ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul men's basketball team (4-14, 1-10 NSIC) dropped an NSIC home contest to the University of Mary (6-11, 4-7 NSIC) by a score of 87-75 on Friday night at Gangelhoff Center.
 
The Golden Bears dropped to 12-8 in the all-time series against the Marauders as they dropped just their second contest in the last eight meetings in the series.
 
Both teams were extremely efficient from the floor all night long as U-Mary knocked down 52.5% (32-61) of their shots, including 56.3% (9-16) from deep, while Concordia hit a solid 51.7% (31-60) from the floor. CSP was especially efficient in the first half as they hit 63.0% (17-27) before the break while U-Mary hit at least 50.0% in each half.
 
Turnovers once again proved to be the difference as Concordia's 18 turnovers turned into 27 points for the Marauders while the eight U-Mary turnovers resulted in just 12 points for the Golden Bears. The Marauders also used a 36-29 edge in bench scoring for the win. CSP did, however, hold a 48-36 advantage in points in the paint in the loss.
 
Bryndan Matthews provided a bright spot for Concordia as he fell a rebound shy of a double-double with 21 points and nine boards with an efficient 9-13 from the floor on the night. He also chipped in three steals and a block in the game.
 
Diallo Powell was the only other player to score in double figures for CSP with 15 points on 6-8 shooting to go along with four rebounds off the bench. Max Keefe and Ted Brown each chipped in nine points while Carter Brooks added seven. Keefe also contributed seven boards in the loss.
 
Rickey Suggs paced the Marauders with 19 points while Damonta Henry led the bench unit with 18 points in the win. Pat Thomas joined the duo in double figures with 13 points as well.
 
After the two teams traded buckets early on, the Marauders jumped ahead with a 10-2 run to grab a 17-8 lead five minutes into the game. CSP responded with 15 of the next 19 points to take their first and only lead of the night at 23-21. That would be their lone lead of the game as the Marauders took the lead back for good with a 5-0 run before seeing their advantage hit eight at 33-25.
 
The Golden Bears got as close as five at 34-29 before another 10-2 burst for U-Mary gave them their largest lead of the half with 3:48 to go before the break. The lead would shrink back below double figured at the half as Concordia cut it to eight on a circus shot from Carter Brooks made it 47-39 right before time expired.
 
In the opening minutes of the second half the Marauders lead returned to 12 at 55-43, but Concordia battled back from there. After an 8-0 run cut it to 55-51, CSP made it a one point game at 58-57 to put the team in position to take their first lead since the early going. U-Mary hit a pair at the line before another CSP bucket brought it back to one at 60-59 with 7:58 to go in the game, but that would be all the closer they would get.
 
The next 13 points went to U-Mary as Concordia found themselves in an extended scoring drought which put the game out of reach. The Golden Bears managed to chip away at the 14 point deficit to close the margin all the way down to six at 81-75 with a minute and a half to play before U-Mary iced the game by scoring the final six points to make it an 87-75 final.
 
Concordia is back in action tomorrow night at Gangelhoff Center as they are set to host Minot State at 6 p.m.