ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia-St. Paul (19-10) and the University of Mary (9-18) met for the second time at Gangelhoff Center in the last two and a half weeks, with a nearly identical result. This time, the contest was in the postseason as the host Golden Bears, third seed in the South Division defeated the North Division's sixth seeded Marauders 78-65 on Wednesday night in the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament First Round.

The Golden Bears advance to the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Quarterfinals to face the second seed from the North Division, Northern State (22-7) on Sunday, March 2 at 8 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.

About 90 minutes before tip-off, the NCAA Central Region Rankings were released with Concordia ranked ninth. It is Concordia's first regional ranking since the 2010-11 season when the team was ranked #10 in the Feb. 9 and Feb. 23, 2011 rankings. It's a key milestone for the program as the NCAA's official rankings help determine the field for the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Concordia men's basketball is seeking its first NCAA Tournament berth, and is now offiically among the top teams for consideration when the NCAA.com Division II Selection Show airs on Sunday, March 8 at 9:30 p.m.

The victory was Concordia's first NSIC Tournament win since the 2006-07 season, snapping a 7-game postseason losing streak.

Earlier in the year, Concordia defeated U-Mary 75-64 at Gangelhoff Center on February 7 by holding the Marauders to 33.3 percent second half shooting from the field and from three-point range. Tonight, Concordia held U-Mary to 30.6 percent (11-36) second half shooting and 33.3 percent (5-15) second half three-point shooting.

For the game, U-Mary shot 37.3 percent (25-67) while Concordia was more efficient at 43.6 percent (24-55).

Concordia's senior guards led four players in double-figures in scoring as Terez VanPelt had a game-high 16 points and Keith Crockett had 15. Crockett scored 11 of his points in the first half including six in a row in the lane during a critical 11-0 run to take the lead late in the half. VanPelt scored 11 of his points after halftime and helped spark a 14-2 run with five of his points to turn a 1-point game with 13:19 left into a 54-41 lead with just under eight minutes left. Concordia led by at least eight points the rest of the way.

Down the stretch, Concordia's free throw shooting helped keep the Marauders at a distance as the Golden Bears made 86.7 percent (26-29) and used an 18-point scoring deficit at the stripe to pull away.

Nuni Omot added 14 points and seven rebounds, making all seven of his free throws and Cole Olstad scored 11 points and had eight rebounds while making all six of his free throws.

The Marauders also had four players in double-figures led by Bryan Jefferson's 15 points and 12 rebounds with Germain Decoste adding 14 on 7-12 shooting.

The Concordia offense came out sluggish making just one field goal from 15:11 to 6:55. But the Golden Bear defense kept the score close as the Marauders were only able to open up an 8-point lead, 21-13 with 13 minutes to play in the half.

Concordia started the evening just 6-of-18 from the field before making 6-of-7 during a two and a half minute stretch in an 11-0 run as Concordia took a 34-29 lead with 2:12 to play in the first half.

Concordia went into halftime leading 34-31 and wouldn't trail again although the Marauders would force ties at 34, 36 and 38 in the first five minutes of the second half.

It was the 14-2 second half run that turned a 40-39 lead with 13:19 to play into a 54-41 lead with just under eight minutes to go. The Golden Bears led by at least eight the rest of the night and used outstanding free throw shooting (26-29, 89.7%) to seal the win.