by open court dunks by Brock Heffner and Xavier Lewis. At intermission the Marauders trailed just 34-31.
 
Continuing to press the Golden Eagles in the second half, a Gerald Gittens free throw pulled the Marauders into their first tie of the night at 39-39.
 
Rising high above the defense, Lewis slammed home a Marauders miss to give UMary its first lead of the night at 43-42.
 
Defense keyed a 10-2 run to push the Marauders in front for good. A Gunner Swanson steal led to a Zyon Smith layup for a 49-48 UMary lead. Following a Lewis rebound, Swanson drained a trey. After a UMC basket, Smith connected from behind the arc before a pair of Gittens free throws pushed the Marauders advantage to 57-50, the largest UMary lead of the game to that point.
 
A driving layup by Smith off a feed from Smith following a UMC turnover gave UMary its first double digit lead of the game at 67-56 with 1:43 to play in the game.
 
Blaize Sanga led the Golden Eagles with 31 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Marauders return to action at Highway 83 rival Minot State University on Saturday, December 9. Tip off is slated for 1:30 pm at the Minot State Dome in Minot, ND. The men's basketball game tips off a tripleheader of rivalry games between the Marauders and the Beavers. UMary plays Minot State in women's basketball at 3:30 pm before the 5^th ranked Marauders wrestling team takes on the Beavers at 6:30 pm, all in the Dome.
 
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