Box Score ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Cougars (9-6, 3-1 UMAC) used a 10-0 run in the second half to erase an eight point deficit and then hung on late to pick up a 59-56 win over Northwestern (6-9, 1-3 UMAC). Minnesota Morris shot 41.2% from the field in the victory on Friday.
 
A quick five point run to start the game gave the Cougars an early lead, capped off by a Brendon Foss dunk. Northwestern clawed back and took a five point lead of their own, 13-8, seven minutes into the game. Minnesota Morris drew within one; minutes later, but the Eagles went on a 5-0 run, giving them a 24-17 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the half.
 
The lead would be cut down to two on a couple occasions as the half winded down but the Eagles carried a four point lead into the halftime break thanks to a late basket. Foss had seven first half points to lead the offense. Cody Emrick and John Haseman each added six. Foul trouble was the big story in the first half, each Evan Reller and Joe Roggenbuck picked up three first half fouls.
 
Northwestern went right on the attack out of the break and jumped out to an eight point lead in the opening four minutes of play. The Cougars would score the next five points, cutting the lead to three with just over 15 minutes left in the game. After the Eagles increased their lead to seven once again, Neil Helgeson completed a three point play cutting the lead to four. Helgeson then connected with on a three to cutting the lead to 51-50 with 6:54 left in the game, the closest the Cougars were since the 9:21 mark of the first half.
 
The Cougars took the lead a minute later as Reller converted on a layup while playing with four fouls and then Foss hit a three, extending the lead to four  with just over five minutes left in the game. Minnesota Morris held off the Eagles over the next three minutes but a three pointer with just over a 1:30 left cut the Cougars lead to just one. Northwestern had a good look at a three with just less than 50 seconds to play but did not connect, giving the ball back to the Cougars with 42 seconds left. After turning the ball over, Northwestern called a timeout trailing 57-56 with less than 18 seconds left. They had very similar look at a three from the corner and again could not connect, and the Cougars rebounded the ball. RJ Dean went to the line and hit both free throws to give UMM a 59-56 lead with 2.8 seconds left.
 
Dean and Foss finished with a team high 12 points on the night. Reller who played just 29 minutes despite foul trouble finished with 12 rebounds. Minnesota Morris' bench outscored the Eagles 19-11 on the night.