| Box Score 2 BISMARCK, ND – After winning their first two home games of the season, the University of Mary men's basketball team's hopes of completing a perfect Thanksgiving week at the McDowell Activity Center came up just short. The Marauders, facing their tallest task of the season against #23 Black Hills State University, were edged out by the Yellow Jackets 85-74 to close out the Dakota Challenge.
 
UMary opened its home schedule on Tuesday with a 78-73 Northern Sun win over Highway 83 rival Minot State University, the Marauders first win of the season and the first UMary win for new head coach Darren Tighe. On Friday UMary defeated visiting South Dakota Mines on the opening day of the Dakota Challenge.
 
Game one on day two of the Dakota Challenge witnessed South Dakota Mines edging Minot State 84-79.
 
Kelton Colemen (2-4 overall, 1-0 NSIC) led the Marauders scoring efforts against the Yellow Jackets (5-1). The junior guard posted 17 points, the fifth time in six games he has cracked double figures. Coleman nailed half his 12 shots and was 5-for-6 at the line. He also made three steals and delivered two assists.
 
Cayden Redfield came off the bench and delivered 14 points, connecting on 6-of-7 shots. He snared five rebounds to tie for the team lead.
 
Noah Thomas was the other UMary player to crack double figures, scoring 10 points in a reserve role. He hit two treys and snagged five rebounds. Tshawn Bois and Amare Jackson also hit a pair of treys coming off the bench and scored nine and eight points, respectively. Overall nine Marauders scored.
 
Cam Lowe led an efficient Yellow Jackets offense with 21 points. He hit three treys and grabbed nine boards. Jackson Seale scored 15 points in 17 minutes. Off the bench Willie Patterson III added 13 points and Tristan Hurdle hit four triples and scored 12.
 
BHSU shot 52.3% for the game, including an 11-for-24 night behind the arc. UMary made 43.3% of its shots with an 8-for-26 effort behind the line. The Marauders did go 14-of-21 at the free throw line to the 6-of-12 effort for the Yellowjackets. UMary also held a 37-35 rebounding edge to outscore BHSU 14-5 on second chance opportunities.
 
After an early 2-2 tie, the Marauders chased the Yellow Jackets the rest of the game. Black Hills State led by as many as 12 points in the first half before entering intermission with a 47-37 lead.
 
Using a 16-16 run featuring three straight baskets by Redfield and a pair of treys by Bois, the Marauders closed within 57-55. Black Hills State tried to pull away but UMary closed to 67-63 with nine minutes to play on a steal and a layup for Thomas. A 13-5 run followed for the visitors to dash UMary's hopes to pick up a third Thanksgiving week win.
 
The Marauders four-game home stand continues on Thursday, December 4, when UMary hosts Northern State University in an NSIC contest. Game time is 5:30 pm at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
DAKOTA CHALLENGE GAME 3 | South Dakota Mines 84 Minot State University 79 (box score)
South Dakota Mines rebounded from an opening game loss in the Dakota Challenge to pick up an 84-79 neutral site non-conference win over Minot State University on Saturday.
 
With the game tied at 52-52, the Hardrockers pulled away with an 18-6 run kicked off by three straight Jason Lee backets. Lee then assisted on the final two South Dakota Mines hoops in the run.
 
Lee finished with 27 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds for the Hardrockers (2-5 overall). Gavin Soukup chipped in 17 off the bench. Gray Thompson added 12 points and Ryan Sweeney 10.
 
Deuce Benjamin paced all players with 30 points for Minot State (3-4 overall). Darik Dissete added 16 and Isaiah Alexander 15.
 
DAKOTA CHALLENGE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Friday, November 28
#23 Black Hills State 72 Minot State 65 (box score)
UMary 82 South Dakota Mines 71 (box score)
 
Saturday, November 29
South Dakota Mines 84 Minot State 79 (box score)
Black Hills State 85 UMary 74 (box score)
 
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