ABERDEEN, SD – Gerald Gittens scored a season-high 26 points for a shorthanded University of Mary basketball team that battled Northern State University from start to finish in an 85-71 road loss to the Wolves. The Northern Sun contest featured four ties and seven lead changes.
 
Gittens scored from all over the court for the Marauders, who had eight healthy players on the night. The junior guard drained four treys in seven attempts and was 9-for-17 overall. He also had three assists and two steals. This was the fifth time he has scored at least 20 points in a game this season.
 
Zyon Smith added three triples and scored 12 points. The senior guard also had two assists.
 
Ty Rogers had his first double double of the season. A sophomore forward, Rogers hauled down 11 rebounds and scored 10 points.
 
The Marauders shot 44% from the field and went 8-for-21 behind the arc. The Wolves were just 5-of-21 on treys but made 51% of their shots from the floor overall and made all 22 free throws.
 
UMary carried a 29-27 lead into intermission in a defensive first half, scoring the final three points before the break on two Gittens free throws and one by Smith.
 
Offense took center stage in the second half. The Marauders scored 42 points but couldn't keep pace with the 58 scored by the Wolves.
 
A Gittens three gave the Marauders their biggest lead of the night at 39-31. After a 10-0 run by the Wolves, the Marauders regained their lead at 44-41 on a layup by Gittens and a trey by Gunner Swanson.
 
Northern State (8-13 overall, 6-9 NSIC) soon moved ahead 46-45 and never trailed again. A three-point play by Rogers pulled UMary within 56-55 but the Marauders were never able to pull even or regain a lead.
 
Jacksen Moni led Northern State with 31 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Marauders (6-15, 1-14) return home to host Highway 83 rival Minot State University on Saturday, February 3. Game time is 5:30 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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