News Release

Morris, Mn — Northwestern escapes P.E. center with win

Morris, MN – Northwestern College outscored Minnesota-Morris 44-37 in the second half and handed the Cougars a tough 82-78 loss in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) college men’s basketball action Friday.

As has been the case in games between the Cougars and Eagles over the past couple of seasons, this game was close through out and came right down to the wire.

UMM scored the games first six points, but then Northwestern responded with eight unanswered to take an early 8-6 lead.

The Eagles took their largest lead of the game at seven at 24-17 with just under nine minutes left in the opening half.

Later in the half, Steve Farmer (Fr. Fridley, MN) tied the game for a fourth time at 29-29 only to have NWC score take a five point lead at 36-31.

Minnesota-Morris scored 10 of the final 12 points in the half and Brendan McNally (Jr. Lindstrom, MN) scored with two second left in the half as the Cougars took a 41-38 lead at the break.

Both teams had the shooting touch in the first half as Northwestern shot 56 percent (14-25) and UMM was 18-of-33 for 54 percent in the first half.

In the second half, the Cougars opened up a 10 point advantage, not once, not twice but three times, the final time was at 61-51 after a James Carr (Jr. Barnesville, MN) three from the left wing with 12:04 left in the game and things looked good for UMM.

But Northwestern then went on a 12-0 run over the nest three minutes and took a 63-61 lead at the nine minute mark of the second half.

After trading baskets over the next few minutes, Northwestern then went up by six at 76-70 and again appeared to have the momentum in their favor with 2:47 left in the game.

The Cougars responded with a pair of three’s, one from McNally and the other by Will Jensen (Jr. Eau Claire, WI) that produced the four tie of the half and ninth of the game at 76-76 with 1:42 remaining in regulation and it looked as if the game would go to overtime.



Northwestern then converted on six of eight at the line down the stretch to escape with their second win over the Cougars this season.

Both teams shot well for the game with NWC shooting 55 percent (28-51) from the field, UMM 52 percent (32-62), but the Eagles had the advantage at the line going 17-of-20, while the Cougars were just 6-of-12.

Brendan McNally led the way for the Cougars with his sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Steve Farmer added 12 points, Will Jensen 11 and Phil Allen (Fr. Clarissa, MN) chipped in with 10.

Joseph Sir (Sr. Cresco, IA) led all scorers with 22 for the Eagles.