After coming back from an 11-point deficit to tie the game midway through the second half, Minnesota Morris gave up a 9-0 run and never got back in it.
SUPERIOR, Wis.– The University of Minnesota Morris men’s basketball team battled back to knot the score with nine minutes remaining, but the University of Wisconsin-Superior took over from there as turnovers took their toll on the Cougars, allowing the Yellowjackets to pull away for an 80-64 victory. The loss drops UMN Morris to 8-11 (3-5 UMAC).
UW-Superior scored on the opening possession of the game and never trailed, though Minnesota Morris kept things close much of the way. The Yellowjackets opened up their largest lead of the first half at 29-19 before a quick five points from Noah Kannegiesser. The Cougars would twice pull within three points before UW-Superior went to the half holding a 36-31 advantage.
The Yellowjackets splashed three-pointers on their first four possessions of the second half to go back on top by double-digits. The lead was 53-42 for UW-Superior when Minnesota Morris scored seven straight, including five points from Jaret Johnson. After the home side rebuilt an eight-point lead, the Cougars scored eight unanswered to level the score at 57-57. Ian Carlin, Tath Dak, KJ Riley, and James Pendleton scored in that stretch to leave things even with nine minutes to play.
After working so hard to get back in it, Minnesota Morris suddenly went cold after tying things up. Held scoreless for over four minutes, the Cougars fell behind by nine before Carlin knocked down a pair at the line. Only Carlin and Kannegiesser would score for UMN Morris the rest of the way and the Cougars would commit six turnovers in that closing stretch as UW-Superior cruised to the finish.
Kannegiesser finished with a game-high 18 points on the night. Carlin added 14 points and Johnson had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The road trip continues for Minnesota Morris this weekend as the Cougars head to the Twin Cities. First up is a game at the University of Northwestern on Friday night starting at 7:15 p.m.
