Morris, MN – Freshman Phil Allen (Clarissa, MN) poured in a career high 23 points, 17 in the second half to lead the University of Minnesota-Morris to a 96-63 win over Crown College in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) college men’s basketball at the P.E. Center Saturday night.
The Cougars Brendan McNally (Jr. Lindstrom, MN) scored on a lay-up to give the Cougars their first lead at 4-2 with two minutes into the game.
The Storm regained a one point lead at 11-10 four minutes later, but it was a short lived advantage.
James Carr (Jr. Barnesville, MN) drained a three to give UMM the lead at 13-11, a lead they would never relinquish.
Brent Durensky (Jr. Barnesville, MN) pushed the lead to five at 20-15 with 9:25 left in the half, but the Storm closed the gap to one at 22-21 a short time later, but that would be as close as they would get.
Minnesota-Morris outscored Crown 25-8 over the last 7:41 of the first half, connecting on 9-of-13 from the floor, four of those from three-point range as the Cougars opened up a 47-29 lead at the half.
UMM connected on 56 percent (18-32) of their first half shots and had twice as many field goals as the Storm in the first 20 minutes.
Will Jensen (Jr. Eau Claire, WI) had 10 points in the first half for the Cougars.
It was the Phil Allen show to start the second half as he blocked a shot and drained a three from the top of the key and added a lay-up in the first 90 second of the second half to give Minnesota-Morris a 54-29 lead.
The Cougars tied a season high with 17 steals, with Brent Durensky leading the way with a season high six.
Allen was the games leading scorer with 23 points on 9-of-13 (69%) from the field and 4-of-7 at the line. Will Jensen Added 15, Corey Kelzenberg (So. Fridley, MN) 11 and Brendan McNally picked up his seventh double-double and second straight with 10 points and a game high 10 rebounds.
McNally has now scored in double figures in 18 straight games and 19 of the Cougars 20 to give him 328 points on the season and 963 in his career, 37 away from 1,000.
UMM had four players in double figures for the seventh time this season and it was the 13th time with at least four in double digits in a game this season.
Minnesota-Morris (10-10, 5-4 UMAC) travels to Ashland, Wisconsin to take on Northland College on Friday, February 3rd at 7:30 and then will meet St. Scholastica on Saturday the 4th at 5:00 in Duluth.