BETHANY, OK – Kelton Coleman and Andre Austin combined for 32 points in the 2025-25 season opener for the University of Mary men's basketball game. The backcourt duo were two of 11 Marauders who made their UMary debut in the first game of the GAC/NSIC Challenge. In what was also the debut for Darren Tighe as the Marauders head coach, UMary dropped an 83-63 non-conference decision to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
 
Coleman, a junior guard to transferred to UMary from Augustana, dropped in 18 points in his first outing with the Marauders. He hit three treys in the game and grabbed six rebounds. Coleman also made a pair of steals.
 
A freshman guard from Bismarck, ND, Austin showed an accurate touch on his way to 14 points. The Bismarck High School product finished 5-for-6 from the floor, hit his only trey attempt, and knocked down 3-of-4 free throws. Austin also had three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Relja Nagulic posted a game-high 10 rebounds for UMary. He also had five points.
 
Amare Jackson added eight points for the Marauders. Overall 10 of 14 Marauders who played in the game scored. Eleven players played 10 or more minutes.
 
Robbie Armbrester led the Rangers with 22 points and nine rebounds as he hit 11-of-16 shots in the game. All-GAC guard Max Alexander added 21 points and made 6-of-9 free throws.
 
UMary held an early 13-12 lead after a tip-in by Jackson. A member of the Great American Conference, NWOSU went on a 17-3 run before UMary fought back to close the game to 37-32 behind five straight points by Austin and seven straight by Coleman, including back-to-back treys.
 
Down as many as 13 early in the second half the Marauders closed to 49-43 on a 4-point play by Austin and a trey by Tshawn Bois before the Rangers pulled away over the last 13 minutes.
 
UMary held a 46-41 edge in rebounding and 19-16 in made free throws but NWOSU shot 49.2% from the field to 31.1% for the Marauders.
 
Northern Sun member UMary wraps up the GAC/NSIC Challenge on Saturday, November 15, in a second straight neutral site game against Great American Conference member Oklahoma Baptist University at 5:30 pm.
 
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