By: Brian Larson, U-Mary Sports Information Director
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In what may go down as one of the most memorable tournament games in University of Mary history, a spectacular basket by
Marquealis Edwards in the closing seconds of regulation turned the game over to
Bryan Jefferson in overtime of a 96-91 U-Mary victory over Minnesota State University in the quarterfinals of the Northern Sun / Sanford Health men's basketball tournament.
Down by two and time running down, Edwards forced his way into the lane. The senior guard tossed up a shot from his waist that knotted the game 83-83 with five seconds left in the game to force overtime. Jefferson then took control in the extra session, scoring six straight to break the 11
th tie of the game. Showing his worthiness as an All-NSIC first team selection, Jefferson sandwiched two jumpers around a tip-in off his own miss.
The win propels the Marauders to the NSIC tourney semifinals against #7 MSU Moorhead on Monday, February 29. Game time is slated for 12 noon at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Just the second postseason win for the Marauders in ten seasons competing in the NSIC and NCAA Division II, U-Mary advances to the semi-final round of the league championship tournament for the first time since 2011 when the tournament included just three rounds instead the current four-round tournament.
A no-holds barred first half featured 102 points scored by a pair of hot-shooting teams. U-Mary led 54-48 at intermission after making 64.5 percent of its shots while MSU connected on 54.5 percent. The Marauders led by as many as eight.
After halftime adjustments, both teams turned cold in the second half as U-Mary connected on just 34.4 percent of its field goals while MSU made just 40 percent.
Down by seven, the Mavericks went on a 7-0 run to tie the contest 71-71. Scratching and fighting the rest of regulation, neither team able to put more than two straight baskets together the rest of the evening. The last six minutes of the game featured four ties with each team grabbing leads four times apiece.
Trailing by two, Jefferson converted a 3-point play with 2:33 left for a 81-80 lead. Jalen Pendleton tied the contest on a free throw before giving the Mavericks an 83-81 edge with 20 seconds left on a layup. That set the stage for the late heroics by Edwards.
In overtime, Jefferson broke an 85-85 tie with three straight baskets. A Jon Fuqua dunk pulled the Mavericks within 91-89 before
Devan Douglas connected on a layup. After another MSU basket, Douglas again provided the response, this time on a jumper in the paint for a 95-91 lead with 20 seconds left.
Brandon Tyler closed the scoring with a free throw with three seconds left in the game.
Jefferson led the Marauders with 22 points and nine rebounds. Edwards scored 21 with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Douglas added 16 points. Tyler was 3-for-4 on trey attempts and scored 10 points.
Rickey Suggs scored 12 points off the bench and
Damonta Henry had 11 in a reserve roll.
Pendleton had a game-high 24 points and 11 assists for MSU while Fuqua had 22 points and eight rebounds.
The win is just the second for the Marauders against the Mavericks in 11 meetings.
U-Mary improves to 19-11 overall. MSU, rated fifth in the NCAA regional rankings earlier in the week, drops to 21-9.
#marauders#