BISMARCK, ND – Jeremiah Jones, Kevin McGaskey and Wylee Delorme combined for 42 points in a bid by the University of Mary men's basketball team to knock visiting #RV Southwest Minnesota State University out of first place in the Northern Sun standings. The Mustangs held off the upset bid by the Marauders as SMSU claimed a 70-62 win over UMary to open the final weekend of the season.
 
This was the Marauders fifth straight game against a team that is either currently leading the NSIC or one game out of first place.
 
Jones, McGaskey and Delorme each scored 14 points in the penultimate game of the season for UMary with all three hitting two treys each.
 
In a fast-paced first half, the Marauders (5-25 overall, 3-18 Northern Sun) drained seven treys and closed on a 9-3 run. Delorme scored seven of the points, including a driving layup in the closing seconds, to pull UMary within 39-35 of a Mustangs (20-7, 5-16) team tied for first in league play.
 
Riding a 7-0 run featuring a 3-point play by Ty Rogers and baskets by McGaskey and Delorme, the Marauders grabbed a 49-47 lead with just over 14 minutes remaining in the game. SMSU followed with four straight points and soon regained the lead permanently at 52-51 on a Dunwat Omot free throw.
 
Despite struggling in the second half from behind the arc with a 1-for-8 effort on treys, the Marauders remained within two possessions before an 11-2 Mustangs run gave SMSU a 69-58 lead with 1:47 to play.
 
Jones added four rebounds, four assists and three steals to his 14 points, making 6-of-10 shots in the game.
 
McGaskey chipped in two steals and two assists without a turnover in the game.
 
Delorme, who paced UMary with eight rebounds, also was 6-for-10 shooting and made 2-of-3 trey attempts.
 
Omot paced all players with 27 points for SMSU, hitting five treys.
 
UMary shot 45% for the game overall and made both free throw attempts while going 8-of-27 on treys. SMSU connected on 49% of its shots overall, made 9-of-25 behind the arc and converted 9-of-14 free throw attempts.
 
In a game that featured six lead changes and four ties, UMary held the edge in scoring of the bench (21-7) and in the paint (34-24) while SMSU held a 29-16 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
The Marauders wrap up the 2024-25 season on Saturday, February 22, when UMary hosts the University of Sioux Falls. Game time for Senior Day is 3:30 pm at the McDowell Activity Center. The Marauders will honor seniors Rich Ashu, Liam Dougherty, Kevin McGaskey and Gunner Swanson and award the Kevin Olson Scholarship prior to tip off.
 
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