bismarck, n.d. - it was a game that concordia won in many statistical categories, but also one in which the marauders of the university of mary succeeded in exactly the area they have the majority of the season, turnovers. The marauders had the golden bears doubled up in lost possessions to seal a 75-68 win on saturday evening. The golden bears wrap up a disappointing 1-3 road trip over the past two weeks, but return home to the gangelhoff center next weekend where they have a winning record this season. box score

the golden bears were pleased to come out of their meeting with the marauders with an impressive 55.1% shooting average and a 30-24 lead on the glass, but it was the shots that they never had a chance to take that were most problematic for concordia. Normally 12 turnovers wouldn't draw a whole lot of attention at the end of the game, but when the university of mary handed the ball over just six times in a 7-point game, it is the small things that make all the difference.

concordia put themselves in a bit hole early on in the game, falling behind 16-4 and then 25-9 as the marauders lit the game up from both three-point range and in the paint. 15 of u-mary's first 25 points came from a long range shooting spree. The golden bears put a number of buckets in from closer range, but they were cold from the field early on and also plagued by their own mistakes.

the team came to life in a 8-1 run that ended the first half and put cu down by just six points, 37-31, as they looked ahead to a more manageable second half.

a strong shooting performance is what the golden bears needed in the final 20 minutes, and that is precisely what they delivered. Everyone pitched in to put up a 65% shooting mark, but the university of mary still found a way to lead by double figures for most of the half.

concordia drew to within four points, 45-41 early in the period, but the marauders answered with an 11-1 run to distance themselves by 14 points. Working their way back into the game, a courtney tyler (g, jr., eagan, minn.) three-pointer got cu back to single digits, 63-55, but the push came just a touch too late, at the 5:55 mark. The marauders answered nearly every bucket that concordia put up for the remainder of the game, including six straight free throws to keep an edge in the final 1:17.

tyler was the scoring leader for the golden bears, hitting 5-of-7 field goals and all four of his three-point attempts. He also had four assists. Seniors mike cunningham (g, minneapolis, minn.) and craig heiman (f, marshall, wis.) combined for another 24 points. dan vandervieren (f, jr., eden prairie, minn.) had 11 points, as well. Cunningham emerged as the rebounding leader for cu, adding 10 to make his night a double-double performance. He also had four assists.

the marauders used all of their possessions in the 75-68 win, turning the rock over just once in the first half and six times total in the game. They shot 50.9% from the field, making the task for the golden bears even more challenging. Eric erdmann had a 24-point, seven rebound night to lead the university of mary in both categories. He hit 10-of-18 field goals. Guard jordan wilhelm had 16 points, while anthony moody had 12 to go with his game high six assists.

the golden bears host augustana college and wayne state in further nsic play next weekend at the gangelhoff center.