Senior guard Geoff West scored 21 points to lead the University of Mary to a stunning 80-77 overtime victory over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference leader Minnesota Duluth in men's basketball on Friday night in Bismarck, N.D.
UMD (13-6 overall, 7-2 NSIC) led by as many as 20 points early in the second half before collapsing in large part because of free throws; they were 15 of 28 for the game, including only 10 of 21 in the second half and overtime.
"We were up by 20 and then just died," UMD coach Gary Holquist said. "We could have put this game away a dozen times and never did it."
Center John Vaudreuil had 21 points to lead UMD while Brian Sykora had 13 points and 14 rebounds. Teammate Jordan Schade added 13 points and Ron White chipped in with 12 as UMD had four players reach double figures.
Jason West, Geoff's younger brother, only had four points for Mary (4-11, 2-6) but hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation and had the game-winning point with a free throw in overtime.
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Winona State (14-4, 7-2) beat Wayne State 85-76 on Friday to move into a tie with UMD, which plays at Northern State (12-3, 5-3) today in a key conference matchup.
"The sad part is that Bemidji State beat Northern [Friday night], so you know they're going to be ready [today]," Holquist said. "Any time you play on the road in this league and don't compete for all 40 minutes, you leave yourself vulnerable for a loss, and that's exactly what happened to us."
FOND DU LAC 68, MESABI RANGE 64
Dylan Eggen scored 18 points and hit all five of his 3-pointers in the second half as the Thunder rallied for their first Minnesota College Athletic Conference victory in Cloquet.
Brock Zins added 19 points for Fond du Lac (3-8, 1-2).
Jay Schweisthal had 21 points for Mesabi Range (7-7, 0-3).
MINNESOTA DULUTH 81, MARY 64
Forwards Jheri Booker and Kelsey Hewitt scored 24 points each as the Bulldogs broke from a 60-60 tie with 17 unanswered points to win the NSIC game at the McDowell Activity Center in Bismarck, N.D.
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Booker had 12 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs (8-8, 5-4), while Abby Bratlien had 16 points and Anna Skala added 15 points for the Marauders (8-7, 3-5).
The Bulldogs continue NSIC action today with a 6 p.m. contest at Northern State.
