MORRIS, Minn. – A slow start doomed the Cougars (11-12, 9-3 UMAC) on "Senior Night" as Bethany Lutheran (4-19, 4-8 UMAC) escaped for a 61-58 win. The Vikings jumped on the Cougars early on, taking a 28-9 lead after 11:49. Morris would rally and had a chance late but could not complete the comeback.
Minnesota Morris struggled from the floor early and the Vikings took advantage, going up 18-5 after six minutes of play. The Cougars cut it back to single digits but Bethany answered back, scoring ten straight to take a 19 point lead. UMM would slowly slice its way back cutting the lead to nine once again late in the half. Bethany made a basket at the buzzer and took an 11 point lead into the locker room.
The Cougars were out shot by over 11% in the first half which helped BLC build up their lead. Second chance points also favored the Vikings, who led that category 11-2 in the opening twenty minutes.
Bethany would push their lead back to 17 after seven minutes in the second half. The Cougars defense started to take over and UMM went on a 14-6 run to make the deficit nine once again. After a Vikings jumper in the paint with 6:40 on the clock, UMM went on another run, this time 10-3, cutting the lead to four.
The Vikings made one of two from the line with 44 seconds left, leaving the door open for UMM.
John Haseman made it a one possession game with a layup 13 seconds later. Luke Roddy pushed the Viking lead back to five but an old fashioned three point play from
Neil Helgeson brought UMM within two.
Morris had possession trailing by three but turned the ball over. Luckily, Bethany missed both free throws giving UMM one more chance. Unfortunately,
RJ Dean's half court heave came up short and the Vikings held on for a 61-58 win.
Helgeson finished with a game high 17 points leading the Cougars. Dean added ten as did Haseman. No other Cougar scored over five points on the night. Morris shot better in the second half but finished the game just 3-23 from behind the arc in the game, their worst percentage from three on the season.
The regular season wraps up next weekend with the Cougars traveling to Northwestern and North Central.
