MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – North Central (3-4, 2-0 UMAC) rallied from down 22 to hand the Cougars an 82-80 loss on Friday night. Morris (3-4, 1-1 UMAC) shot 61.5% in the first half and 48.4% in the second half but was 4-14 from three and just 14-26 at the line.
 
Minnesota Morris and North Central exchanged baskets for the first six minutes of play but then UMM put their foot on the pedal. The Cougars went on a 13-2 run over the next three minutes of play to go up 26-14. The lead stayed around that number until late in the half, Morris would extend the lead to as much as 22 before taking an 18 point lead to the locker room.
 
The momentum the Cougars had at break must have transferred over to the Rams during halftime because they went on a 15-7 run early in the half, cutting the UMM lead to 10. It would bounce back and forth from a 10-12 point lead for a couple minutes but then the Rams caught fire again. An 11-2 run by the Rams cut their deficit to just one at 58-57. Morris answered back to go up by eight with 4 minutes left but could not seal the deal.
 
North Central would take the lead for the first time since early in the first half with a pair of free throws with 42 seconds left. Ukkelberg went to the line for the Cougars with 11 seconds left with a chance to tie the game but missed them both and the Rams hit two free throws with five seconds left to seal the win.
 
Morris will try to rebound against Northwestern tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES:

• Morris outscored the Rams 24-8 in the paint in the first half.
• UMM scored 16 points off turnovers in the first half, North Central did the same in the second half, helping them comeback.
• Thanks to 13 points from CD Douglas in the first half the Cougars bench had 19 first half points.
• Tyler Ukkelberg had 11 points in the first half on 5-6 shooting.
• North Central got 21 points from their bench in the second half comeback.
• The Rams shot 26.5% in the first half but 53.8% in the second half.
• Morris went to the foul line nine more times than North Central but the Rams hit two more free throws.
• 49 points in the game were scored off turnovers.
• The leading scorer for each team (Douglas 24, Travis Voigt -18) came off the bench.
• Five Rams finished in double figures.