Box Score

Morris, Minn. – Led by a perfect night from Brendon Foss, the Minnesota Morris men's basketball team enacted a little revenge tonight (Dec. 9) in scoring their dominating 84-51 victory over visiting Mayville State on Jim Gremmels Court.

In their first meeting with the Comets (7-7), the Cougars (2-4) second half rally could not overcome a 20-point halftime deficit, as they fell by just a single point in the final seconds.

Tonight, though, the Cougars shot 60% in the first half on their way to a 44-25 lead at the break, finishing with their best shooting night since the season opener at 53%. They nearly doubled-up the Comets on the boards with 53 rebounds, their best mark since 54 late in the 2006-07 season and dished out 18 assists while turning the ball over just eight times.

Leading the charge all night long was sophomore Brendon Foss who charted his second career double-double with 20-points and 10 rebounds. And even more impressive was the way he got there, going 6-of-6 from the floor – including 2-of-2 from long range – and 6-of-6 at the free throw line with five boards on the offensive end and five on defense.

Foss was one of three Cougars in double figures, joined by Derek Schmidt with 14 and Logan Orazem with 11.

The Cougars never trailed and – after a 2-2 score in the first minute – outscored the Comets 21-to-4 over the next seven minutes to take a 23-6 lead at the 12:27 mark capped by a crowd pleasing dunk from Foss.

They closed the half with back-to-back baskets and took their biggest lead of the half into the locker room at 19-points after going 18-of-30 from the floor, while holding Mayville State to just 10-of-29.

Orazem opened the second half with a three to put Morris up 22, and they would lead by 20 for the bulk of the half. Back-to-back three's from Foss put them up 27 just past the midway point of the half, and Orazem made the spread 30 points for the first time with his free throw with 5:29 left.

Orazem's 11 points were a career high, as were Foss' 20.  

The Cougars will now get a nice break to enjoy the win, before closing out the first half of the season on Dec. 15 when they host St. John's at 7:00 p.m.