For immediate release: February 10, 2007 Morris, MN-For the first 30 plus minutes Saturday, the University of Minnesota-Morris and Bethany Lutheran College were locked in a tight college men’s basketball game.
The Vikings outscored UMM 23-7 over the final seven minutes of the game to pick up a 78-60 win in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action Saturday at the UMM P.E. Center
A pair of three’s by Kevin Cunniff (Sr. Alexandria, MN) gave the Cougars a 6-0 lead to start the game.
Bethany came back to tie the game at 8-8 on a Travis Priem (Jr. Janesville, MN) three.
The Vikings opened up a five point lead, their largest of the half at 17-12 with 9:47 to go in the first half.
Later in the half with the game deadlocked at 25-25, James Carr hit a long three-pointer from the right wing to give UMM the lead at 28-25, with 2:42 to go before the break.
The team’s traded baskets over the final two minutes of the half and when the teams headed to the locker room at halftime, the game was tied for the 10th time at 32-32.
Both teams had a tough time putting the ball in the basket in the first half as the Cougars shot 32.3 percent (10-31) from the field, Bethany was 10-of-27 (37%).
Steve Farmer (So. Fridley, MN) got the Cougars off on the right foot to start the second half as his lay-up 10 seconds into the half, put UMM in front 34-32.
Over the course of the several minutes the teams traded baskets, with BLC maintaining leads from one point to four points.
Chris Conley (Fr. Alexandria, MN) made it a one point game at 51-50 at 9:13 of the second half.
Two minutes later Phil Allen’s (So. Clarissa, MN) lay-up cut the Viking lead to 55-53.
That’s when the Cougars hit their scoring drought, scoring their final seven points on just two field goals and three free-throws.
Bethany Lutheran picked up their shooting in the second half, hitting 56 percent (15-27) from the floor, finishing the game 25-of-54 (46%).
The Cougars shot a little better in the second half, but not nearly enough, with just nine field goals on 27 attempts in the final 20 minutes of the game, finishing 19-of-58 (33%).
Phil Allen led the Cougars with 15 points, his fifth straight game in double figures.
Steve Farmer recorded his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Brent Durensky (Sr. Barnesville, MN) added 12.
Alfonso Mayfield (Sr. Milwaukee, MN) led all scorers with 24 for BLC.
Minnesota-Morris (7-15, 4-7 UMAC) travels to Duluth to take on St. Scholastica Friday, February 17th at 7:30 in Duluth. Then on Saturday, the Cougars take on Northland College at 5:00 in Ashland, WI.
Newspaper Box Score Bethany Lutheran vs University of Minnesota Morris 2/10/07 5:00 PM at Minnesota-Morris P.E. Center-Morris, MN At Minnesota-Morris P.E. Center-Morris, MN BETHANY LUTHERAN 78, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS 60 BETHANY LUTHERAN (13-9, 10-2 UMAC) Mayfield, Alfonso 8-17 8-9 24; Priem, Travis 8-12 2-2 23; McFarland, Joe 5-8 7-10 17; Balzum, Brady 2-2 0-0 4; Zimmerman, Jeff 1-5 0-0 3; Monson, Jon 1-3 1-2 3; Saffert, Tommy 0-3 2-2 2; Frederick, Stephone 0-0 2-2 2; Tarcon, Jimmy 0-0 0-0 0; Leighton, Peter 0-0 0-0 0; Rosin, Mike 0-3 0-0 0; Grant, Dewan 0-1 0-0 0; Bordain, Amun 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 22-27 78. UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MORRIS (7-15, 4-7 UMAC) Allen,Phil 5-10 5-6 15; Durensky,Brent 4-13 3-4 12; Farmer,Steve 3-7 5-6 11; Cunniff,Kevin 3-4 0-0 9; Carr,James 1-9 2-2 5; Dalbey,Eric 1-7 1-2 4; Conley,Chris 2-5 0-0 4; Bosch,Jeremy 0-0 0-0 0; Brothen,Hudson 0-1 0-0 0; Kelzenberg,Corey 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 16-20 60. Bethany Lutheran.............. 32 46 - 78 University of Minnesota Morris 32 28 - 60 3-point goals-Bethany Lutheran 6-21 (Priem, Travis 5-7; Zimmerman, Jeff 1-3; Monson, Jon 0-2; Saffert, Tommy 0-2; Rosin, Mike 0-2; Grant, Dewan 0-1; Mayfield, Alfonso 0-4), University of Minnesota Morris 6-23 (Cunniff,Kevin 3-4; Carr,James 1-6; Durensky,Brent 1-6; Dalbey,Eric 1-5; Kelzenberg,Corey 0-2). Fouled out--Bethany Lutheran-None, University of Minnesota Morris-Carr,James. Rebounds-Bethany Lutheran 38 (Priem, Travis 9), University of Minnesota Morris 36 (Farmer,Steve 10). Assists-Bethany Lutheran 12 (Mayfield, Alfonso 5), University of Minnesota Morris 16 (Cunniff,Kevin 6). Total fouls-Bethany Lutheran 22, University of Minnesota Morris 21. A-235 Phil Allen 15 points for UMM, 5th straight game in double figures for Allen. Steve Farmer second career double double for UMM with 11 points 10 rebounds. Minnesota Morris travels to St. Scholastica Friday Feb. 16th at 7:30 PM.