BISMARCK, N.D. – A game-winning drive and score by sophomore point guard Freddie Young with 3.3 seconds to play lifted the University of Sioux Falls to a dramatic 75-73 win over U-Mary at the McDowell Activity Center before 1,079 in attendance in Bismarck, N.D., on Saturday night.

One night after dropping a heart-breaking 60-58 decision to Minot State, USF rallied in the second half to pick up the NSIC win. As a result, the Cougars improved to 4-6 overall and 2-3 in league play. U-Mary, which lost to USF in overtime a year ago, fell to 2-7 overall and 0-5 in league play.

“I am really proud of Freddie (Young) who had slipped and turned it over on the previous possession. He came up with a big play when we needed it most. He made his mind up that he was going to score and did just that,” said USF head men's basketball coach Chris Johnson. “I am proud of our guys tonight. We didn't shoot it great but we played really solid defense. Jordan Stotts was huge with his overall play off the bench. I can't tell you how big that three-pointer was late in the game,” he said.

Stotts scored a season and game-high 19 points, hitting 7-of-10 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Stotts, who also had four rebounds, three steals and two blocks, connected on a three with 1:23 left that gave the Cougars a 71-70 lead. While Mary tied the game in the final minute, USF never trailed again.

Senior guard Charles Ward, who tied a career-high with five assists, had 18 points, including 10-of-12 free throws. Ward, who hit 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the second half, reached double digits for the 15th straight time dating to last year. He has scored double figures in points 10 straight times this season and 27 times in his career.

Sophomore guard Mack Johnson added 14 points while Young chipped in with nine. Center Bryan Kielpinski had eight points, including converting six crucial free throws down the stretch.

“Mack (Johnson) held us together in first half and Charles (Ward) in the second half. Yes, Kielpinski's work at the free throw line was key to our win," Johnson said in a post-game interview with USF play-by-play announcer Tom Frederick. "While, we made some mistakes, we found a way to win that is really great to see. This is a game we desperately needed and I am glad the guys were able to finish it off,” he said.

Mary was led by Chris Mason, who scored all 15 of his points in the second half. Bryan Jefferson came off the bench to add 13 while Marquealis Edwards also had 13 points and eight rebounds. U-Mary outrebounded USF, 40-30, becoming the second team this season to outboard the Cougars.

USF outshot the Marauders, making 42.6 percent (23-of-54) to 40.3 percent (25-of-62). Both teams hit eight three-balls while the Cougars held the edge at the foul stripe. USF made 21-of-26 free throws for 80.8 percent while U-Mary was 15-of-23 for 65.2 percent. It is worth noting that in all four USF wins this season, they have outshot their opponents from the field.

While USF had to rally from a five-point second half deficit to pick up a crucial win, the Cougars actually had a fast start. Led by Johnson's four points, USF took a 9-2 with 16:47 to play in the first half. The Cougars, which opened the game by hitting 8-of-11 field goals, continued to build on their lead as Johnson and Stotts put on an offensive show. A three-pointer by Stotts provided Cougars with a 14-7 lead. Then, Johnson went to work, scoring eight points, including a 3-pointer for a 25-9 lead with about 12:14 to play in first half. Using a 16-11 run, the Marauders fought back and cut the lead to 36-26 with 2:14 left in the first half. USF, which received 12 points from both Stotts and Johnson in the first half, went to the break with a 39-31 lead. In the opening half, Johnson hit 5-of-6 from the field while Stotts was 4-of-5 from the field, including 2-of-3 from distance.

Things quickly changed in the Marauder's favor in the second half. Spurred on by nine points from Mason, Mary had an 18-to-5 run to open the half as they built a 49-44 lead with 14:10 left in the game. The Cougars answered with a 6-0 run for a 50-49 lead after a Young drive and score at the 10:30 mark.

From that point, the teams traded leads 10 times. With both teams saddled with foul problems and in the bonus for a large share of the second half, USF's Kielpinski took advantage, knocking down two of his six second half free throws with 5:01 to play for a 66-65 lead.

After Cougars missed on chances to build a lead, U-Mary's Mason hit a three for a 68-66 lead with three minutes to play. From there, Stotts had the big three with 1:23 to play and the Cougars pulled out the win on the biggest shot of Young's career as a Cougar.

USF will return home on Tuesday to host Mount Marty at 7 p.m. in the Stewart Center.