BISMARCK, N.D. — The University of Mary connected on a season-high 15 3-pointers and committed just eight turnovers in earning a 75-60 victory in NSIC men’s college basketball on Saturday night at the McDowell Activity Center.

The Marauders improve to 9-9 overall, 4-8 NSIC, with the victory, while the Mustangs, following a victory at Minot State on Friday night, drops to 6-12 overall, 3-9 NSIC.

Nick Dufault led the Mustangs with 16 points, connecting on five 3-pointers, while teammate Kenny Byers added 14 points on 7 of 14 shooting and also collected five assists and five rebounds.

SMSU finished the game shooting 44 percent (22 of 50) from the field, including 7 of 18 from 3-point range. The Mustangs have been held to 70 or less points in each of their last seven games.

UMary, which entered the game averaging eight 3-pointers per game, closed night making 15 of 30 from 3-point range and finished shooting 47 percent (24 of 51) overall. The 15 3-pointers was the highest total by an SMSU opponent this season. Five different UMary players led the team with 12 points each. Jaylan White finished with 12 points and also dished out 12 assists and grabbed five rebounds to pace the Marauders.

SMSU started the game strong, taking an early 10-3 advantage, and eventually holding a 20-13 lead following a Byers field goal with just over 11 minutes left in the half. Cliff McCray, who led the Mustangs with five rebounds, converted a three-point play near the midway point of the half to give SMSU a 23-17 lead, but then the Marauders got red-shot from long-range.

UMary’s Trever Kaiser drilled a 3-pointer to start a 19-2 run over the next five minutes and give the Marauders a 36-25 advantage. UMary made 7 of 9 field goals, including a perfect 5 of 5 from 3-point range during the run.

SMSU’s Jake Phipps stopped the run with a field goal and helped spark an 8-1 run for the Mustangs to end the half and cut the deficit to 37-33 at halftime.

UMary would connect on a pair of 3-pointers to open the second half and would later build a 56-40 lead with 12:30 remaining.

SMSU would make one more run, cutting the margin to 60-52 with just under seven minutes left after a Dufault 3-pointer, but UMary answered with five straight points and the lead never dipped below double-digits the remainder of the game.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home to the confines of the R/A Facility next weekend for a pair of NSIC games. The Mustangs face Winona State on Friday starting at 7:30 p.m., before hosting Upper Iowa on Saturday at 6 p.m.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications