MORRIS, Minn. - Minnesota Morris led the entire way and remained perfect in conference play with a 72-66 win Saturday over St. Scholastica in UMAC men's basketball action at Jim Gremmels Court.

The game could not have gotten off to a better start for the Cougars as they made all of their first five shots. Jeremy Halverson drained a 3 on the opening possession. CD Douglas and Noah Grove exchanged the next four baskets as the Cougars raced out to an 11-0 lead two and a half minutes into the contest.

UMM maintained that edge over the next 10 minutes. A 7-0 CSS run cut UMM's lead to 28-24 with 4:53 remaining in the half. The Cougars followed with seven straight of their own to push the advantage back to double-digits. A Douglas lay-up and free throw made it 35-24. The Saints would get it back down to 4 late in the half. A Trey Heinsuis tip-in at the buzzer gave the Cougars a 38-32 lead at halftime.

Within two minutes of the second half, the Cougars regained their double-digit lead. Heinsuis and Douglas each had lay-ins and Trent Jerome gave UMM their biggest lead at 13 following a 3 from the corner to make it 47-34 with 14:47 left in the game.

The Saints would make a run to cut their deficit to 3 at 53-50, but a big Grove 3 stopped their spurt. Another Jerome 3 pushed the Cougar edge back to double digits at 64-52 with 4:18 left. CSS made it as close as 4 in the closing seconds, but the Cougars would hold on for the conference win.

Douglas had a near double-double with 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Grove added 14 points and Jerome scored 10.

Minnesota Morris (3-7, 3-0 in UMAC) is off until December 30 when they go out of conference for a game at Gustavus Adolphus.