Bismarck, N.D. – Minnesota Crookston would get off to a blazing fast start, but a late first half run would catapult the University of Mary to a 70-65 victory on Thursday night at the MAC.
 
Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-6 (0-4 NSIC).
 
Neither team would start particularly fast, as neither the Golden Eagles nor Marauders would score a bucket in the first two minutes of the game.
 
Blaize Sagna (Jr., G, London, England) would bury a three to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead. That would be the first points of a huge night for Sagna.
 
Later on, Reid Grant (Jr., G, Johnston, Iowa) would connect on a right wing three and Sagna would finish in the lane for a 16-8 lead, midway through the first half.
 
The lead would continue to grow. Peter Fuchs, Jr., (R-Fr., G, Wausau, Wis.) would cash in on a three in the same spot as Grant to give the maroon and gold a 16 point lead. On the next possession, Sagna would bury a jumper for the Golden Eagles largest lead of the night, at 29-11.
 
That's when the Marauders would chip away. The Marauders would go on an 8-0 run, halted briefly by a Sagna free throw.
 
UMary would eventually make it 30-27, but De'Antray Hughes (Sr., F, New Orleans, La.) would finish a tough layup to bring the lead back up to five.
 
Grant would rattle in a jumper in the paint at the first half buzzer to give the Golden Eagles a lead of 34-31 at the break.
 
The second half would be even tighter than the closing minutes of the first half. UMary would take their first lead of the game at 43-42, but Jordan Mitchell (R-Jr., F, Columbus, Ohio) would finish through contact in the paint for a 44-43 lead.
 
The Marauders would take a 49-48 lead that they would never relinquish.
 
The Marauders would swing the game, taking an 11 point lead, but Aguek Deng (Jr., F, Des Moines, Iowa) would bury a straightaway three to cut the deficit to just three, but it would be too little, too late, as the Marauders would win by five, 70-65.
 
Sagna finished with his third 30 point game of the season, finishing with 31 points and 10 rebounds, while also dishing out three assists. Grant added 15 points, while Fuchs, Jr., finished with six points. The big number was turnovers, as the Golden Eagles turned it over 13 times, resulting in 15 UMary points.
 
Minnesota Crookston shot 45 percent from the free throw line in the game.
 
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will welcome in No. 5 MSUM next Thursday at 5:30 P.M. to Lysaker Gymnasium.