EDMOND, OK – Coming off a strong opening weekend in Montana, Jeremiah Jones continued his impressive play on day one of the Central Region Challenge in Oklahoma. After missing last season with an injury, Jones scored a season-high 19 points in the Marauders 90-74 loss to tournament host University of Central Oklahoma.
 
Jones made the Tipoff Classic all-tournament team after averaging 12.3 points per game in three contests to open the 2024-25 season last weekend. The sophomore guard was again impressive, making 5-of-7 shots behind the arc and 7-of-13 field goals overall. He also had four rebounds, three assists and two steals. While 11 Marauders scored in the game, Jones was the only one to reach double digits.
 
UMary is now 1-3 on the season. Central Oklahoma is 1-0. The Marauders wrap up the weekend at UCO in the Central Region Classic with a neutral site contest against Northeastern State University at 2:30 pm on Saturday, November 9.
 
Facing a 4^th straight opponent who won at least 20 games last season, the Marauders trailed the Bronchos much of the first half but used a 3-point play by Marquel Saleek with 28 seconds to close within 45-43. Central Oklahoma responded with a trey in the final seconds to enter halftime of its season opener with a 48-43 lead.
 
A Jeremiah Jones 3-ball gave the Marauders a 56-55 advantage with just under 15 minutes left in the game, UMary's first lead since a 4-2 advantage in the opening moments of the game. The Bronchos responded with a basket to take the lead before Saleek hit a jumper in the lane to put the Marauders back in front 58-57.
 
Central Oklahoma regained the lead on a free throw and a pair of baskets before another Jones trey and a tip in by Xavier Lewis knotted the game at 63-63. The Bronchos then turned on the jets, outscoring the Marauders 20-3 to claim an insurmountable advantage.
 
Tamarrein Henderson scored nine points off the bench, keyed by a 2-for-3 effort on treys. Lewis hit 4-of-6 shots to score eight points and Kevin McGaskey and Cayden Redfield chipped in seven points each. McGaskey also dished six assists and had two steals.
 
UMary was 10-of-27 on treys and shot 47.5% from the floor but was 6-for-8 at the line. Central Oklahoma made 55% of its shots, was 3-for-12 on 3-pointers and made 21-of-27 free throws.
 
Israel Hart led the Bronchos with 21 points while making 11-of-13 free throws. Jordan Thompson added 15 points, five steals and eight assists.
 
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