The University of Minnesota-Crookston out scored Minnesota-Morris 53-32 in the second half and erased an eight point halftime deficit as the Eagles defeated UMM 97-84 Thursday in Crookston.
Both teams struggled to find their shooting touch in the early going before UMC got the games first basket on a Garry Thompson three.
Back to back three’s by Brent Durensky (Jr. Barnesville, MN) and Will Jensen (Jr. Eau Claire, WI) gave the Cougars their first lead at 6-3.
After UMC cut the lead to 6-5, the Cougars scored 15 unanswered points to take a 21-5 lead with 13:55 left in the first half.
Minnesota-Morris hit five straight and converted on five of six attempts at the line over the next four plus minutes to open up the 16 point advantage as Phil Allen (Fr. Clarissa, MN) capped off the rune with a jumper in the paint.
Minnesota-Crookston then found their shooting range and used a 20-0 run of their own to take a 15-21 lead at the half way point of the half.
James Carr (Jr. Barnesville, MN) helped get the Cougars back on track with a short jumper in the lane to tie the game at 28-28 and Brendan McNally (Jr. Lindstrom, MN) followed with a three-pointer to give UMM a 31-28 lead.
After the Eagles closed to within one at 39-38 late in the half, Minnesota-Morris scored 10 of the next 12 points to take a 49-40 lead with three minutes before the end half and then take an eight point advantage at 52-44 into the locker room at the break.
The Cougars lead at halftime was due to their free throw shooting in the first 20 minutes of the game as they wer 11-15 from the line while UMAC was just 3-4.
Both teams shot well in the opening frame as the Cougars were 18-34 (53%), Crookston was 17-28 (61%) in the half.
Both teams cooled down a bit in the second half, but the Cougars did more so than the Eagles.
The second half started well for UMM as they hit their first three shots in the firs 90 seconds of the half and took a 59-46 lead after another three-pointer from McNally.
But then UMC got hot over the next nine minutes and out scored Minnesota-Morris 25-4 during that stretch to take a 71-63 lead, midway through the second half and the Cougars would get no closer.
Crookston turned the table at the free throw line in the second half as the Cougars made just six trips to the line, converting three, while the Eagles were 7-15 at the line in the second half.
UMM shot just 40 percent from the floor in the second half, 47 percent for the game while UMC hit half of their shots in the second half and 54 percent for the game including 62 percent (6-10) from three-point range.
The Cougars had balanced scoring once again as four players were in double figures, but the Eagles got 45 points off their bench to just 12 for UMM.
Brendan McNally led the way for the Cougars with a game high 21, Will Jensen added 20, James Carr 17 and Brent Durensky added 10.
Minnesota-Morris (0-4) will be home for three games next week starting on Wednesday December 7 when they host Mayville State at 7:00 in a make up game that was postponed twice this week.
Then on Friday Dec 9, the Cougars host Gustavus at 7:30 and North Central University Saturday December 10 at 3:00 at the P.E. Center.