MORRIS, Minn. – The men's basketball team is in search of their first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament tomorrow night as they take on Northwestern (17-9) at 7:30 p.m. Minnesota Morris (12-14) is hoping the 'third time is a charm' adage is true as they look for their first win of the season against the Eagles after losing the first two.
 
Morris is coming off a big win over North Central in the UMAC Semifinal on Wednesday night. It is the Cougars first trip to the UMAC Tournament Championship since the 2010-11 season. That year UMM fell to Northwestern 73-60. Morris captured the UMAC Tournament Championship in the 2009-10 season, a year before the UMAC Tournament Champion received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Cougars have five scorers averaging over eight points per game on the year. The team is shooting 46.3% from the field which ranks in the top-75 in the nation. Morris also needs to continue to protect the ball, they rank 24^th in the country in fewest turnovers per contest.
 
Northwestern has six scorers that average at least seven points per game. The Eagles are averaging 70 points per game and shooting 45.5% from the field on the year. Michael Carney, Porter Morrell and Will Gisler all average over ten points a contest and all shoot over 45% from the field.
 
Defense could prove to be the difference when the two high scoring teams meet on Saturday night. It was the difference for UMM on Wednesday night in another meeting between two offensive squads. Morris forced 14 turnovers and held the Rams to just 31.3% from three and just 24 points in the paint.