Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston trailed by 11 with less than five minutes to go in the game and got the game to just one with under a minute left, but the University of Mary was able to escape with a 80-76 victory over Minnesota Crookston in NSIC men's basketball action.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-13 (0-8 NSIC), while the Marauders improve to 7-5 (3-5 NSIC).
Chandler Meeks (Fr., G, Omaha, Neb.) would get off to a great start, scoring the first two points of the game on a pull-up jumper.
Gertautus Urbonavicius would bury back-to-back makes from deep to give the Marauders an early 8-4 lead.
UMary would lead 17-9, but
Blaize Sagna (So., G, London, England) would cash in on three's on back-to-back possessions, cutting the lead to just two.
An
Xzavier Jones (Jr., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) three would knot the game up at 28, but the Golden Eagles would trail by three at the half.
Due to a flop call late in the half on the Marauders, Sagna would make one technical free throw before the clock would even move.
Another Meeks three would tie things up at 40, but from that stretch the Marauders would lead 49-42, early on in the half.
The Golden Eagles would trail by ten, but a Jones old-fashioned three-point play would cut the lead to just four at 60-56.
UMary would again extend their lead to 11 late in the game, but the Golden Eagles would go on a 11-1 run, capped off by a Meeks layup, trailing by just one with 1:20 remaining.
The Marauders would bury some huge free throws down the stretch for the four point victory.
Sagna led the Golden Eagles in scoring, who had four in double-figures. Sagna finished with 25 points on 8-20 shooting from the field, while Jones and Meeks finished with 17 and 15, respectively.
De'Antray Hughes (Jr., F, New Orleans, La.) collected his first double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Golden Eagles shot 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from deep.
Minnesota Crookston will be back on the road next weekend as they travel to Winona State and Upper Iowa next weekend. Tip-off with the Warriors is set for 7:30 P.M., from Winona.
