OMAHA, Neb. - In the final game of 2024, the Mavericks wrapped up their non-conference schedule in dominant fashion as they defeated Mount Marty 81-51 tonight.
Omaha will enter Summit League play next week with a 6-9 record after going an even 3-3 in the month of December. As for the Lancers, this game goes down as an exhibition for them so they remain at 6-7 on the season.
Leaders for Omaha
Marquel Sutton posted his second-straight game with at least 20 points as he ended the night with exactly 20 after shooting 6-for-9 (.667). He was also tied with
Kamryn Thomas for the team lead in rebounds with eight.
Lance Waddles was in double figures as well with 19 points, while tying
JJ White with a team-high four assists.
Team Stats
Omaha out-shot the Lancers from the floor at 43.3% (29-for-67) to 33.3% (20-for-60) and from behind the arc at 27.6% (8-for-29) to 11.1% (2-for-18). The Lancers did manage to hold the edge in free throw percentage at 69.2% (9-for-13) to 53.6% (15-for-28).
The Mavericks had another strong day in the paint, scoring 38 points including 16 second chance points. Meanwhile, MMU only had 18 in the paint in six on second chances.
Omaha also won the rebounding game at 48 to 41.
Inside the First Half
It took all of four minutes for Omaha to build a double-digit lead as the Mavericks quickly went up 13-2, with Sutton getting off to a hot start with six points out of the gate. Back on the court after not playing last week vs. Cal Poly,
Grant Stubblefield kept it an 11-point game later in the half when he came in off the bench and drained a three to make it 20-11.
Inside of the final 10 minutes, the Lancers started to get some momentum going as they cut Omaha's lead down to four at 24-20 with 7:43 to go. Their run was short lived, though, as the Mavericks went on a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to regrow their lead back to 11 at 33-22. During this run, Sutton scored six more points to cross into double figures.
Omaha did not let up over the final three and a half minutes, outscoring the Lancers 13-5, including a pair of threes from
Tony Osburn and
Lance Waddles, as the Mavericks took a 46-27 into halftime.
Inside the Second Half
Just five minutes into the second Omaha's lead grew to 23 as Sutton and
Isaac Ondekane each added another five points to make it 56-33. At 13:28, Sutton went to the line for the seventh time of the evening and made the first shot to reach 20 points.
With teams combining to score just nine points heading into the 10-minute mark, Omaha maintained a commanding 60-38 lead entering the final stretch. From there all the Mavericks had to do was hold on to their as threes from Osburn, White, and Waddles, as well as the first career bucket from
Lincoln Palbicki with 17 seconds left lifted them to a 30-point victory.
Game Notes
- Sutton now has a career-high seven games with 20+ points this season. He also moves to 967 career points. His eight boards also brought him to 474 career rebounds.
Up Next
The Mavericks ring in the new year on the road next week when they open Summit League play up north against North Dakota on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Grand Forks.
