Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – In a matchup with the number two team in the UMAC the Cougars (9-10, 5-4 UMAC) picked up a huge 86-70 win over the North Central Rams (11-8, 6-3 UMAC). Brendon Foss had 21 points and eight rebounds on the night. Tyler Pendleton had 15; coming off the bench, and Logam Orazem had 13 points. UMM shot 7-18 from three point range as they proved why they are one of the best three point shooting teams in the country.
 
North Central out shot Minnesota Morris on the night but the Cougars made 12 more free throws propelling them to victory. The bench was key in the victory once again as they outscored the Rams reserves 29-14 on the night. Balance scoring has been a big factor all year for UMM and it proved why the Cougars are in the middle of the UMAC race.
 
The Rams jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the opening five minutes of play but Morris responded with seven straight points thanks to four from Foss brining the Cougars to within one at 11-10. North Central opened up the lead once again taking a 12 point lead with 8:09 left in the first half. Once again UMM worked their way back into the game scoring eight straight to cut the lead to 29-25 with just over 5:30 left. Eventually the Cougars tied the game at 36 and took their second lead of the game thanks to back to back three pointers from Pendleton. RJ Dean hit a jumper as time expired in the first half giving Morris the 44-38 lead at half.
 
Orazem gathered up his own miss and put it back to kick of the second half as Morris attempted to pull away taking an eight point lead early in the half. The Rams pulled within three at 46-43 but the Cougars went back up by eight minutes later and held a two possession lead for the remainder of the game. North Central closed the gap to five at 69-64 with just over five minutes left but a 5-0 run by Dean gave UMM a ten point lead a minute later. Minnesota Morris hit seven of ten free throws in the final two minutes to clinch the victory.
 
Minnesota Morris will take the short drive over to St. Paul tomorrow to take on Northwestern as the final regular season road trip comes to an end. After Friday's games the Cougars are in fourth place alone in the UMAC and one game out of second place. Just four games separate the top team in the UMAC to the seventh ranked team in the UMAC with five games to play.