Box Score MORRIS, Minn. – The Cougars were unable to complete another late game comeback as they fell 68-67 to Valley City State on Friday. Evan Reller had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Brendon Foss and Cody Emrick had 13 points each. Valley City took advantage of the paint outscoring the Cougars 36-24.
 
Minnesota Morris jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the opening six minutes of play. Valley City was able to cut the lead to one at 14-13 with 10:50 left in the first half. The game was back and forth for the next five minutes and the lead changed hands on a couple occasions. With just over five minutes left in the half UMM held a 31-29 lead. The Cougars outscored the Vikings 12-7 in the final five minutes of play to take a seven points lead into the halftime break.
 
Evan Reller had ten points and six rebounds in the first half on 4-6 shooting. RJ Dean and Brendon Foss each added eight points. Morris shot 16-32 as a team and 4-10 from the three. Valley City State was 14-32 from the field and 3-10 from three in the first half. The Cougars were 7-8 from the line in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Cougars built up a 10 point lead out of the break in the second half but the Vikings roared back to tie at 52 thanks to a 10-0 run midway through the second half. A free throw by Reller ended the Vikings run and then Cody Emrick hit a jumper on the wing to give UMM the 55-52 lead with 7:20 left. VCSU came back with a 8-2 run taking a 60-57 lead but the lead was erased with a three from Foss with 5:20 left to knot the game up once more.
 
The Vikings had six quick points and took a 66-60 lead but Morris came back and had a chance to tie the game with under 45 seconds left but the free throw hit off the back iron. A last chance three pointer from half court hit off the back board as the Vikings escaped with the 68-67 win.
 
Morris will meet up with Valley City State on January 4 in Valley City.