BISMARCK, ND – A slow start proved too difficult to overcome for the University of Mary men's basketball team in the Marauders 73-53 loss to visiting Wayne State College.
 
Making his third start of the season, Rich Ashu paced the Marauders. He tied his season high in scoring with eight points. The junior also tied his season highs for rebounds (five) and steals (two).
 
Both teams struggled to score in the early part of the contest. UMary scored first on a Ty Rogers basket and the game was tied 2-2 nearly five minutes into the contest. The Wildcats eventually pulled away in the first half, turning a 10-9 lead into a 32-18 advantage at halftime.
 
UMary scrapped to pull within 37-29 on a trey by Alex Mattes. A later trey by Gunnar Swanson would bring the game to single digits at 41-32 but the Marauders were unable to close any further.
 
Gerald Gittens, Mattes, Marquel Saleek and Zyon Smith all added seven points. Gittens also had six boards, five assists and two steals.
 
Xavier Lewis tied Gittens for the team lead in rebounds with six.
 
Trey Deveaux led the Wildcats with 19 points. Alec Millender added 17.
 
UMary (6-10 overall, 1-9 NSIC) knocked down 14-of-16 free throws in the game and held a 20-10 edge in second chance points after outrebounding Wayne State (11-7, 4-7) 38-30.
 
The Marauders 4-game home stand continues when UMary hosts Winona State University on Friday, January 19, at 7:30 pm, followed by a visit from Minnesota State University at 5:30 pm on Saturday, January 20.
 
#marauders#