Despite placing five players in double digits, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (13-12, 9-8 NSIC) dropped their third straight decision, falling 81-72 to U-Mary (9-14, 7-10 NSIC) on the road on Friday night.

After leading 26-25 at halftime, USF was outscored 56-47 in the second half as they dropped to 13-12 overall, including 9-8 in league play.  The 56 points scored by U-Mary was the second most by an opponent this season. But the key to the win for the Marauders was a sizzling second half shooting display when they hit 20-of-27 shots for 74.1 percent, which was a season-high against USF. It was also the second time in three games an opponent has shot over 67 percent in a half against USF (Northern State, 67.7 percent, Jan. 27). Aside from the shooting display, U-Mary held a 36-20 edge in points in the paint.

Mack Johnson led the Cougars with 18 points, including four three pointers, which gives him 220 in his career. He also moved into ninth place all-time with 1,531 (Tim Dykstra, 1,524 points).  Clint Thomas added 13 points, followed by Zach Wessels with 12; Daniel Hurtt, 11; and Drew Guebert, 10.  Guebert reached 700 points in his career with his 34th double digit game.

USF made 24-of-63 from the field for 38.1 percent, hitting 10-of-28 from the three point line for 35.7 percent. USF made 15-of-19 from the foul stripe and held a 38-33 rebound advantage.  But despite a 10-to-3 edge in three pointers and a rebound edge, USF was hurt by U-Mary's shooting and 14 turnovers, three over the Cougars' season average.

As for the Marauders, after hitting 8-of-26 shots for 30.8 percent in the opening half, they turned it around on the league's top defense by making 74.1 percent from the field in the second half.

Overall, they were 28-of-53 for 52.8 percent although, interestingly enough, just 3-of-15 from three point range.

Inside the arch, the Marauders were 25-of-38 for the game. Doing the heavy lifting for U-Mary was Damonta Henry who had a game-high 25 points while forward Bryan Jefferson added 21 points, hitting 7-of-9 field goals, with eight rebounds and six assists.  

After U-Mary jumped up 4-0 early on, the Cougars responded with baskets from Wessels and Kebu Johnson to knot the score at 4-4 at the 16:35 mark. 

After a three from U-Mary, USF scored eight straight, including threes from Thomas and Hurtt, to move ahead, 12-7 with 14:22 to play. The first half would proceed with runs both ways.

First, the Marauders took control with a 13-3 run to take a 20-15 lead on a Henry free throws at the 6:59 mark of the half.  Then, the Cougars rallied with a 9-2 run as M. Johnson's first three of the half tied the game at 22-22 (4:31) and a lay-up provided the Cougars with a 24-22 lead with 2:39 to play. A Thomas lay-up with 58 seconds to play helped USF to a 26-25 halftime advantage. 

In the low-scoring half, the Cougars made 10-of-32 shots for 31.3 percent, including just 3-of-13 from three point range. USF, which held a 23-17 rebound edge, received 10 bench points (Hurtt, Thomas, five each). Meanwhile, the Cougars' defense held U-Mary in check, limiting the Marauders to 8-of-26 from the field for 30.8 percent, including 2-of-11 from three point range. U-M had a 7-to-3 edge in made free throws.

After the opening half included five lead changes and four ties, the teams opened the second half exchanging the lead before a three-pointer from M. Johnson tying the game at 31-31 with 17:01 to play.

The Cougars responded with a 10-7 run to open up a 41-38 edge with 12:58 to play after Guebert splashed in a three. 

U-Mary answered with its own rally, using a game-deciding 10-0 run to take a 48-41 lead on a three-point play from Henry.  Wessels ended the run with a pair of free throws to draw USF within 48-43 with 10:27 to play. Unfortunately, that was as close as USF would get the rest of the night.

U-Mary pushed the lead to 52-43 at the 9:48 mark after a basket by Jefferson. After a Henry basket, Marauders led, 55-44 with just 8:28 left on the clock. The Marauders opened up its biggest advantage of the night after a lay-up from Jefferson for a 61-48 edge with 6:54 to play.

The Cougars drew within seven points on two more occasions, including 61-54 with 6:11 to play after a pair of Thomas free throws. But the Marauders offense continue to sizzle as they move the lead back to two at 72-60 with just two minutes to play. At that point, USF pulled within eight (77-69,:39) but didn't have enough gas to rally back as U-Mary defeated the Cougars for a second straight year.   

Next for USF will be a road game at Minot State with tip off set for 6 p.m. at the MSU Dome on Saturday.