Omaha men’s basketball player Deng Mayar, a graduate transfer from North Dakota, died on Saturday in a drowning in his native Utah, the university announced on Sunday. He was 22.

Mayar, who transferred to Omaha for the coming season, and his friend were seen struggling in the water at Blackridge Reservoir near Herriman, Utah, according to media reports.

The other man made it to shore and, along with bystanders, went back to help Mayar. The friend was taken to a hospital, where he is expected to recover. Mayar went underwater but did not reemerge. Rescue crews recovered his body on Saturday night and pronounced him deceased.

“Our entire program is devastated to learn of Deng’s passing,” Omaha coach Chris Crutchfield said in a statement on Sunday.

“After competing against him for two yea

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